Reconnect? I’d Rather Not

Posted by Catharine Cody in brand | Marketing | Millennials - (0 Comments)

reconnect

After coming home from work yesterday, I did what I do every night: check my Facebook newsfeed to see what all my “friends” were up to.  Among the normal status updates about upcoming shows, ridiculous work hours, and the plethora of complaints my generation makes, something very interesting caught my eye: a link to a new Internet Explorer ad on YouTube.  The ad’s screen shot had the game “Hungry Hungry Hippos” along with the caption: “You Grew up.  So Did We.”  I couldn’t resist.

Before explaining this ad, I think it’s very important to mention that I absolutely abhor Internet Explorer.  It freezes inexplicably, messes with website layouts and is generally less reliable than my browser of choice, Google Chrome.  Internet Explorer is to browsers as New Jersey Transit is to mass transportation.  It’ll kind of work, eventually.

So, you can imagine my surprise when Internet Explorer decided to connect with me, personally, by helping me remember my childhood.  In their new ad, IE reminded us that they were around for generation Y’s most iconic trends: yo-yos, floppy discs, Oregon Trail, Lunchables, fanny packs, wallet chains and tomogatchis.  Besides reminding me of my childhood in the early 90s, this ad was trying to tell people my age that IE grew up with us.  As we learned new things, so did they.  And, now they want us to come back.

The thing is, I really don’t care that Internet Explorer remembers the days when boys sported bowl cuts and girls cared for electronic pets.  Those days are long gone, and remembering them does nothing.  Sure, those days were simpler because we didn’t have deadlines or relationship drama- but that’s because we were young.

I love this ad.  It’s cool to see how far pop culture has come in the past twenty years.  But, why did it take IE this long to realize they needed to change their reputation?  This ad is too little too late.  Yes, yo-yos WERE amazing, but that doesn’t make me switch browsers from Google Chrome to Internet Explorer.

 

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Public Radio Is Awesome

Posted by Lauren in media | Millennials - (0 Comments)

For the past few months I’ve gotten into running—something I never thought I’d be able to do (or at least do well).  Most runners have a set routine that typically involves a playlist on their iPod. While the majority of other Millennials listen to pop songs and other classic “Jock Jams” to keep their energy level up, I prefer to listen to public radio.

According to NPR.org, the median age for its audience is 50; about twice my age. People between the ages of 18 to 34 tune in at rates far below this benchmark.  That said, I am a complete anomaly.

I love public radio for many reasons. For one, the content is exceptional. It is well researched, thoughtful and human-centered. Unlike newspapers or magazines the content is presented in a more conversational tone. Audio sound bites piece together news and feature stories in a way that allows your imagination to play a part in the digestion of this new information. Unlike social media or television, segments often go deeper than the need-to-know facts and uncover pieces of a story that a network morning show would gloss over.

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A Denver Food Truck That Goes the Extra Mile

Posted by Lauren in food/bev | loyalty | Millennials - (0 Comments)

I love living in New York City, but as a true midwestern girl I whole-heartedly appreciate vacations that take me far from the skyscrapers, crowded subways and hurried lifestyle. Recently, I took a trip to visit family in Denver, CO. With only a few days to tour around the area, we crammed a number of activities into our excursion. We spent the afternoon at the FREE New Belgium Brewery tour in Fort Collins, ate ballpark hotdogs at the Rockies game and meandered through the Old South Pearl Street Farmers’ Market.

While sampling some amazing carmel-chocolate popcorn from a food truck at the market, we began chatting with the business owner. In less than 10 minutes, I had her whole life story and she was well on her way to knowing mine. When she found out I worked in PR and marketing, she fired off a host of questions on how to grow her business. We discussed everything from social media strategy to strategic food truck parking destinations. When she found out my cousin was a senior at Denver University, she asked if she could make lunch for her and 10 friends in exchange for insight into what college kids are looking for in fast, quality food. Clearly, she was extremely interested in getting into the mind of her consumer and willing to make adustments to their menu and business opperations to meet their needs.

As we spoke, the owner whipped us up a cuban pork sandwich and a mango ginger spritzer – the best meal I had all week. We then slurped the last drop of our drinks, shook hands and wished her the best. Before we left, she asked if there was anything else I could tell her to help promote her business. I assured her that her friendly customer service, genuine interest in learning anything and everything about her target audience, and delicious, quality products are all she needs. The consumers will spread the word from there. And I think that’s true for any business.

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