With more than 68 million individuals in the US alone, Gen Z is emerging as a dominant consumer demographic.
To reach this demographic more effectively, you should continually innovate and adapt your marketing strategies.
Here, we are exploring facts, statistics, and valuable insights useful for marketing to Gen Z, covering:
and more to better communicate with this important demographic.
When it comes to marketing to Gen Z, it’s essential to reconsider the consumer funnels of the old world.
You need to understand their unique preferences, characteristics, and shopping behaviours.
For example, you need to grab their attention and keep them engaged quickly – as their attention span is around 8 seconds.
However, this is not the only insight you might need to tailor your marketing strategies and engage with Gen Zers to drive conversion.
Here are the most important Gen Z statistics and facts:
Today, Gen Z’s shopping habits are shaping the future of ecommerce.
As digital natives, they set online shopping trends and redefine expectations easily.
Here, we take a look at Gen Z’s online shopping behavior to see how their preferences are influencing the marketplace.
Once you understand the data here, you can tailor your marketing strategies accordingly to engage this dynamic demographic.
Let’s explore some online shopping behavior statistics for marketing to Gen Z:
Explore More: Discover latest Tiktok statistics to learn about the platform’s current impact.
When marketing to Gen Z, understanding their characteristics and values is key to developing strategies that work.
For instance, they have a strong commitment to to diversity, mental well-being, and ethical consumption.
These, along with many others, are driving brands to reevaluate and realign their business practices.
Here are crucial Gen Z statistics that reveal what Generation Z truly cares about:
In 2025, social media continues to be highly important in marketing to Gen Z.
Here, we are exploring the most effective channels, content types, and engagement strategies.
The insights may help you create resonant messages that not only capture attention but also foster loyalty among Gen Z consumers.
Let’s take a look:
Here are some strategies that can work for your business when marketing to Gen Z in 2025:
Gen Z values trust and transparency, often looking for brands that are honest about their products and business practices.
How to do that:
– Similar to Patagonia‘s ‘Ironclad Guarantee,’ ensure your products are backed by a solid promise that builds trust and communicates the quality and durability of your offerings.
– Openly share the details of your company’s environmental footprint. This transparency shows responsibility and commitment to sustainability, which resonates with Gen Z’s values.
– Like Patagonia’s Action Works, empower and support activism through your platforms. Facilitating ways for customers to participate in grassroots efforts can deepen their connection with your brand.
– Encourage the reuse and recycling of your products as seen with Patagonia’s Worn Wear program. This not only reduces waste but also reinforces your brand’s commitment to sustainability.
– Highlight how your company contributes to societal or environmental causes. Detailing your commitments, like Patagonia’s dedication to donating profits to the planet, can enhance brand loyalty among consumers who value ethical actions.
With a significant portion of Gen Z spending time on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, video content becomes a vital engagement tool.
How to do that:
– Create engaging, short-form video content tailored for TikTok and YouTube.
– Utilize popular Gen Z influencers to showcase your products in action, just like Gymshark.
– Offer behind-the-scenes looks, tutorials, or live Q&A sessions to increase brand connection.
Gen Z consumers prefer to purchase from brands that demonstrate ethical practices and a commitment to social and environmental issues.
How to do that:
– Provide detailed impact reports like TOMS’ 2023 Impact Report, which quantifies the influence of purchases, showing customers exactly how their support contributes to societal benefits.
– Demonstrate how your business adapts its mission to address current global issues. TOMS shifted from a One for One® model to focusing on mental health support, showing responsiveness to evolving societal needs.
– Outline how partnerships with various organizations enhance your impact. Detail the specific areas these partnerships target, as TOMS does with mental health, access to opportunity, and ending gun violence.
– Highlight any relevant certifications that reinforce your commitment to social and environmental responsibility, such as B Corp certification.
– Mention efforts to continuously improve and recertify, as TOMS plans with their B Corp status, showing a commitment to constant betterment in business practices.
Personalization is key for Gen Z, who are accustomed to digital environments that tailor content and recommendations.
How to do that:
– Offer product recommendations based on browsing and purchase history.
– Create a loyalty program that rewards customers while also gathering valuable data about their preferences and buying habits. Use this data to personalize their shopping experience.
