As marketers, we know that the way we communicate with our up-and-coming consumers is changing. Summarize these 5 methods below and include an analysis how you, as a marketer, can apply these methods by using media vehicles such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram to communicate to the Gen Zers.

1. Sell an experience Hard sells are a big no to Gen Zers. Due to their experience with the internet as they grew up, blatant marketing campaigns simply don't convince them to spend their money. Instead, they want to know what benefits they get from your business and what experience your product or service will bring them. A company selling an experience sounds more appealing to them than buying a product with no attachment to it.

2. Engagement and community Gen Zers crave a company that engages with customers and tailors their responses, so they know it's not just a standard one-size-fits-all reply. A study shows that 76% of Gen Zers want brands to respond to feedback, and they view this as a key to determining how authentic and honest a brand is.

3. Transparency and privacy Transparency and privacy go hand in hand. Gen Zers want a company that can be transparent and open but also protects and does not share their information. Transparency allows the customer to trust a brand, creates loyalty and ensures they feel good about where their money is going. Gen Zers do not hesitate to boycott and protest against supporting companies when unethical business practices and false advertising is spotted.

4. Getting to the point Gen Zers have eight seconds of an attention span, combined with a hectic and busy schedule. Due to how Gen Zers grew up with technology and screens, they typically bounce between five screens at any time. This means that you have less time to grab their attention and convince them to look into your business and product. On top of this, your content has to be engaging and exciting having an opinion or point of view can be a risky business move, but a worthwhile one with the reward of the community you can build.

5. Speaking through your brand Creating a brand or company that hits all of the essential key points can be complex. First, your brand has to speak for itself in its actions and intentions. Gen Z is a generation known for caring for the world, meaning that they are acutely aware of problems that societies face today. Gen Zers want companies to be environmentally and socially responsible. They want brands to be an extension of their personalities, values and expectations. You aren't just selling a product or an experience you're also selling values.