At A Certain Age, You Begin To Understand….

….why your elders shook their heads at newfangled ideas like television, 24-hour convenience stores, cars, and buying on credit. Here are a few business and marketing trends that may change the way baby boomers think about things:

• Where words fail, music speaks. Athletic shoe companies, fast-food retailers, and luxury brands are using digital music services to amplify their brand identities and engage with customers. For instance, a well-known cruise line’s playlist includes tunes with fun summer vibes, while a shampoo brand’s list embraces singing-in-the-shower songs.
• Have an advertisement with that advertisement. A popular music identification app is helping television networks and advertisers connect with consumers’ second screens – their smart phones and tablets. The app’s logo appears during commercials and TV shows. If viewers interact with the logo, then the show or product has opportunities to re-market to viewers through their mobile devices.
• Want to attract a crowd? New and growing businesses have a lot of options when it comes to raising capital. If a business wants to borrow money, in addition to traditional sources, they can turn to peer-to-peer and social lending platforms. If a company wants equity investors, they may pursue equity crowdfunding. In fact, a recent study reported: 

“Today, it’s apparent the crowdfunding phenomenon has indeed affected the VC (Venture Capital) ecosystem – as a complementary force. With thousands of consumer-oriented hardware campaigns looking for financing for everything from smart watches to beacon technologies, crowdfunding platforms… have provided VC investors with a valuable source for dealflow.” 

Whether you’re a consumer or a businessperson, it’s important to remain aware of the ways in which the world is evolving and take advantage of opportunities that can make your life easier and/or your business more successful.