Marketing
To Teens
By: Christina Esponda
Everyone knows that teenagers love shopping. We are the trend-setters
of America, but did you know that we are also the fastest-growing consumer
population? Teenagers as a population are now about 36 million.
Of these 36 million teenagers, ranging from 12 to 19, they will spend or
influence others to spend $141 billion in purchases this year, according
to Teenage Research Unlimited. This money doesn't only come from
teens' parents which counts for only $47 billion and their own money
$94 billion.
Who said teens are slackers and lazy? Many teens have part-time jobs
and do help in their households. Studies and polls have shown that
teenagers are not only price savvy but want good quality.
What gets teens
to buy so much? Anything from television, radio, magazines, free
trial tests and curiosity. Teens are not easily sold so if you want
teens to buy make sure you know how to advertise.
As we've seen on TV more and more
commercials are using fresh new faces or what we know as teen celebs.
Anyone from Britney Spears to Busta Rhymes are shown drinking our favorite
beverages, trying to get us to purchase them. Sprite is now featuring
young teens rapping on their commercials because of course, hip-hop is
young and mainly targeted to teens. Not to mention pop princess,
Britney Spears enticing the Coca Cola workers to stop and stare at their
TV while she dances to her version of the Pepsi tune.
Yes, the teens are taking over the media world. And the media is allowing. Why? We are their profit and their trusty big spenders. Teens are also spending a lot of time trying to make a stand against the Tobacco industry. The famous, "I know what you're doing, I'm not for sale!" commercials are all over, trying to send a message to teens to stop smoking. Fighting for your rights is important and shows that teens are about spending their money wisely and not contributing themselves to the millions of Cancer patients' tobacco has caused over the years.
The advertising
companies know what we want or at least they have a good idea of what it
is. Hey, we are the big spenders of America, so they must be doing
something right.