– Send marketing emails that are customized based on the customer’s past interactions with your brand. Include product recommendations, promotions, and content that resonate with their specific interests.
– Develop tools like quizzes or virtual try-on apps that allow customers to discover products that match their specific needs, enhancing their engagement and satisfaction.
– Regularly collect and analyze customer feedback to refine personalization algorithms and ensure they meet customer expectations.
Considering the financial concerns of many in Gen Z, price sensitivity and value for money are important.
How to do that:
– Provide exclusive discounts or loyalty rewards for younger consumers.
– Introduce interest-free installment payment plans similar to Oh Polly’s approach, which allows customers to make purchases in smaller, manageable payments without additional cost.
– Clearly communicate the availability of flexible payment options both on product pages and during the checkout process.
– Partner with reliable payment platforms that support installment payments, such as Klarna or Afterpay, to ensure a smooth and trustworthy checkout experience for customers.
– Use social media, email marketing, and website banners to actively promote your flexible payment options. Highlight how these can ease financial strain, particularly for high-value items.
– Regularly assess customer satisfaction with your payment options and gather feedback through surveys or direct communication.
Gen Z values community and the opinions of their peers. To effectively engage them, it’s crucial to cultivate a vibrant community where peer interactions and personal connections thrive.
How to do that:
– Initiate a program like Glossier’s, where engaged customers can become brand ambassadors. Provide them with the tools and incentives to create and share content that showcases your products in real life. This not only amplifies your reach but also builds trust through peer endorsements.
– Actively use social media platforms to foster a sense of community. Encourage sharing, discussions, and user-generated content by reposting customer photos, stories, and reviews.
– Organize events that allow for direct interaction with your brand. Whether these are virtual webinars, live Q&A sessions with product creators, or in-person meet-ups, make sure they reflect your brand’s values and resonate with Gen Z’s interests.
– Motivate your customers to share their experiences with your products. This could be through challenges, competitions, or rewards for posting with your brand’s hashtag. User-generated content not only engages the existing community but also attracts new members by showcasing authentic experiences.
– Create platforms or forums where customers can discuss their experiences, offer feedback, and ask questions. This could be on your website, social media, or through a dedicated app. Make sure these platforms are moderated to maintain positivity and constructiveness.
– Regularly feature stories or testimonials from community members on your website and in your marketing materials. Highlight how the community benefits from your products or initiatives, reinforcing the communal bond.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about marketing to Gen Z in 2025:
The primary challenge of marketing to Gen Z lies in their high expectations for authenticity and social responsibility from brands.
They are highly skeptical of traditional advertising and can quickly detect inauthenticity.
Additionally, their constant connectivity means that they are bombarded with information, making it difficult for brands to cut through the noise.
Brands need to provide genuine value and align with Gen Z’s values to capture their attention and loyalty.
Yes, Gen Z generally responds well to influencer marketing, but with a caveat—they prefer influencers who are perceived as authentic and relatable.
They value influencers who share their personal stories, are transparent about their lives, and demonstrate a genuine connection with the brands they endorse.
Influencers who align with their values and engage in causes important to Gen Z tend to have more influence over their purchasing decisions.
TikTok and YouTube are currently the best social media platforms for marketing to Gen Z.
TikTok’s format of short, creative videos aligns perfectly with Gen Z’s preference for quick, entertaining content.
YouTube’s combination of entertainment, education, and influencer connections makes it a powerful platform for deeper engagement.
Both platforms offer unique opportunities for brands to create immersive and interactive content that can resonate with this demographic.
Gen Z makes up slightly over 20% of the US population, making them a significant demographic in the consumer market.
Gen Z sets trends in online shopping with their preferences for ethical brands, diversity, and digital engagement, with over 60% actively seeking sustainable products.
Being the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, Gen Z values inclusivity and is more likely to support brands that mirror these principles in their practices and marketing.
Over 60% of Gen Zers place a high importance on mental health and well-being, preferring to engage with brands that support mental health initiatives and demonstrate care for their customers’ well-being.
Over 60% of Gen Z shoppers look for an item secondhand before buying it new, emphasizing their preference for sustainable and economically sensible choices.
Ads that attract Gen Z typically feature the following elements:
Here are the sources used for statistics and facts:
Here are more ecommerce & marketing related content you may want to explore: