tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post5672262520498785750..comments2023-11-05T02:45:07.908-08:00Comments on Rock Star Life of a Gen-Y Marketer | Greg Rollett: Can Companies Speak on Behalf of Gen-Y?Greg Rolletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11789816056414701562noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-10073452947686321602008-12-12T07:41:00.000-08:002008-12-12T07:41:00.000-08:00@Matt - I am going to have to look at those, thank...@Matt - I am going to have to look at those, thanks for the heads up and thanks for stopping by!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-31387410072890785482008-12-09T10:47:00.000-08:002008-12-09T10:47:00.000-08:00Though I can't speak to whether there exists a sin...Though I can't speak to whether there exists a single spokesperson for the Gen-Y crowd, I have found some recent marketing campaigns that I think carry some weight.<BR/><BR/>For one, I think the new Gap ads featuring SNL stars, other young celebs, and their children are pretty appealing to a younger crowd. I know that I laughed when I saw Rainn Wilson's angry face bundled in a winter hat and scarf.<BR/><BR/>I think as the world becomes increasingly connected, companies will have to work even harder to stay relevant. This Gap campaign speaks to me because the people are immediately identifiable and relatable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-62461230943744919012008-12-08T20:33:00.000-08:002008-12-08T20:33:00.000-08:00I feel that a Gen-Y spokesperson does not necessar...I feel that a Gen-Y spokesperson does not necessarily have to be born in the Gen-Y themselves. It just needs to be an individual who can motivate and move Gen-Yers in masses. Great spokespersons on behalf of Gen-Y to my opinion are Bono and Barack Obama. Yes, I said Bono and Barack Obama. The two of them have motivated and gathered so many Gen-Y individuals into their campaigns. Bono did a phenomenal job with ONE Campaign and (RED). He has been in the music scene for three decades now, and he is still getting you people involved in becoming more educated and more active in their community & local governments. Barack Obama – check the last post on G-Ro’s blog. That’s all I need to say about that. A spokesperson for a generation is someone whom that generation looks up to, and Bono and Barack Obama are great mentors for Gen-Y. <BR/><BR/>Chris G.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-62026119321550756492008-12-08T13:42:00.000-08:002008-12-08T13:42:00.000-08:00I really tend to agree with everyone that a consen...I really tend to agree with everyone that a consensus spokesperson for Gen-Y is not possible or relevant. <BR/><BR/>However, brands and companies still need to speak to us. Guess that'll be the next post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-32281993130714771532008-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:002008-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:00It is hard to define a "spokesperson" for Gen Y, p...It is hard to define a "spokesperson" for Gen Y, partially because we've grown up speaking for ourselves. There are more outlets than ever for us to speak our minds. If you look at the popularity of not just social networking sites, but personal blogs, twitter, youtube. We've been told from an early age to speak your mind (remembering that many of our parents are products of the 60s).<BR/><BR/>From this stems another so-called defining attribute of Gen Y: individualism. Obviously, we heed the call to our families and communities (after all, our generation logs more hours of community service than any other previous generation), but it seems that we enjoy an even stronger need for individualized expression of our uniqueness than previous generations. This, combined with more opportunities for expression, leads us to this question.<BR/><BR/>"Do we need a spokesperson?" Probably not. Even more intriguing, "Can we really have an adequate spokesperson?" Again, probably not. With diversity being one of the defining attributes, it's difficult to find individuals who bridge all gaps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-4662292167565336322008-12-08T06:55:00.000-08:002008-12-08T06:55:00.000-08:00Thanks Greg,I'll keep the learning coming. There's...Thanks Greg,<BR/><BR/>I'll keep the learning coming. There's plenty out there to be learned! Thanks again for the encouragement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-87669279330291982912008-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:002008-12-05T06:50:00.000-08:00Joel,At least you have been given the go ahead to ...Joel,<BR/><BR/>At least you have been given the go ahead to create a stance, an opinion and the freedom to make a difference in your brand. There is a big war over Americanized Mexican food, and by stepping out and talking to us, it gives you great access to becoming a leader in the space. Don't let up and don't stop learning.Greg Rolletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11789816056414701562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-85942223002365400022008-12-05T06:47:00.000-08:002008-12-05T06:47:00.000-08:00Geoff - It's funny how something like a soup compa...Geoff - It's funny how something like a soup company can be so guarded and scared of being themselves that they sound like a robot to ensure there is no backlash. Instead of talking to me/you/the public like a person, who makes mistakes, has opinions and a trust factor, we get red suit and blah, blah, blah. <BR/><BR/>Good point my friend! Have a great weekend!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-68821315278287914852008-12-05T06:44:00.000-08:002008-12-05T06:44:00.000-08:00deluding, evendeluding, evenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-71589779176130599712008-12-05T06:43:00.000-08:002008-12-05T06:43:00.000-08:00I was just thinking this last night. One of the st...I was just thinking this last night. One of the stodgy news folks were sitting down, doing a filler piece on "The advertising wars" between Progresso Soup and Campbell's taking place, now that the economy is in the tank and everyone is so poor they are eating canned soup.<BR/><BR/>The PR lozenge was sitting there, stupid red power suit on her chunky frame, stupid fake red puffy hair violating gravity and sense above her head, pursed mouth saying meaningless words about how Campbell's soup is doing business status quo, and that we are verging on an exciting paradigm shift in the liquid consumables markets, where many exciting nutritious options are being enjoyed by exciting new individuals, in an effort to take advantage blah blah blah.<BR/><BR/>The question was: Campbell's Vs. Progresso - Sup wit dat?<BR/><BR/>The answer, from a company truly wishing to appeal to today's market, should have come out like The Rock cutting a promo on a jabroni. There is no longer room for pleasantries delivered by bad hair. We are in the process of pulling back the curtain more and more every day, and any company demanding that we pay no attention to the man behind such is deluded themselves out of customers.<BR/><BR/>The funniest, the truthiest, the most efficient (or slick, the two rarely go hand in hand, but when they do, bonus)... These are the people that will win Gen-Y dollars. Or votes. Or fans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8585674107074858753.post-15840035040452538812008-12-04T21:15:00.000-08:002008-12-04T21:15:00.000-08:00Hey G-Ro,Thanks for the shout. I definitely won't ...Hey G-Ro,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the shout. I definitely won't claim to know it all, or even most of it, or even what "it" is, but there definitely is something to this whole "listening and being yourself." That's nothing new, but maybe it's time to take it to heart. My job is to be a listener first and a talker second; that seems to work well thus far. There is definitely more than what the surface shows when it comes to this generation. Thanks for shedding some light.<BR/><BR/>Joel Johnson<BR/>Social Media Manager<BR/>Panchero's Mexican GrillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com