DEREK E. BAIRD · FIELD RECORD
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2009 Ypulse Youth Marketing Mashup | Campus Case Study Slam Recap

gen yhigher ediPodmobilemusic 2.0researchsocial gamingsocial mediasocial networkingtextingtvtwittervideo gamesyouth cultureyouth marketingyouth mediaypulse

SurveyU: Five Facts About College Age Youth

  • 20,450,833 U.S. College Students
  • College students outnumber residents in every state except California, New York and Texas;
  • 76% of students attend a public college, 24% attend private college
  • 58% are female, 42% are male
  • Annual amount spent on College Tuition/Room and Board: $333 Trillion
  • Bonus: There are 20 million college age students, greater than any state's population except CA.

SurveyU: College Students & Technology

  • 96% Own Mobile Phone
  • 87% Own iPod or MP3 Player
  • 86% Own Laptop
  • 74% own Video Game Console

SurveyU: Media Consumption Habits of College Age Students

  • 37 hours a week online
  • 11 hours a week watching TV
  • 4 hours a week reading print publications
  • 4 hours a week listening to radio

Things to Remember When Marketing to College Students

  • This generation values authenticity and can smell marketing BS a mile away.
  • Millennial's are citizens of the global village (multi-racial/cultural/lingual).
  • This generation is jacked up on technology, especially mobile.
  • Just go out there and try new things.
  • Know that this media is not measurable in same way as traditional media.
  • Gen Y are 'Neo-Frugalists': Frugal is the new hip (1 of 3 teens affected by economy)
  • 90% of college students read their campus newspaper. Even though they are digital, campus paper is still widely read.
  • Don't even bother marketing to Asian youth, just know Asian youth culture is trendsetting.
  • 80% of teens have gone to "official company" website to get more information.
  • LET GO a little bit. You (and your client) can't control everything.
  • Only 30% of youth have "friended" a brand.
  • 90% of teens disapprove of advertisers texting them.
  • Have the audience talk to the audience by deputizing your core demo (college kids) to carry your marketing message to itself for your brand.

Related Resources

Originally published on Typepad, June 11, 2009.