Edelman 8095®, named for the years in which the generation was born, 1980 to 1995, is an insights group studying the Millennial
generation and their relationship with brands. Following a benchmark study in 2010, Edelman now unveils 8095® 2.0, an updated
look at Millennials, their new aspirations and the role that brands play in their lives.
8095® 2.0 SURVEY MILLENNIALS HAVE BEEN SHAPED MILLENNIALS ARE ALPHA-INFLUENCERS
BY THE GLOBAL RECESSION With many Millennials entering parenthood and
4,000 Millennials in 11 countries
They are growing up, and so too are their building careers – their sphere of influence
views of success. Coming of age in the continues to expand – 74% believe they influence
AUSTRALIA INDIA
global recession has closed many traditional the purchase decisions of those around them. And
BRAZIL TURKEY paths to success, forcing them to push back they expect a two-way dialogue:
typical stages of adulthood, but has also 7 IN 10 MILLENNIALS THINK IT’S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO
CANADA UAE created a new breed of entrepreneurs. SHARE FEEDBACK WITH COMPANIES AFTER A GOOD OR BAD
EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
CHINA UK OF MILLENNIALS SAY
THAT OWNING THEIR
FRANCE US OWN BUSINESS IS A 90% 90% 82% 81%
TOP LIFE GOAL
GERMANY
INDIA CHINA BRAZIL UAE
WHY MILLENNIALS MATTER FRIENDS OF BRANDS
TO MARKETERS 75% 72% 67% 66%
Millennials are surprisingly open to brand
engagement and advertising, but only if
BIG: brands have the right approach.
TURKEY GLOBAL
AVERAGE
US UK
The largest generation alive
today – 1.8 billion globally 8 IN 10 MILLENNIALS EXPECT BRANDS TO ENTERTAIN
THEM. HOW DO THEY WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED? 64% 61% 59% 57%
INFLUENTIAL:
Impact purchase decisions of ALLOW ME TO CO-CREATE AUSTRALIA FRANCE GERMANY CANADA
peers & parents and will outpace 40% YOUR PRODUCTS
Boomer earnings by 2018
ANSWER MY QUESTIONS/ CONNECT ME TO OTHER
UNIQUE: 33% COMMENTS IN REAL TIME IN SOCIAL MEDIA 21% FANS OF THE BRAND/COMPANY
The first inherently digital I DON’T EXPECT BRANDS/
generation that does not know a 32% SPONSOR ENTERTAINING EVENTS 20% COMPANIES TO ENTERTAIN ME
world without the Internet or
smartphones 31% CREATE ONLINE CONTENT SUCH
AS VIDEOS, PHOTOS, GAMES AND BLOGS 19% PARTNER WITH A CELEBRITY
OR PUBLIC FIGURE I ADMIRE

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MARKETERS
For brands to matter to Millennials, “average” is no longer enough. A whole new level of engagement, authenticity and
purpose is necessary. Here are seven implications for marketers coming out of the 8095® study.
• MILLENNIALS AREN’T KIDS ANYMORE. • IT’S NOT YOUR BRAND ANYMORE. • “SMART AND FUNNY IS THE NEW ROCK AND ROLL.”
The oldest are 33, the youngest 18. They It belongs to your customers. Marketers This quote from Nick Shore at MTV
are not the next frontier, they are the here must be willing to give up some brand summarizes an approach more marketers
and now generation with spending power, control. Millennials want to co-create with need to take. When we asked Millennials
careers and families. As the world’s top you, and have two-way dialogue 24/7/365. what brands need to do to capture their
alpha-influencers, every company needs to Be agile, collaborative and prepared to attention, their #1 answer – use humor.
see Millennials as influencers for the support the Action Consumers promoting While business is often serious, you don’t
purchase of their products or services. your brands. always need to take your message so
And we mean EVERY company. seriously. Find opportunities to be humble
• EXPERIENCES OVER STUFF. and witty.
• SHIFT AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL SEGMENTATION. Focus on how your product or service
Wake up, people! The world has changed. enables life experiences. Millennials want
“Minority” births now outnumber to buy into new ideas and be able to share
Caucasian births in the U.S. and the world those ideas and experiences with friends
is more diverse than ever before. Gender and family. Be social, and enable social
lines are being blurred, and more men are experiences.
taking over traditional female roles, and
vice versa. It’s time to lessen the focus on • HELP MILLENNIALS BECOME AN EXPERT ON YOUR
gender and other specifics and think about BRAND, PURPOSE AND STORY.
messages that appeal to the blurring of the Millennials have a strong desire to share
masses. and learn from each other. They want
brands to entertain them. Share your
• ENGAGE MILLENNIALS IN SURROUND SOUND. back-story, your history, the reasons why
While inherently digital and dominant in you make the products you make or
social media, they crave face-to-face deliver the service you deliver. It’s not
engagement and in-real-life (IRL) enough for brands to be great storytellers.
experiences. To successfully engage them, You need to enable your consumers to be
you need to reach them from all sides, and powerful storytellers on your behalf. Be
make sure your brand story is being told in authentic, transparent and communicate
many of the sources of information they your larger purpose.
use to make brand purchase decisions.