Reaching Baby Boomers on the Internet





Mark J. MillerEditor’s Note: Our newest guest expert, Mark J. Miller, presents a look at Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) — and it may surprise you. As he points out, this is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to serve this demographic as Boomers enter a new phase of their lives over the age of 50. Set aside your preconceived stereotypes, because the Web is ideal for serving them.

By Mark J. Miller

Looking for a growth market for your next online venture? Look no further than the 50+ market.

The number of U.S. adults over age 50 will soar over the next ten years. In fact, U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 50+ adults will be the only growth demographic — measured by age — between now and 2015 as the massive Baby Boomer generation enters its 50s and 60s.

Growth of 50+ population - U.S. Census

Plenty of companies hesitate when it comes to marketing new products to Boomers — especially products with a technology focus. Many marketers adhere to traditional — and wrong-headed — thinking about older consumers: They’ve already made their brand choices and can’t be interested in anything new. They’re resistant to change. They don’t adapt well to new technology.

Marketers will tell you the big opportunity lies in young consumers, because that’s where you can convert a “customer for life.” But with today’s ultra-dynamic product marketplace, the notion of acquiring lifetime customers is obsolete, perhaps with the exception of mundane consumer products such as toothpaste and soap. The pace of product change is just too great for any company to hold on to consumers that long.

What’s more, Baby Boomers are just as open to new products as younger consumers. This is a generation that has broken the mold during every stage of life — and middle age is no different. As Boomers hit midlife, they’re open to a wide range of new products and experiences — just as they have at every other stage of life.

In fact, Boomers always have been at the forefront when it comes to embracing new products and technologies. During the course of their adult lives, Boomers have embraced personal computers, cell phones, PDAs, e-mail, and voicemail, and a wide range of other products.

“Boomers are leading the companies that are bringing new technologies to the world,” says Anne Wall, senior vice president of C&R Research, a Chicago-based market research company that specializes in Boomer consumers. “They’re using it at work, and at home and their kids are using it, too. Their entire lives have been about change.”

When it comes to the Internet, the story is no different. Boomers are using the web at nearly the same rates as other age groups, and in just about the same way. Contrary to the stereotypes, 70 percent of adults age 50 to 64 are online, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, about 12 percentage points less than younger age groups.

And while fewer 50+ Internet users have access to a broadband Internet connection than the general online population, their overall usage patterns mirror other age segments, according to Pew research. They’re more likely than GenX’ers to use the web to gather information, nearly as likely to shop online, and they’re avid consumers of digital health information.

Beyond those usage patterns, we’ll see a general “graying trend” online in the years ahead as the overall U.S. population mix turns older. At the same time, over the next ten years the 50+ web audience will include more of today’s younger Boomers — and their Internet usage patterns point the way toward some of the most interesting future opportunities.

Older Boomers’ Internet usage mirrors the overall population — they tend to use big portal sites, do their banking and shop online. By contrast, younger Boomers — age 40 to 49 — are much more attracted to niche websites, blogs, multimedia and social networking applications, according to Ken Doctor, of Content Bridges, a digital content consultancy.

“In the early going, things like podcasts and video are seen as gadgets — they’re for early adopters,” argues Doctor. “As these technologies become easier over the next five years or so, there will be adoption by a broader range of Internet users,” he argues. “It won’t seem as geeky.”

One Boomer-focused site already is leveraging social networking and Web 2.0 technologies. Eons, launched in the summer of 2006 by Monster.com founder Jeff Taylor, is the largest website launch to date that specifically targets the 50+ market. The site’s traffic recently topped 500,000 unique visitors per month, and is challenging AARP to be the highest-traffic site for 50+ Americans.

Site users need to be at least 50 to register on the site — or at least, claim that they are. Founder Jeff Taylor’s slogan: “Let’s live to 100 or die trying.”

Eons’ biggest success is the way it engages members with its tools for social networking and user-generated content. These include discussion boards, online self-assessment tools, and content ranking and voting systems.

Says Linda Natansohn, Eons’ senior vice president of strategic development: “Every tool we put out, our members use. And, community is growing like wildfire on the site.” Eons hosts over 1,000 discussion groups, many of them created by users. “Some of the largest ones have 5,000 members, and they’re spawning new ones,” she says.

Eons’ experience points toward lots of online opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to tap into the burgeoning 50+ market in the years ahead. In fact, the Eons list of top searches offers a good road map for online entrepreneurs gauging possible niche website launches for the 50+ market. The most popular topics in 2006:

  • Alternative health
  • Entertainment
  • Finances
  • Health/disease
  • Hearth & home
  • Hobbies/fitness
  • Ones to watch
  • Relationships
  • Travel spots
  • Web 101

How’s that for a list of possible niche website launch topics? It’s not hard to imagine smaller web-based businesses succeeding in these areas. The key here is to provide highly targeted value-added content and services in the areas most demanded by aging boomers, provided effective traffic-building strategies are applied, and expenses are kept in check.

