Marketing to Baby Boomers
Means Money in the Bank

As baby boomers turn 60 it's clear that they are not the same as oldtimers of generations past. Born between 1946 and 1964 baby boomers make up 30% of the USA and have more than $7 trillion in wealth.

Because they enjoy greater health, more wealth, and broader minds than their ancestors, their activities will not limited to rocking grandbabies on the front porch or playing Bingo on Wednesday nights at the community hall. Instead, baby boomers will be giving a new meaning to retirement. Many will be traveling to places where they can explore the world as well as combine their love of learning with hobbies, fun and relaxation.

Here are some of the activities boomers are choosing.

• Striking out in their RV's to see the country. Now they can check out for themselves whether the best barbecue is in Texas or Kansas.
• Expressing creativity and relaxing in picturesque settings such as art and photo safaris .
• Learning about their heritage draws them to cultural heritage tours, such as the underground railroad, Niagara Falls and living city tours.
• Bonding with others who share their hobbies at events such as the International Women's and Motorcycling Conference sponsored by Harley-Davidson.

Marketing to baby boomers holds a great deal of promise as long as you keep in mind a few features about this growing group:

1. They are Internet-savvy. Having an attractive, easy-to-use website will be a plus. They take time to research and compare.

2. They are often educated and ask a lot of questions, so you need to know your stuff.

3. They have strong self-esteems and prefer straightforward appeals. They want attention, but old-fashioned sales approaches won't work.

4. They insist on being treated with respect, but don't count on their loyalty. They'll switch companies if they find better value or better treament.

5. They still have affection for things of their youth and now they can afford to indulge themselves.

6. They are a diverse group with many interests. Some have no intention of ever retiring. Others are using retirement to start new endeavors. You can learn more about boomers from these blogs:

• The Boomer's World
• Coaching Texas
• Dear Baby Boomers
• 50 Plus Now

7. Get some boomer gift ideas at BabyBoomerHeadquarters.com

Baby boomers have more money and more time than the 50+ group of the past. Add to this the fact that there will this group will increase in size in the future and you have a vital market waiting to be tapped. Learning about the interests and needs of the baby boomer can mean money in the bank for your company and service.