10 Things Not to Sell to Gen Y

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

A new twitter friend of ours, @JaredOToole, has turned me onto a website, Under30CEO.com

After browsing through various articles, I found myself giggling at one of their popular articles “10 Things Gen Y Won’t Pay For.” As a pessimist, I expected a dry list of what entrepreneurs should not try to sell to this jaded generation.

I was pleasently surprised by what I found.  Here is the top ten list with my own descriptions and interpretation:

1. Checking
   Gen Y will not pay for checking. They grew up with free access because they were students and now they just expect it. And with the Battle of the Banks in today’s economy, we can google to find someone who will waive the fee.
2. Long Distance
   As long as I don’t run my cell phone 24/7 and use all my weekday minutes, I’m good. My friend in Kansas is into texting anyway, so even another bonus. What about parents, you ask? My dad reads texts. My mom, not so much, but I can use the 10 minutes I saved everywhere else to talk to her. Oh and thank you for the rollover minutes, AT&T. They definitely come in handy.
3. Mail
   I’m not sure if Gen Y would even know what the US Postal Service even was if not for getting packages shipped with the presents we bought ourselves online, birthday money from Grandma, and the occasional college material. With stamp costs on the rise (32, 42, 44?) why not just send an email? Oh wait. Because the inbox is just a chore list that needs to be checked off every day. Facebook has  become the White Pages of Gen Y. With the messages and the chats and the people searches, it has become a key tool for many 20-somethings.
   
4. Music
   When Napster was forced to charge, there was a loud sound of hearts breaking across the seven seas. However, radio stations like Pandora and Slacker Personal Radio have reopened the doors for free music entertainment. Although Pandora has set an hour limit, these sites are flooded. And now with apps for Blackberries, iPhones, Androids, and more, these internet radio stations can go anywhere. Of course, if you want unlimited skips and no ads, there is a fee. But who needs that? Support the advertising industry and get free radio!
5. Wireless
   I know what you’re going to say. Everyone has to pay for wireless. False. The first thing we do when we go anywhere with our laptop is search the network for free access to the web. Stealing? We beg to differ. Panera Bread, the library, and school campuses (for students and faculty, of course) offer wireless for free. Locations like Starbucks and Barnes and Noble are a joke, trying to charge almost $4 for internet. Even some charter buses are offering free wireless now! It’s true… I saw “Free Wireless on your trip” in big letters on the side of a charter the other day!
6. Travel Agents
   Does this even need explaining? Between Expedia, Orbitz, and Hotels.com only to name a few, who needs someone to book things for you? You search, compare, and book. Love it!
7. Books
   With all of the required reading we didn’t do in high school and all the Oprah-suggested reading we just haven’t gotten to, why should we buy books anyway? Between our computers, tv’s, and game consoles, we’re set. Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes we enjoy the literary mind stimulation, but that’s what friends and libraries are for (yes, libraries still exist).
8. Mature Content
   This one’s definitely not for everyone, but you can find just about anything on the Internet. Just clear your cookies, delete your history, and your privacy is protected. You certainly can’t do that on your cable bill.
9. News
   I found out about Michael Jackson’s death on Facebook. Text messages spread like wildfire when a major event occurs “did u hear bout da olympic speedskater?!” Other than that, just go to Yahoo, MSN, CNN, etc. and you’ll get what you need online.
10. Directory Assistance
    We laugh in the face of 411. Between Google, the majillion iPhone/Blackberry apps, and 1800-FREE411, the only thing we’re using the phone book for is to show off our superhuman strength.

Now that you know what not to try to get into when starting your own business, the next thing you need to do after you develop your product is to have a strong online presence. Between various forms of social media, making a website, designing logos, creating a brand identity, and developing a marketing plan, you may have your hands full. Let us help.

No Comments | Tags: blog, Entertainment, Facebook, Google, retail
Posted by Paulina in Humor

What type are you?

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Rational, Understated, Progressive and Relaxed, I am UNIVERSAL. What type are you? Take the quiz.

1 Comment | Posted by Nick in Humor, Typography

Happy Thanksgiving From Album!

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

All of us at Album Creative Studios would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

No Comments | Tags: marketing blog
Posted by Alyson in Humor

Don’t Be A Clogger

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

As quoted in the New York Times recently, there is a new social media slang in town: “clogger”. Cloggers are the type of bloggers who just use their blog as a platform for receiving free goods or event invitations from PR companies and brands themselves. The term differentiates these freeloaders from the dedicated bloggers who receive press samples from those they build relationships with after having proved themselves in the blogosphere.

It’s pretty easy to identify the cloggers out there. They’ll be the ones brazenly asking for free goodies to post about on a blog that you’ve never heard of because it’s only been online for a day and has no readership. These bloggers also tend to post press releases in a copy and paste fashion without any commentary or individual voice. They’re just in it for the freebies.

Cloggers are a major thorn in the side of good bloggers out there. As Amber Katz states in the New York Times article, they are a big part of the reason the FTC now has guidelines for blogger disclosure of press samples and paid posts. These new rules for disclosure will weed out the cloggers. Unfortunately though, many bloggers who hold themselves to traditional journalistic standards feel punished and condescended to. The result is a culture of responsible internet journalists and consumer reviewers made to feel as though they are not ethical or trustworthy enough to provide unbiased reviews because of those out there that are just trying to work the system.

As both a blogger and marketing professional myself, I see both sides of the argument for and against the FTC guidelines. I think for those of us bloggers who were already doing things the right way it will just be a mild irritant, one more thing to think about. Additionally, it is important for marketing professionals to help the blogosphere remain a trusted source for consumer reviews by choosing not to work with cloggers. That’s good news for us, because the blogs that continue to do well will be of a calibre we want to work with to help promote our clients. Despite the patronizing press pieces that paint bloggers as a bunch of freeloading slackers that resulted from the FTC’s ruling, eventually the change will result in a win-win situation for us all.

No Comments | Tags: blog, social media
Posted by Alyson in Humor, Online Marketing

New (Media) Workout Plan

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Designer/illustrator Patrick Moberg came up with The New (Media) Workout Plan.

Finally! I can feel better about myself for sitting in front of a computer all day.  I’d like to see a before/after picture from those of you who start the New Media Workout Plan.

No Comments | Tags: Facebook, Google, Twitter
Posted by Jessica in Entertainment, Humor, Online Marketing