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Good sources for words that influence specific demographics?

by TracyBelshee
19 replies
I'm working on a project where the key demographic for the product is the elderly. It's a piece of software that is easy to use compared to the competition, yet gives them the same (and often better) results.

The largest group of buyers is 40-50-60 and up. Many of which are not particularly technologically savvy.

Are there any good sources available that provide lists of words that speak to particular age groups? Or is this simply something that is a learn and research as you go, testing type of situation?

Thanks for any advice
#demographics #good #influence #sources #specific #words
  • Profile picture of the author Drez
    This may not be what you had in mind, but it's a great synonym database/application called MobySaurus.

    I've used this free software for years.

    It hasn't been updated in quite some time. And may be orphaned at this point, but I recommend it.

    Here's where you can get it for free: https://www.donationcoder.com/Softwa...er/mobysaurus/
    Signature

    Mark "Drez" Dresner
    Swipe My Massive Copywriting Swipe Files Collection for FREE
    http://AdvertisingCopySwipes.com

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  • Profile picture of the author TracyBelshee
    Thanks for that, it'll come in handy.

    What I'm referring to is something that would list words that speak to a specific group of people based on their ages.

    Kinda like how you'd use specific words to target the make money online crowd or lose weight crowd, words that speak to people based on their age. Something that would make them feel like the specific product is aimed at people their age and that they would more easily understand.

    There may not be such a thing but I thought it would be better to ask rather than assume it doesn't exist.

    I appreciate the tool you linked to and will put that on my desktop for reference
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by TracyBelshee View Post

    I'm working on a project where the key demographic for the product is the elderly. It's a piece of software that is easy to use compared to the competition, yet gives them the same (and often better) results.

    The largest group of buyers is 40-50-60 and up. Many of which are not particularly technologically savvy.

    Are there any good sources available that provide lists of words that speak to particular age groups? Or is this simply something that is a learn and research as you go, testing type of situation?

    Thanks for any advice
    40, 50, and 60 are elderly? LOL

    To answer your question, check out the successful competition. There's a whole lot about your target group you can learn by doing so.

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author max5ty
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post


      40, 50, and 60 are elderly? LOL


      Alex
      LOL, I agree, these young kids today, geez.
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    • Profile picture of the author TracyBelshee
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

      40, 50, and 60 are elderly? LOL

      To answer your question, check out the successful competition. There's a whole lot about your target group you can learn by doing so.

      Alex
      Thanks Alex, yeah, you are right. Not particularly elderly. I'm in that age group myself, although at the lower end. So is my client.

      But from the sounds of it, a good portion of his clients see themselves that way. At least technologically speaking. And to be honest, I got the elderly thing from the forward in Seth's book. I thought it would help to speak to that particular group for this product.

      But I am taking your advice already and checking out his competition. So far, it looks like his product is similar, yet more user friendly.

      I guess the better direction would be to target the less tech savvy and let the "elderly" folk simply be a smaller portion of the audience.

      Thanks for that
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  • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
    I don't know about 40-50, but 60 could certainly be considered old.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Tracy,

      I can tell you that *no one* in the 40-60 age group considers themselves "elderly." That word is reserved for age 75 and up. Nor do they regard themselves as senior citizens.

      You're better advised to focus on trepidation about technology than on age.

      You can talk about how bewildered they are when they look at young people (who they are not) texting, downloading apps, using smartphones and knowing their way around advanced online stuff.

      It's not a matter of words, it's a matter of mindset.

      Review websites of competitive products and even (gasp) talk to some people in the target group.

      Marcia Yudkin
      Signature
      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post


        I can tell you that *no one* in the 40-60 age group considers themselves "elderly." That word is reserved for age 75 and up. Nor do they regard themselves as senior citizens.
        For sure.

        "Elderly" is one of those words that almost always has a negative connotation.

        To the young, many of whom have a strong disdain for people 60 and over, it's often used in a disrespectful manner. To those who are 60 and over, it represents a state of health they don't want to experience.

