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Help in Getting more traffic to my baby boomer niche site

by Afreidman
15 replies
Hi everybody,

I have recently entered the Baby boomer niche and i wanted to know what your best tactics are to getting traffic, opt-ins and sales from the niche.

What keywords would you use and what tactic would you take?

Would you do anything different than other niche markets you promote your offers to?

At the moment I found quite a lot of over 50's on Facebook and have attracted some traffic with Google adwords.

But i'm keen to get the low down and some good advice.

Thanks for helping out!
#baby #boomer #niche #site #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author Ken28
    I think you'll find it even harder to get the boomers to pull out credit cards and buy online than to get them to your site(s).

    Most (not all, I understand) of the baby boomers are from a different time. They're afraid of new technology. They don't understand how it works. My mom for instance, (born in '46) you would never in a million years get her to enter a credit card number over the Internet under any circumstance. She's afraid of the digital world and just got online a couple of months ago.

    The younger folks who were born into the digital world seem to understand it better and are easier to get a credit card number from.

    So in addition to getting traffic from the boomers, you better come up with something good to get them to pull out their cards once they are at your site. Doesn't do any good if you have all the traffic in the world if the people there have their Visa card locked in a safe!
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    • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
      Originally Posted by Ken28 View Post

      I think you'll find it even harder to get the boomers to pull out credit cards and buy online than to get them to your site(s).

      Most (not all, I understand) of the baby boomers are from a different time. They're afraid of new technology. They don't understand how it works. My mom for instance, (born in '46) you would never in a million years get her to enter a credit card number over the Internet under any circumstance. She's afraid of the digital world and just got online a couple of months ago.

      The younger folks who were born into the digital world seem to understand it better and are easier to get a credit card number from.

      So in addition to getting traffic from the boomers, you better come up with something good to get them to pull out their cards once they are at your site. Doesn't do any good if you have all the traffic in the world if the people there have their Visa card locked in a safe!

      Well... I arrived at the tail end of the 'boom,' a lot later than 46 and closer to
      the 60s.

      I've purchased 1000s of things online starting from the mid 90s... sonny boy.

      If you want to know how to market and get sales from us from another time,
      then you can start with a little thing called... drum roll... market research.

      Then, proceed as normal with choosing a niche, within the larger group of us from
      another time. Then do proper keywords, etc.. blah blah.

      Did you ever see that movie, "We Were Soldiers (Once... And Young)," with
      Mel Gibson? It came out in 2002, possibly before you were born. But anyway...

      The old sergeant in that movie, the veteran from WW2 and Korea? If you saw
      it, remember that line when he turned to the smartass young officers and said,
      "Any you sombitches call me grandpaw, I'll kill you."?

      Great movie.


      Ken
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      • Profile picture of the author Ken28
        Originally Posted by KenThompson View Post

        Well... I arrived at the tail end of the 'boom,' a lot later than 46 and closer to
        the 60s.

        I've purchased 1000s of things online starting from the mid 90s... sonny boy.

        If you want to know how to market and get sales from us from another time,
        then you can start with a little thing called... drum roll... market research.

        Then, proceed as normal with choosing a niche, within the larger group of us from
        another time. Then do proper keywords, etc.. blah blah.

        Did you ever see that movie, "We Were Soldiers (Once... And Young)," with
        Mel Gibson? It came out in 2002, possibly before you were born. But anyway...

        The old sergeant in that movie, the veteran from WW2 and Korea? If you saw
        it, remember that line when he turned to the smartass young officers and said,
        "Any you sombitches call me grandpaw, I'll kill you."?

        Great movie.


        Ken
        If you noticed I said most boomers, not all. Read that line again. Apparently you missed it.

        I'm also not the one asking for help selling to the seniors, so why would I be the one who needs to conduct some market research?

        I'm thinking online eyeglasses for baby boomers might be a good niche for me to enter though.

        And finally, I wasn't born after 2002. I was born in 75.

        Thanks for coming out though.
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        • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
          Originally Posted by Ken28 View Post

          If you noticed I said most boomers, not all. Read that line again. Apparently you missed it.

          I'm also not the one asking for help selling to the seniors, so why would I be the one who needs to conduct some market research?

          I'm thinking online eyeglasses for baby boomers might be a good niche for me to enter though.

          And finally, I wasn't born after 2002. I was born in 75.

          Thanks for coming out though.
          No, I didn't miss it. I understand you were not the one asking for help. It
          seemed implicit to me that the OP would read the suggestion to do market
          research since it applied to him. My comment about 'us from another time'
          was general sarcasm and not directed to anyone, specifically.

          No, I don't recommend you enter the market for selling eyeglasses to boomers,
          either. But it is there if you want to give it a shot.

          No need to thank me for coming out. But it was a pleasure talking to you.


          Ken
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          • Profile picture of the author Ken28
            Originally Posted by KenThompson View Post

            No, I didn't miss it. I understand you were not the one asking for help. It
            seemed implicit to me that the OP would read the suggestion to do market
            research since it applied to him. My comment about 'us from another time'
            was general sarcasm and not directed to anyone, specifically.

            No, I don't recommend you enter the market for selling eyeglasses to boomers,
            either. But it is there if you want to give it a shot.

            No need to thank me for coming out. But it was a pleasure talking to you.


            Ken
            It obviously appears as though you took offense to my remarks and went on the defensive side right away and got all sarcastic.

            You know, my intentions were not to say boomers are old and don't know anything about computers. But you can take it any way you want.

