Who is the target group of tomorrow? Gen Z, of course, who are the first digital natives and therefore different from other generations. But what are the specifics of Gen Z? What do you need to consider for your next influencer marketing campaign for Generation Z? These five tips will help you for effective Gen Z influencer marketing.
They are baby boomers and millennials. In marketing, GenZ is designating target audiences according to generations. After all, it’s a way to describe the age range, shopping habits and usage patterns of a broad group. But again, who is GenZ?
Generation Z is the first generation that can be described as digital natives. They have grown up with modern technologies and social media platforms, which made them extremely device-bound. Therefore, it is not surprising that more than 90% of GenZers own cell phones, which is precisely why they are constantly connected to the Internet networking with friends. 75% confirmed that they can’t go more than eight hours without the Internet.
The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) determines how brands can best connect with GenZ and understand their buying behaviors. According to a survey, interviews were made with 15,600 GenZers aged between 13 and 21 with 20 senior executives. They found that the younger generation has different preferences than their predecessors. Therefore, brands need to recognize this in order to capitalize on the growing consumer groups.
Contrary to the assumption that GenZ would be most differentiated from Millennials and Boomers by their intense device usage, it is their real-world connection that engages young people above everything else. While Millennials are true live-and-let-live people, GenZers are concerned with the impact of their consumption on the environment. Accordingly, you should target GenZ primarily with social media content.
Let’s note that attention spans are 25% shorter than Millennials. Consequently, it is more difficult for brands to appeal to GenZ. At the same time, the younger generation can process information faster.
While (49%) of Gen Zers buy more products online and via mobile devices in comparison, their purchasing power has not yet reached that of the Millennials. However, this may be mainly due to the fact that most Gen Zers have not earned any money of their own and purchases are presumably made via their parents.
YouTube:
Gen Zers spend the most time on YouTube, as they tend to use it to research for their homework. Moreover, 70% preferred the video platform to the regular TV.
Facebook:
Most of the Gen Zers still have Facebook accounts, but use the platform less often and tend to use it only as a source of information. On the contrary, Facebook Messenger is the main messaging platform.
Snapchat:
If a few Gen Z users still opt for Snapchat, it is only to share unfiltered moments with close friends. Snapchat is hardly used in any other way and could be displaced by the new app BeReal in the future. Read how influencer marketing can work on BeReal on the Kolsquare blog.
Twitter:
The Global Web Index shows that Twitter is still in the top 5 social media networks, but Gen Zers use the app almost exclusively to stay up-to-date with the latest news.
Instagram and TikTok:
Although they are different from one another, they are Gen Z’s most popular social media networks. Read more details about Instagram influencer marketing and TikTok influencer marketing on the Kolsquare blog.
As alluded to earlier, Gen Z is all about making a positive impact on the world, with 76% concerned about humanity’s impact on our planet. Only brands that authentically focus not only on commerce but also generally strive to have a positive impact on the world have the chance, which is the biggest challenge to influencer marketing for Gen Z.
Your brand should have its hands off “greenwashing” or “pinkwashing” because Gen Zers are very likely to catch up to you. Doing so could do long-lasting damage to your reputation on the internet, bearing in mind that Gen Zers don’t forget.
Influencers can quench Gen Z’s thirst for authenticity. They prefer real people to celebrities. They want to be able to understand decisions, learn and be inspired.
PRZM co-founder Liz Toney states: “They’re driving, spending and are behind some of the largest behavioral and cultural shifts that we see today. They are making decisions that will affect us for years to come.”
We have already established that it is important for Gen Z to have a backbone to positively impact the world. According to this, marketing strategies for Generation Z are based on clear values and missions, transparency, a sense of responsibility, personality, authenticity and building a community.
What social and environmental values does your brand stand for? When Gen Zers buy products or perceive services, they pay special attention to ensuring that the brand’s values reflect their own:
Just like GenZ, young people hold themselves accountable regarding their consumption. You also want clear positioning from the brands and influencers you follow.
Superficiality won’t work. Expert on GenZ Larry Milstein explains:
“Brand trust is only second to price in terms of determining what brands we’re going to support. You’ve seen brands trip up because they’ve not upheld the standards that they’ve been communicating.”
Stop taking your cues from the aesthetic and perfectly curated content of Millennials; for Gen Z, it has to be real. Gen Z wants a bold/strong voice that shows a face and doesn’t change its mind like a flag in the wind.
When Crocs used to be uncool, they were relegated to garden use, but this changed and the rubber shoe is so trendy nowadays. The brand has managed to appeal to Gen Z with humor and a certain amount of self-irony.
As important as social responsibility, life isn’t serious all the time and Gen Z are young. They won’t get far with doom and gloom. Convince them with solution-oriented and positive contributions that also entertain them. You can start using TikTok videos or Instagram Reels, as both are particularly appealing to Gen Z these days.
Kolsquare tip: Combine substantive and informative content with entertainment. How can you create fun and quick tutorials?
Gen Zers want to belong. They want to feel a part of something because only together we can achieve a long-lasting change in the world. Gather brand ambassadors and followers around you and your brand, start a challenge, use CAT or put yourself out there for a good cause.
Above all, communicate authentically and personally. Promote dialogue and exchange of ideas on your channels. Collaborate with creatives, artists and activists. “Find people you think can serve as ambassadors and leverage their networks in a way that feels less transactional and more authentic,” Larry says.
Kolsquare is Europe’s leading Influencer Marketing platform, offering a data-driven solution that empowers brands to scale their KOL (Key Opinion Leader) marketing strategies through authentic partnerships with top creators.
Kolsquare’s advanced technology helps marketing professionals seamlessly identify the best content creators by filtering their content and audience, while also enabling them to build, manage, and optimize campaigns from start to finish. This includes measuring results and benchmarking performance against competitors.
With a thriving global community of influencer marketing experts, Kolsquare serves hundreds of customers—including Coca-Cola, Netflix, Sony Music, Publicis, Sézane, Sephora, Lush, and Hermès—by leveraging the latest Big Data, AI, and Machine Learning technologies. Our platform taps into an extensive network of KOLs with more than 5,000 followers across 180 countries on Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and Snapchat.
As a Certified B Corporation, Kolsquare leads the way in promoting Responsible Influence, championing transparency, ethical practices, and meaningful collaborations that inspire positive change.
Since October 2024, Kolsquare has become part of the Team.Blue group, one of the largest private tech companies in Europe, and a leading digital enabler for businesses and entrepreneurs across Europe. Team.Blue brings together over 60 successful brands in web hosting, domains, e-commerce, online compliance, lead generation, application solutions, and social media.
