Gen Z and Millennials to Small Businesses: Get Online or Get Left Behind

Core Insights - A recent GoDaddy survey indicates that 80% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers research small businesses online before making a purchase, highlighting the importance of an online presence for these demographics [2][3]. Consumer Behavior - 80% of surveyed Gen Z and Millennial consumers verify a business's credibility by checking reviews, websites, and social media accounts before shopping [2][3]. - 56% of respondents stated that a lack of reviews would deter them from shopping with a new small business [5]. - 36.5% indicated that not accepting their preferred payment method would discourage them from purchasing [5]. - 32.5% noted that missing contact information on a website would dissuade them from buying [5]. - 31.5% mentioned that an incomplete or under-construction website would impact their purchasing decision [5]. - 74% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers believe that a lack of recent updates on social media or blogs affects a business's integrity [5]. Social Media Preferences - 95% of Gen Z and 94% of Millennial shoppers expect businesses to be present on social media [6]. - There is a generational divide in social media platform preferences, with 61% of Gen Z expecting businesses on Instagram compared to 49% of Millennials [4]. Recommendations for Small Businesses - Entrepreneurs should prioritize maintaining positive reviews, updating their business websites, and frequently publishing relevant content on social media to enhance credibility and attract customers [6][7]. - Utilizing tools like GoDaddy Airo™ can help small business owners establish their online presence efficiently, offering features such as logo creation and search engine optimization [8].