“The web is increasingly a really efficient way to do very specific targeting,” says Eon’s Linda Natansohn. “You need to have a very specific niche, and get smart about search engine marketing and tactics. There definitely will be room for smaller businesses.”

I recently asked Mary Furlong, who has been watching the Boomer generation closely since the mid-1980s, where she sees the best entrepreneurial opportunities in the Boomer market. Mary heads Mary Furlong & Associates and recently published a new book on Boomer entrepreneurs called “Turning Silver into Gold: How to Profit in the New Boomer Marketplace.”

“Remember ‘Plastics, Benjamin’ from The Graduate?” she said. “Now, it’s blood sugar and reverse mortgages. When you look at the big categories for new businesses they all relate to security and longevity for older people — money management, wealth transfer, lowering their bills and home income plans.”

“Eldercare is a another giant category. Everything from in-home services to adult day care, new assisted living solutions and cognitive fitness classes and fashion. We haven’t even imagined the services boomers will need when they start to need eldercare. And travel is just enormous. Boomers and their grandchildren are the fastest growing part of the travel business.”

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About the Author: Mark J. Miller is president of 50+Digital LLC, a multimedia publishing and consulting company serving the information needs of Baby Boomers. He also writes the 50+ Digital blog.

17 Comments ▼


17 Reactions
  1. Anita,
    What a fantastic article. As much as I am on the web, and as important as this demographic is to my franchise consulting practice, I am embarrassed to say that I have never even heard about http://www.eons.com
    Your blog just keeps getting better and better!
    Franpro

  2. Nice job.
    This nailed it:
    “Baby Boomers are just as open to new products as younger consumers. This is a generation that has broken the mold during every stage of life — and middle age is no different. As Boomers hit midlife, they’re open to a wide range of new products and experiences — just as they have at every other stage of life.”

    Thanks.

  3. Just thought I would let you know about a new website dedicated to baby boomers called BOOMj.com that your readers may be interested in. There are many nice sections (health, movies, finance, travel etc.) where you can meet new people as well as keep up on all the latest news, tips and goings on in the world. You guys should check it out if you feel so inclined. See ya.

    BOOMj

  4. Nathaniel Adam Briggs

    eGenerations.com – The Premier Internet Destination for Ages 50 & Up – was launched September 2006 with just $300.00 in initial funding, and proportionatly outperforms similiar larger multi-million dollar ventures.

    Currently eGenerations.com has Members from 40 countries, and has grown by 1100% with respect to Page Views.

    eGenerations is built on Natural Language, and incorporates Social Networking, Internet TV Content, and was built on User Requests.

    I invite you to review eGenerations.com!

    Nathaniel Adam Briggs, CEO/Founder, http://eGenerations.com

  5. As a Baby Boomer who works in the domain of Baby Boomers who own private companies with revenues of between $15 and $65 Million, the first question asked during the first meeting is, “What’s your web site address?” Baby Boomers are internet aficionados!

    Sixty percent of the GNP of the United States is in the hands of private company owners. That is to say that 60% of the capital doing what it does is private capital. Twenty-eight percent is owned by Baby Boomers.

    While the MBA trained mind is looking through a lens created by Wall Street and the codification of business schools, the opportunities abound in the private capital market. Twelve million “Baby Boomers” will have to create a liquidity event in order to turn their hard earned assets into cash. When one considers the law of supply and demand, there will be many bargains available unless the “Boomers” start planning their exit.

    A web site that should be of interest to any Baby Boomer who owns his/her company is:
    http://www.babyboomerbusinessblog.blogspot.com

    Your site is terrific! Keep up the fine work.

    Anthony Lorizio
    HamiltonWright

  6. This is a terrific overview – but not comprehensive. As a Boomer who writes about sex after 50 on my blog Consenting Adult, I’ve done some research that shows that older people are extremely active on the dating sites – from the most mainstream to the sites for people into alternative sexualities. After all, it was people our age who developed and promoted the Internet – and other new media and forms of communication – so why shouldn’t we get the most out of it, including making personal connections?
    Thanks for this,
    Sue Katz
    http://www.suekatz.com

  7. Thanks for this interesting analysis of Baby Boomer trends on the Internet. It makes me think that one of the great opportunities for Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs is to market to other Baby Boomers on-line.

    Your statistics point out that trends are changing and that Baby Boomers are becoming a more important part of the on-line community. That is most fascinating.

    Shallie Bey

    Smarter Small Business Blog

  8. […] the 45+ market are online, too. Even my grandparents, all in their 70s, are web savvy. In an online article, Mark J. Miller notes that “plenty of companies hesitate when it comes to marketing new […]

  9. Coming in 2010 a new site catering to the baby boomers in all aspects in the near future.

  10. Lambeau Leap Frank

    My grandfather was a bit older than the baby boomers, but he was an early adopter of technology. He spent most of his last 8 years of his life online. He participated in forums, reconnnected with long lost friends and family and really had an improved quality of life thanks to technology.





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