I've just a new job, well, temp to perm contract and I'm kind of struggling attempting to get in the mindset of my target audience. Who has children 6-16? Even better if they are in an independent school too. What do children of that age like these days?! I've been doing ok so far, but I feel doing a bit more research may help. I'm 29, the youngest in my family and know no children of this age group. The thing that threw me is one of my employers drilled into me that children at indepenent schools are more sophisticated and cultured, but I guess they are still children at the end of the day (please, this is not a debate about that). Bit of a strange one I know, but I feel a bit out of the loop - I'm guessing Mario and Sonic aren't what they used to be...
Just a suggestion that you modify your title to specify what types of things your looking for I.E. gaming, music, IM/Texting apps, social media? Also what platform pc, IPOD, phone, tablet. When my son gets home tonight I can have him give you a few ideas.
Well, its just in general really and I know that doesn't make it any easier. Basically I have to design/create marketing material that will be of interest to them, so I have to know what kind of things they like in general (because everyone has different tastes) so I can find ways of making what I do relevant to them but still please my bosses! The only thing my employers really gave me to go on is "think rugby and field hockey" and things like that. Tough one. Just thought I'd try and get some input to get the juices flowing!
It will be about 12 hours before he gets home and were on the other side of the pond if that makes a difference. I can give you a few things that he is interested in now. If you want to send me a PM with a slight outline Ill have him fill out the blanks when he gets home. Computer interest. 1. Facebook 2. Pinger - free text app 3. OOVOO - free video conferencing 4. FPS shooting games 5. building computers 6. Stage technology - he does tech for school programs and band 7. he likes auto racing (Nascar cars and trucks) 8. Motor cross - dirt bikes 9. he is still in to cartoons (for some reason) 10. Face time on his I pod 11. Interested in the military (wants to be a U.S. Marine) 12. He constantly plays games on his I pod 13. Youtube 14. He likes Ice hockey ( i think it is the violence aspect but I'm not sure 15. He likes Soccer/football as you call it. 16. Girls/ sex ( he is a 16 yo boy) 17. likes to play with tools like schetch up (wants to be an architectural engineer) 18. likes to take apart things and see how things work 19. Rodeo (bull riding to be specific) 20. Music videos I hope this is a start for you and what your looking for. You could make a template of different areas your looking for interest in so it will make it easier on the kids, they have a short attention span so it would be to keep them on track. I could email it to some of the kids in the youth program that I work with if you like. But that would defiantly require a template. Not sure if it matters we are in the U.S. so it my skew your research a bit since you are in the UK. Hope it helps, and always happy to help a fellow bit-techer
I'm also 16, interests: 1. Facebook 2. Whatsapp! 3. Skype 4. FPS shooting and racing games 5. building computers 6. F1 7. Keyboards <3 8. Music. 9. Motor sports generally. Stock Cars! 10. Instagram, all iPhone apps, only a 3GS though 11. Always on computer / bit-tech 13. Youtube 14. Cycling 15. Girls hurr de durr! 16. likes to take apart things and see how things work 17. Music videos FYI - I suspect most posters will have similar interest to Dad, so most of bit's population will be tech based. Maybe try asking children in person?
As per my earlier comments I would suggest a form type questioner. 1.Tech interest 2. Sports 3. television 4. computer gaming 5. food 6. ambitions for life after child hood 7. Tablets, Ipod, Ipad 8. School activities 9.Music taste 10. Computer activities other than gaming 11. Movies Just a thought to maybe hone in on what your looking for.
6 to 16 is a very large difference. It also can vary greatly depending on sex. Generally for a 10+ male gaming is a pretty safe bet. As is sport. Those 2 should cover most bases. It would help if we knew what you were trying to market I suppose.
As it happens, I used to go to an independent school (up to Year 6) then moved to a grammar school, at which I am at now. I could definitely feel a change in the attitudes of the students - at the independent school everyone was generally well mannered, swearing was almost not heard of although as you mentioned, at the end of the day we were all still kids so stuff like minor bullying and playground 'violence' still happened. As for my interests: Tech stuff Gaming Making sure coursework is complete/to a high standard (this is where my independent schooling comes in IMHO) Fixing broken friendships/relationships (this is just me ) Learning new things that interest me (mainly computers + maths) Sex and stuff
I'm 18 so a few years out of date. In regards rugby and hockey. About 40% played for school and 20% took it more seriously and played for clubs. In comparison to COD its nothing. Maybe look at Abercrombie and Jack Wills and see how they market. It works at least based on what people wore on "mufti" days.
I'm 15, and I go to an independant school. What do I like: Seeing friends Seeing my lass Good music Using my PC too much, leading to huge procrastination Kelly Brook Basketball Rugby My phone Texting my friends Cheesecake Watching football Doing stupidly well in exams Peta Todd What people in my year like doing: Getting stupidly drunk at parties, at least, a few do Football Facebook Sports, esp. Rugby Doing well Extra curricular activities have exploded in popularity
15: sex parties getting drunk off ass tech stuff(maybe a given martial arts science gaming(never EVER will i touch a wii again) talking brainstorming(iunno why) facebook aviation(and airforce/marines, or navy) science fiction(space odysee, eureka, warehous, stuff like that youtube FOOD, FOOD FOOD! and waking up in a roadside ditch like i did this morning. Oh, and musclecars
I have a 16 year old sister Things she enjoys: Pissing everyone off Twitter Music Writing / reading / Crappy TV shows Junk Food Talking / friends More music Complaining / judging everything Shopping and clothes Texting Playing her DS Drawing / painting Staying up late Scary movies
As others have said, 6-16 is a huge range to try to appeal to all at once. I suppose you could have a marketing concept and represent it in different ways to try and bridge that gap a bit better. Is the task more about seeing what you can do and come up with on your own? In that case you need to focus onto something which is probably the most difficult part to do without a more specific brief. You need to get a fix on what you want to represent and then it'll be a lot easier to figure out how to do it for the audience. Another thing, it's all well and good knowing who the target is but you need to know where the target is as well. From the comment about Independent schools, I'm guessing it's aimed at private school kids?
Id say its to big a range to apply to, If its a product a 6 year old is hardly the purchase decision maker whilst a 16 year old could well be.
Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it. The age range is actually 3-18. Not all the material (infact, pretty much none of it) is aimed directly at the whole age span, its just that those are the ages I need to cater to. Like I said, just trying to get into the mindset a little more as sometimes I feel I dont have a clue. I have been OK so far as the content is already there so I've only had to redesign it all, but I've impressed them quite a lot so they have asked me to come up with my own material.
