A recent survey of 2,574 US consumers commissioned by Jack Morton and conducted this year found Gen Y consumers – also known as “millennials” – respond strongly to live marketing events, which they prefer over TV and Internet advertising. While self serving, the study found 70 percent of 13 to 23 year olds say experiential marketing is extremely or very influential on their opinion of a product or brand. Sixty Five percent of 13 to 23 year olds say participating in an event would cause them to act more quickly to purchase a product. Seventy six percent of this demographic say participating in an event would make them more receptive to the brand or product’s advertising. Seventy four percent of 13 to 23 year olds say participating in a live marketing experience is something they would tell others about.
Whether or not Jack Morton is drumming up business for it self with this study is irrelevant. What’s very relevant is the fact Gen Y, and other demos for that matter, don’t respond well anymore to traditional media. The emerging field of experiential marketing – a fancy name for event marketing – appears to be gaining traction and success at reaching elusive, traditional media-averse audiences.
