In the next couple of posts, I will dissect a few examples to explain the art of marketing to the Millennial generation. After much research (and a few questions asked to my closest Millennial friends), I have been able to generate a simple “how-to” for marketing to Generation Y – some of the pickiest people when it comes to marketing tactics.

First, let me do a breakdown on some television commercial facts so that the urgency of creating a successful marketing message is conveyed.

According to a 2011 Forbes article, the millennials' average day of watching TV (as of Q1 of 2012) was five hours and sixteen minutes; meanwhile, browsing the internet totaled up to only one hour. Another statistic compares weekly television watching: 101 hours and 6 minutes for 12-17 year olds, 117 hours and 44 minutes for 18-24 year olds, and 136 hours and 28 minutes for 25-34 year olds. And, while it’s true that in 2011 companies' online spending increased 21.7% from the previous year, the total amount spent on TV advertisements was a whopping $71.8 billion compared to online advertisement’s $32 billion. Who ever thought that $32 billion would be the lower number here?

Considering the incredible cost of television advertising and marketing, reflect on how many commercials you see now during a show. A lot of commercials are tightly fitted into programs, with a thirty minute program now being made up of about ten minutes of commercials.

Now, the kicker: AdWeek reported that “the average price of a 30-second spot in the first quarter of 2011 was $108,956.” Yes, 30-second spots equaled almost $109,000 two years ago.

Therefore, researching your target market is necessary and figuring out the cues that will appeal to them is essential. My next few posts will reflect the research that I’ve done and what I can tell you about marketing to Millennials so that you are efficient with your time and money.