            I do believe that most people reading my comments understand my point. I simply stated many boomers do not use computers at all, and for those that do, most guard against providing credit card numbers online. It's reality.

            And Rich is right when he hinted about selling to boomers offline.

            If you read between the lines, that is basically what I was getting around to saying.

            I'm not well and I'm off to bed.
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            • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
              Originally Posted by Ken28 View Post

              It obviously appears as though you took offense to my remarks and went on the defensive side right away and got all sarcastic.

              You know, my intentions were not to say boomers are old and don't know anything about computers. But you can take it any way you want.

              I do believe that most people reading my comments understand my point. I simply stated many boomers do not use computers at all, and for those that do, most guard against providing credit card numbers online. It's reality.

              And Rich is right when he hinted about selling to boomers offline.

              If you read between the lines, that is basically what I was getting around to saying.

              I'm not well and I'm off to bed.
              Ken,

              Sorry to hear you're not well. Actually, I was really not offended at all by it. I
              understood what you meant, and you are right about that. I know very well
              that many older people feel that way about buying. But it's interesting that
              there is a percentage of much younger people who are very hesitant about
              buying online, too. They're just concerned about security with their cc's.

              It's no big deal.


              Ken
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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by Ken28 View Post

      I think you'll find it even harder to get the boomers to pull out credit cards and buy online than to get them to your site(s).

      I will have to strongly disagree with this. I spent a lot of time marketing to boomers and even seniors online and it was fantastic!
      Signature

      Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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      • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
        Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

        I will have to strongly disagree with this. I spent a lot of time marketing to boomers and even seniors online and it was fantastic!
        Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author ebbomb
    Look at sites that attract an older, more educated audience. I know, for instance, that Calculated Risk attracts older individuals over younger individuals.

    An example, Baby Boomers will be searching for things pertinent to retirement or if they're ready. I've noticed that financial blog readers post as if they are older, though I'm not sure if they're as old as the Baby Boomers.

    As far as words and phrases, just think about what things concern Baby Boomers right now - retirement, economics, social security, et cetera.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    For the uninformed here, baby boomers and seniors are the fastest growing group of internet users. They also have vastly more wealth than all other age groups combined and believe it or not, they spend it. The idea that they are all broke and terrified of computers is something of a myth - they just need a little confidence is all.

    As far as reaching them, these people are generally not hanging out on chat boards etc. Basically you have to ask yourself this: If I was trying to sell something to my mom or my grandpa, how would I reach them? Answer that and you are golden. (Hint: Think offline.)

    Leave me a PM with your site, maybe we can work together.
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    • Profile picture of the author katied772
      I am a "boomer" and not at all afraid of computers (even though I'm far from techie) or spending my money online. I avoid shopping excursions in the real world. Malling is not my thing; it would take away from my valuable time online. In addition to my sites and IM, I also write online as a profession. I believe the idea of computer phobia goes back further than the boomer crowd. Too many boomers have spent too many hours working at jobs requiring computer usage.

      I also am delving into the boomer niche and the things I am finding, both from experience and research are:

      Retirement strategies and issues

      Financial/investing

      Second acts ( what to do with my life now that I supposedly have more time) such as developing new interests, trying new things.

      Travel

      Being the "sandwich" generation, caring for aging parents and dealing with the kids moving back home.

      Grandkids

      Creating additional income (think home business/online businesses)

      Health

      Diet and fitness

      Dating again for single boomers (boy have things changed)

      Just think of any issue affecting anyone, then adapt it to the boomer market. Basically, at all ages, we share many concerns.
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  • Profile picture of the author paintbrush4u
    Originally Posted by Afreidman View Post

    Hi everybody,

    I have recently entered the Baby boomer niche and i wanted to know what your best tactics are to getting traffic, opt-ins and sales from the niche.

    What keywords would you use and what tactic would you take?

    Would you do anything different than other niche markets you promote your offers to?

    At the moment I found quite a lot of over 50's on Facebook and have attracted some traffic with Google adwords.

    But i'm keen to get the low down and some good advice.

    Thanks for helping out!
    Looks like you have got a good niche identified.
    What keyword tools are you using? what type of site is it that you are driving to? is it a info site, a mini page, a squeeze page, a ecom site etc?
    There are lot of variables...
    PM me with some details and I can see if I can help you out.

    Thx
    -PB
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    Geo-Targeting and local SEO Consultant
    Yes I do believe in Money Tree - Its just that we call it our LISTs

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  • Profile picture of the author paintbrush4u
    I can tel you this.. baby boomers hot button right now is......
    they are too worried that they will not have enough to retire....
    either attract them with what they want the most or use what they naturally fear and offer a solution.
    Your key to monetizing this niche may be in a online/offline/hybrid solution?
    Signature

    Geo-Targeting and local SEO Consultant
    Yes I do believe in Money Tree - Its just that we call it our LISTs

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    • Profile picture of the author netlexis
      Do your market research is the best advice given here. The boomer market is no different than any other niche -- provide a solution to a problem or want. And we have no problem at all whipping out those credit cards. After all, look at how much debt we're racked up!

      Off topic: I was trying to come up with a snappy reply to Ken, my my old boomer mind is failing me (that and being up since 4 am), so I'll just leave him with this... :p
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  • Profile picture of the author aaronngoh
    I would look at your niche and do a google search.

    Look for the 1st few websites that come up with the searches.

    Use quantcast.com to look at demographic of those sites.

    This work for the US demographic only

    Hope it helps
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    http://www.wellnessnumberone.com
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