Who is out of touch?

A recent post to the Ypulse blog discusses the pros and cons of accessing networking sites such as FaceBook while at work:

http://ypulse.com/archives/2007/07/myspacing_faceb.php

Last week I spoke with a group of association executives. There was a lot of frustration over the work habits of Generation Y. The group, made up mostly of Gen Xers and Boomers, said it was a challenge to get Gen Y workers to do what was expected. The fact of the matter is, Gen Y is less likely to have the same assumptions as older workers and they often do need things spelled out for them (i.e. casual Friday means something a lot different to Gen Y and if you don't want them wearing flip flops to work you need to let them know).

But here's the question - who really is out of touch? My theory is that Gen Y is leading the workforce changes. However, they still are very young. For Gen Y, I believe the bravado of being 25 will be replaced by the humility of being 35. And yet, they will still have the technical savvy they do now. Gen Y will make a huge contribution once they do what all of us had to - grow up a little.

Gen Xers get nostalgic

A recent article on cnn.com heralded music from the 1980s and 1990s as the "new classics." The story gives some good insight into what Gen Xers (who came of age in the 80s and 90s) see as their music.

Anyone who has seen the film "The Big Chill" and heard its soundtrack has probably given some thought to what their own Big Chill soundtrack would be. However, while Baby boomers were willing to accept the anthems of their youth as advertising jiggles, skeptical Gen Xers may not be so kind to marketers who try to sell them sneakers using Gen X classic tunes.

Below is the cnn story. By the way, the class albums referred to in the article are most likely being purchased by Gen Xers, because if Gen Yers were interested in these tunes, they'd download them (and it's unlikely Boomers would be interested in Gen X music).

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/17/music.newclassics.ap/index.html

Generation Y confusion

Are you trying to figure out what it will take to reach a Gen Y audience? Viral marketing may be the answer. Find out more in this article from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/marketing/market_research/tough_customers_how_to_reach_gen_y.mspx

GenerationXpert to keynote conference

"Rocking the Ages: Marketing to Four Different Generations" will be the keynote address by GenerationXpert Suzanne Kart Wednesday, July 18, at the state conference of the Michigan Society of Association Executives in Frankenmuth, MI.

For more information: http://www.orgpro.info

The myth of the Baby boomer

Apparently, the myth of the Baby boomer experience in the 1960s and 1970s does not jive with reality - and it can't impact the success of your use of nostalgia in marketing to them.

That's according to The Opinionated Marketer blog.
http://opinionatedmarketers.blogspot.com/2007/06/boom-town-marketing-to-baby-boomers.html

In fact, "Contrary to the general portrait, every Boomer didn't go to college, dodge the draft, and delay marriage. Even among those that did go to college, there were plenty who took accounting rather than sociology, drank beer at frat parties, and got married senior year."