Intergrated Communications – Facts on Millennial’s might surprise you!

The need and challenges for corporate Integrated communications efforts is well documented. The biggest concern in creating a successful integrated communications effort is the ever changing face of technology and how to maximize reach using rather new advancements to reach the illusive Millennial crowd. However, integrated communications expands beyond simply having an up to date Facebook page and twitter account. Integrated communications can also extend to brick and mortar shop owners and employees as well.

Although millennials are known for there heavy social media usage, it should not be understated that as of at least 2013, that 81% of millennials purchases came from brick and mortar stores (Forbes, 2013); 56% percent of those will actually make a purchase; Half of those purchasers got there discounts or coupons via TRADITIONAL MEDIA (Forbes, 2013). That said, s a business, if your goal is to identify with Millennials solely via social media, you would be missing an entire market and certainly not giving your business the best opportunity to be successful.

With this in mind, Integrated communications is not just limited to exterior marketing efforts, but also relate to the customers in-store experience. When considering a companies integrated marketing efforts, one cannot make assumptions based up on age. In store managers and employees must be educated on how to identify with all of your prospective customer base in reference to your integrated communications efforts. And with a unified integrated communications effort, rather a millennial or baby boomer, employees understand the message, as the communication efforts for the company are consistent.

Forbes list 7 steps to improve your integrated communications efforts:

1. Identify campaign goals and limitations
2. Define the target audience
3. Gain insight thru SWOT analysis
4. Understand competition and identify competitive advantage
5. Get Creative – brainstorm, be flexible
6. Check your Big Idea – does this fit my strategy
7. Communicate

https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2013/09/16/why-integrated-marketing-communications-is-more-important-than-ever/#38d8b36741ab

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/16/seven-steps-to-a-better-integrated-marketing-communications-strategy/#25c555297841