"Fogeys Flock to Facebook" was the name of an Business Week article written in August of last year about the rise of 30- to 40-something professionals coming to Facebook and using it as a networking and connection tool:
"Lately, an influx of older users—professionals their 30s and 40s, many in high-tech—is changing the face of Facebook. Among Silicon Valley executives, journalists, and publicists, Facebook has become the place to see and be seen. And it's not just tech. Consulting company Ernst & Young's Facebook network boasts 16,000 members, Citigroup's (C) claims nearly 8,500.
Are you on Facebook? I joined years ago but the network was not yet valuable to me because only one of my friends was on it. Now, however, you're sure to find at least one co-worker, friend, or associate on there.
With all the news coming in of the "winners" in the caucuses, I wanted to point out senior Hillary Clinton advisers Mandy Grunwald and Mark Penn's comments: they weren't too impressed with the young people who turned out to support candidate Barack Obama at the Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Iowa. "Our people look like caucus-goers," Grunwald told Roger Simon of the Politico, "and his people look like they are 18. Penn said they look like Facebook."
If someone looks 18, I think they are still your potential ally. In fact, the younger you "hook" someone, the better and more long-lasting relationship you'll have with them in the long run (look at the success of Happy Meals or tune into any cartoon channel on Saturday morning and see who's advertising).
If a potential consumer doesn't look like, act like, or behave like your target market, they're either not (yet) your target consumer or you haven't (yet) come up with a strategy to approach them.
If someone looks 18, I would think they are still your potential ally. In fact, the younger you "hook" someone, the better and more long-lasting relationship you'll have with them in the long run (look at the success of Happy Meals or tune into any cartoon channel on Saturday morning and see who's advertising).
"Looks like Facebook" might actually be a good thing, if you're trying to expand your market base. In some countries, the youth are the fastest growing demographic. For example, the largest group of people in Vietnam are those between the ages of 15 and 24, and the country has pockets of steadily rising affluence in Ho Chi Minh City and Saigon of young people willing to pay for more and more for better products and services.
Does your consumer base "look like Facebook"? Do you want your consumer base to "look like Facebook"? Developing your plan for internet marketing, social networking, and increasing the integrity of your reputation when interacting with young people will do wonders for your business.
