- Be where they are.
You will need to be where the students are. Whether it be on campus in the dorms, or on their social media newsfeed, it is important to get on their level in order to truly connect with them. Millennials, wherever they are, will always have their smartphones close in hand. According to a TNS Connected Life study from mid-2015, millennials spend at least 3.1 hours a day (the equivalent of a full day every week) on their mobile devices, and they spend 2.1 hours a day engaging on social media. Connect with them in person by hiring brand ambassadors, have mobile ads, and make sure to post entertaining and engaging content on social media.
- Use their language
Talk to college students in the way they talk, by using their language in a way that doesn’t turn them off, but makes them pay attention to your message. Millennials are captivated by video, and love watching a quick video online that is shareable with friends. For example, DIY dorm decorations, or a sped up video on how to make food in a mug will intrigue the college student audience.
- Make them a part of your brand.
Hire college students as brand ambassadors to represent your brand on campus. Not only will they be able to spread the word about your product more quickly, but they will also provide insightful feedback on how to market your product better to their peers.
- Keep it real and lighthearted.
When using technology and speaking their language, it is important to keep your message real. There is no formula for how to create a viral video that inspires hundreds or thousands of people. Viral content comes from original ideas that are shared in a creative way. No one would have thought that a mother sitting in a Kohl’s parking lot wearing a Chewbacca mask would be the most viewed video on Facebook, with more than 137 million views and almost 2.5 million reactions. Her video spurred great business for online retailers like Kohl’s and Walmart selling the Chewbacca mask.