1.

WAYS YOUR COMPANY CAN ENGAGE THE NEXT GENERATION;

2.
3.
4. When getting into Social Media, have a reason to get into it. It's not for every business
and that is ok.
5.
6. Create a product that is truly amazing and unique. Or one that is better and shinier
than your competition.
7.
8. When creating your web site, remember the people who are going to read it, and look
at it and have to figure out how to navigate it.
9.
10. Know that if it is a trend, it is not a branding strategy, but rather something that will
have a short shelf life. If it's a trend and you are just realizing it, you missed it. Let
it go and look for something else.
11.
12. Don't look for the next trend, create the next trend. Don't make Myspace 2, make
Twitter. Don't be the Zune and play catch up, find an iPod and let people catch
up to you.
13.
14. As soon as they come close to catching up, create the iPhone and kick everyone else
in the balls.
15.
16. Hire people that care about your brand. They are your advocates first and foremost. If
they hate your clothes, products, etc how can they turn a window shopper into a
fan?
17.
18. Hire people that aspire to have your job and beyond. Passion trumps skills in “Next
Gen”, we can learn anything, we cannot, however, get excited for something we
dislike.
19.
20. Find the next celebrity, not the "IT" celebrity. Case studies - JUNO and Nick and
Norah's Infinite Playlist
21.
22. Surprise people by helping the little guy, the small nonprofit that can do more with
your donation and will become advocates of yours forever vs the large nonprofits
who only care about your bank account. “Next Gen” will appreciate that.
23.
24. Get people to answer your phones. You are losing more business than money you
are making by having that shitty automated system.
25.
26. When a young person learns about your product at a concert or event, and they go to
your site, say something about that event. Better yet, make a mobile site or
microsite based solely on that event and how they can get involved, buy your
product or learn more.
27.
28. Train your event staff and hourly employees better than the spokesperson in your
commercials, they are the ones interacting with kids at events.
29.
30. Find local trends. The internet makes this possible. What teens like in Orlando is
different than teens in Paducah, KY.
31.
32. Listen, don't respond, LISTEN some more.
33.
34. “Next Gen” doesn't buy cars based on your commercials. Car commercials are some
of the worst commercials ever made for turning anyone into a brand advocate.
35.
36. Phones that do everything are the future, if you do not have a way for kids to access
you on the go, you will lose to the company that is.
37.
38. When advertising on a Social Network, make the ad relate to what we are doing. If
you advertis on Pandora, make us a cool play list or introduce us to an artist that
you care about.
39.
40. Stop hiding. We do not like walls.
41.
42. Get us involved. Email the cool blogger and invite them to brainstorm for your next ad,
blog post or podcast. Find a great photograph on Flickr and ask the person to do
a shoot for you. You will get results that are not so cookie cutter like every other
ad agency.
43.
44. Seek out great talent. Don't wait for that great resume to find you, find the next great
person in your organization through building relationships, and knowing your
ideal candidate.
45.
46. Be transparent. Lying is for politicians and we see right through his crap.
47.
48. Do not place products in music videos if it doesn't work. It makes us hate the band too
and that doens't help you out in the long run.
49.
50. Find the thing that makes your brand GRAB our attention in between the millions of
logos, interruptions, commercials and brand names we hear every day.
51.
52. When the youth grab your product and make it part of their culture, find a way to keep
the momentum withouth chastizing every last penny out of it to make quarterly
goals. Instead, grow organically and you will see long-term success and a brand
that grows for generations. Look at Levi's or Dickie's.
53.
54. Realize that just because you gave away some cool free swag at Warped Tour or the
X Games, it does not make you cool. How did that product relate to “Next Gen”,
make their experience better? How can they get back in touch with you when
they need what you offer?
55.
56. Myspace is dead, sorry. Again if you are just getting on the train, you missed the one
with the cool kids.
57.
58. There are going to be more smaller groups that make an impact with “Next Gen”, than
one big group. How can your brand be a part of many groups without ruining your
image?
59.
60. Realize that kids are going to talk about your brand in ways you never imagined. They
will pick on you, call you names and ignore you on the shelf. How you bounce
 back the next season is important. Think the not so cute girl who grows up a bit
over the summer and comes back to get the QB.
61.
62. Mash-ups are a great way to grab an audience that you want.
63.
64. Create a culture, not a logo.
65.
66. The co-sign is dying. Co-signing is term that was used in hip-hop when an artist came
into the game on the strength of an acquaintance. Basically, it boils down to the
fact that you need to stand on your own feet and get respect without that of major
backing. Think Scion, it would survive to “Next Gen” without Toyota's name due
to the culture it built.
67.
68. Free is not a solution. We will pay for things that we believe in, but if we can find it for
free, more than likely we will use that price point. What is so awesome about
your business that is going to make me BUY.
69.
70. There is more competition than ever. Optimize your entire business plan. The youth
search for things any and everywhere and way. Optimize your content to show
up everywhere that we are, have an RSS Feed, Twitter account, Facebook page,
mobile site, iPhone and gPhone app, SEO for Google, etc.
71.
72. Get back to basics. Why do you want to reach the youth? What do you gain by
focusing on them? What do you lose if you miss?
73.
74. Get back to focus groups. Again the Internet makes this easy and powerful..
Mercedes did a good job of getting teens involved in their brand focus and it
seems to be working.
75.
76. Get offline. Sponsor events that matter, but don't just cut a check, get involved and
really be passionate about the things you invest in.
77.
78. Educate your staff. If you have an iPhone app and your employees have no idea it
exists, then why have it?

Care about what you are doing.