It’s no surprise that each generation is unique when it
comes to consumer habits, but even from our current vantage point at the
relative beginning of the mobile device revolution, we can already see some
wildly profound changes coming from Generation Z---those born in 1995 or after.
As the youngest group of consumers, Generation Z members have grown up with a
smartphone or tablet in hand, with many of them using a mobile device as their
primary method of accessing the Internet. In order to stay relevant with this
fast-paced and responsive group, here are 4 important traits of Generation Z
that modern businesses need to remember:
One-Way Communication Is Dead
Generation Z consumers aren’t from the age when a company’s
sole means of reaching the public came from television and radio ads, or from
websites without social media plug ins, or from any other form of static and
one-way advertising. Tech-savvy youth have grown up being able to instantly
reach out to companies, celebrities, and fellow consumers online, usually via
public posts on Facebook, Twitter, and more. This means that businesses need to
be able to instantly interact with Generation Z consumers to engage,
troubleshoot, and show appreciation to their market base, with the realization
that such a process will be evolving and unending.
Mobile-Primary Websites May Become The Norm In The Near Future
Each day, more and more companies are creating
mobile-specific versions of their websites for smartphone and tablet use, with designs
that favor smaller screens, touch-based interactivity, and other features that
accommodate the use of portable devices. As Generation Z becomes an
increasingly large portion of the market, mobile-based websites will go from
being a consumer-friendly extra to a vital feature, something that businesses will
need in order to be remotely competitive.
The Ubiquity Of Mobile Devices Will Change Office Structures
Many labor specialists have already noticed an increase in
telecommuting jobs, especially in positions that were formerly done in-house.
This trend is expected to increase in the near future, aided in part by the
ease with which mobile devices allow employees to access their work from
anywhere. Businesses will eventually require fewer permanent offices to house their
staff, and will likely timeshare office space with other companies, with their
employees spending part of the week working from home or personal offices
elsewhere. While this trend is in its infant stage at the moment, many are
expecting it to come into its prime by the time Generation Z fully enters the
workforce.
Generation Z Consumers Communicate Via Increasingly Creative And
Diverse Methods
Snapchat, Skype, Instagram, Vine, and Twitter are just a few
of the creative video and text apps that are being used by younger generations
instead of voice calls and traditional text messaging. In order to stay
relevant to these consumers, modern businesses will need to understand and
embrace whatever the primary method of communication is for their target market,
and reach out in increasingly unique and interesting ways within that
particular medium. This will require a constant presence in social media, and
the ability to rapidly adapt to new apps and platforms that will arise with
increasing frequency in the near future.
With the oldest members of Generation Z turning 18 in 2013,
now is definitely the time to prepare for this new breed of mobile-centric
consumer. By tailoring web presence and customer outreach to a smartphone- primary
approach, businesses of every size will go a long way towards maintaining their
relevancy with the newest generation of tech consumers.
Author bio:
John is a blogger who is still amazed at how fast
traditional PCs are being replaced by the mobile market. He writes for Internet
insurer Protect Your Bubble, who can help protect your phone from damage,
theft, defects, and every other hazard out there.
