Targeting the senior market

[512 Designs]

I own a social media hobby site that's all about digital scrapbooking. I'm amazed at how many senior citizens sign up for that site. I'm not saying this in a negative way. I think it's awesome.

It always seems like the internet is advertised more towards the hip young crowd using twitter, facebook, myspace, smart phones, etc.

But I'm finding out that there's a huge number of seniors online out there too. Is anyone here targeting that market?

Mike

P.S. I'm 43 so I'm not part of that market.....yet.

[Peggy Baron]

Good for you Mike.
I think it's a huge market with lots of potential, that's why I write PLR geared towards seniors/Baby Boomers for marketers to use. I would like to see more products on ClickBank for them though.

Peggy
P.S. I'm on the baby end of Baby Boomers

[netkid]

Hey Mike,

The seniors are getting more and more adept to going online. I do offline/online marketing and I recently sold a senior home on doing their blog which will include teaching the seniors how to make a post, upload their pictures, etc. I have 4 locations! The seniors love to learn something new and also get to keep in touch with their family at the same time.

Regards,

Bruce

[Kevin_Hutto]

I sell a lot of Golf products to seniors and am rolling out a new one soon.

[freudianslip27]

Why don't you ask them? I'm sure you can do that in a respectful way. It could help you learn more about how to best help you meet their needs. You could send out a survey and give them some sort of bonus for taking the time to do it. You could even send it out to everyone but then have a spot where you gather their age.

Matt

[MALifeinsurance]

This is very interesting I sell final expense and Medicare supplemental insurance that is geared towards seniors. The insurance carriers and marketers of these products strongly discourages Internet marketing or advertising of this product via the Internet because they say that most seniors are not computer savvy. hmm..I would like to research this more.

[morris451]

Depends a lot on how you define "seniors." If you mean just over age 65, then I'd bet most every "senior" is net-savvy. If you mean 85+, then not so much. I market to "young" seniors with no problem at all. Medicare supplement insurance is the just-turned-65-market...can't imagine why you would be advised to stay away from net marketing to them.

[MALifeinsurance]

I market to seniors 65+ and also baby boomers who are 50+ for final expense products. It is amazing how far behind the insurance industry is when it comes to technology. There are a few carriers that are somewhat advanced but most life insurance and medicare supplemental carriers still rely on direct marketing post cards and cold calling(ugggg) for sales.

[MacFreddie]

I used to market to Seniors.

Use Large Fonts.

[Richnana]

The insurance companies probably rely on the outdated technology because they are seniors citizens in their mind and have determined that seniors are slow or somhow have not kept up with technology.

I am a grandma. ( I told this to my grandson's teacher today - I was in Dallas the day JFK was assasinated. (Her reply "I wasn't even born then) So, you can determine my age and chagrin.

The first computer I worked on was an IBM 3279. I have grandchildren who use the IPod IPhone and WiFI. I have to keep up with them when they want this electronic gadgetry for Birthdays and Christmas gifts. So technology is not foreign to seniors.

I use a computer, do a little web design, know how to upload videos to Utube.. yeah at 61 I know what that is.

Love to travel, looking for bargains on home decorating. Love skateboarding - watching it not doing it... grandson does that.

I wear glasses but can read 10 point fonts. Want to look young and feel young but I don't want to be young. Seniors know the value of memories - that why the scrapbooking site is popular...

But, don't dummy down your presentation to seniors, the babyboomers are the most educated group to reach this information age. They retire as executives, top level managers, teachers, doctors, etc.

There is a brain drain in America as a result of the mass exodus of these highly talented individuals. They are still learning, still searching for answers, they just do it a little slower now.

[512 Designs]

Richnana,

Your post is very inspirational and proof of my original post. Seniors are definitely a group that is or can be internet savy.

My father recently turned 80 and he even goes online to check email, check websites, downloads photos and more. 10 years ago he never even owned a computer. He now has broadband access in his home.

I may have to do a little keyword research on some senior citizen products. This market may be be a gold mine waiting to be tapped.

Mike

[Andrew G Gowans]

Hi Mike,

I think it is a real shame that so many companies from fashion to insurance undervalue the potential of this market.

Unlike Peggy, I am at the other end of the baby boomers, 60 this year. Not only computer literate, I am happily providing an online writing service to clients all over the world.

The point is - this is a huge market and the mistake that is still being made even today is that the so-called seniors have no added value. The good news is, the ones who continue to hold that opinion are the ones who are losing out.

One of the terms used is "silver surfers" which I think is a horrible phrase. However, it is reckoned to be the fastest and largest growth area on the internet.

From how to stay fit and healthy programs to dating for seniors, there are online marketers making a very good income.

This is a goldmine and we all know what happens when you get there first.

Andrew G.