Gen X’ers were born between 1965 – 1981. They saw their parents get let go from the jobs they worked hard for, the Gen X kids know there is no such thing as job security. They were the first hand witnesses to the mess-ups of baby boomers. Often, this generation feels disconnected to the rest of their generation.
This was the first generation to have to check their halloween candy for razor blades. News stories like this caused an atmosphere of skepticism and quiet concern with their surroundings. They are characteristically more productive than the Baby Boomer generation. Known for keeping their heads down and working quietly as well as not standing out, this group is very resilient.
To motivate a Gen X’er you need a clear statement of goals that are broad enough that they can implement their creativity in completing. Spend time with them building a strong relationship and they will become loyal employees. They require clear and frequent feedback on their progress and strongly dislike micro-managing. In order to have this generation pull out their wallet and spend, you should provide them with custom packages or multiple options. They want the opportunity to challenge themselves to formulate a new process and develop creative conclusions.
The term viral marketing has been used and abused about a month after the term was coined. However, there are some valuable lessons learned by this mad rush everyone made to make the next viral video. If you are targeting Generation X you should refer to the TED talks that went viral as well as that guy who dressed up as a colonial man that represented the tea party movement. These went viral with this population because they were informative, provocative and stirred up feelings that people felt they needed to comment on. Thats what any real viral video embodies, something people feel the need to comment on and share.
Joel Goldstein is the best selling author of “A Professional’s Guide to Social Media” and a professional keynote speaker. Joel relates his experience as an entrepreneur into his business teachings to the professional community. Specializing in online lead generation, Joel works with Independent Businesses and Professionals such as Lawyers and Doctors to develop lead generation programs. As president of the Peer Marketing Group, he develops search engine optimized websites to Google’s specifications. To request a consultation with Joel or schedule him for a conference, email Sanju@JoelGoldstein.com for availability.