        The bottom line is, in copy targeting older age groups, be very careful how you use the word "elderly".

        Alex

        PS - speaking of 60 and over, 65+ is the largest age demo on the WF.
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        • Profile picture of the author The Copy Nazi
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

          PS - speaking of 60 and over, most people here don't know this - 65+ is the largest age demo on the WF.
          Really? Where do you access those stats? Not disputing you but I would have thought the demographic was half that age.
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          • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
            Originally Posted by The Copy Nazi View Post

            Really? Where do you access those stats? Not disputing you but I would have thought the demographic was half that age.
            I'll PM you Mal. I don't want to publicly reveal my source.

            Alex
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      • Profile picture of the author TracyBelshee
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        Tracy,

        I can tell you that *no one* in the 40-60 age group considers themselves "elderly." That word is reserved for age 75 and up. Nor do they regard themselves as senior citizens.

        You're better advised to focus on trepidation about technology than on age.

        You can talk about how bewildered they are when they look at young people (who they are not) texting, downloading apps, using smartphones and knowing their way around advanced online stuff.

        It's not a matter of words, it's a matter of mindset.

        Review websites of competitive products and even (gasp) talk to some people in the target group.

        Marcia Yudkin
        Thanks Marcia,

        Elderly was definitely not the right word, and for what it's worth, I'd not think about using it in the actual copy. One foot in the grave or on deaths doorstep, maybe, but never elderly

        The client mentioned most of his clients were older and not particularly tech savvy, I simply used elderly here when thinking about what Dan Kennedy said and thought maybe that would get me words that spoke to an older crowd more effectively.
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        • Profile picture of the author TracyBelshee
          Btw, I'm out of thanks, but thank you everyone. I appreciate the input.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cool Hand Luke
      Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

      I don't know about 40-50, but 60 could certainly be considered God's waiting room.
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    • Profile picture of the author KreativCopy
      Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

      I don't know about 40-50, but 60 could certainly be considered God's waiting room.
      '
      I don't know if Ray Kroc, Ronald Reagan, Colonel Sanders or countless others who 'made it' in their 'more wiser years' would agree with you there, OK so Reagan was a successful actor prior to being a politician ( I may have just contradicted myself there )...but you see where I am coming from.
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      • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
        Headline. Sold millions of dollars worth of books in AARP magazine.

        Sold more millions in other print media.

        The "age" defined by a pic of Granny in glasses and in placement.

        Don't lump all old people together. What works on them,

        Quick, Easy, Love, Money

        works on us all.

        The ad was by Bud Weckesser. One of his best. Sales of over 2 million books.

        gjabiz

        http://www.infomarketingblog.com/ern...our-telephone/
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        • Profile picture of the author TracyBelshee
          Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post

          Headline. Sold millions of dollars worth of books in AARP magazine.

          Sold more millions in other print media.

          The "age" defined by a pic of Granny in glasses and in placement.

          Don't lump all old people together. What works on them,

          Quick, Easy, Love, Money

          works on us all.

          The ad was by Bud Weckesser. One of his best. Sales of over 2 million books.

          gjabiz

          Ernest Weckesser Ad: How To Make Your Computer As Easy To Use As Your Telephone
          Thank you, I like that. It'll influence what I do for this.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Copy Nazi
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

      I don't know about 40-50, but 60 could certainly be considered God's waiting room.
      And he wonders why he was banned?
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy The Copywriter
    - Publications aimed at the demographic you're targeting.

    - Blogs written by prominent members of the demographic you're targeting.

    - Forums frequented by the demographic you're targeting.

    - Magazines for the demographic you're targeting.

    etc, etc...
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    • Profile picture of the author TracyBelshee
      Originally Posted by Andy The Copywriter View Post

      - Publications aimed at the demographic you're targeting.

      - Blogs written by prominent members of the demographic you're targeting.

      - Forums frequented by the demographic you're targeting.

      - Magazines for the demographic you're targeting.

      etc, etc...
      Thanks, I'll be spending some time at many of those places looking for more information. I've already found some relevant forums to look into.
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