Blog homeToday is my birthday. I am 35.
I am no longer in the 25-34 demographic but now in the 35-54. Apparently this makes a difference online.
I am thinking - am I getting too old for this web thing? Should I go and work for a holiday brochure printing company?
Do you have any views on online demographics? Yes we keep hearing PR from companies saying that the elder demographic is online….. but what is your experience of this? Are your older customers still booking over the phone or via an agent?
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If you are fishing for messages of goodwill, well done.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
:-)
My experience sees a rising number of older (50+) customers booking online. Maybe also because we’ve been adapting our products to appeal to the older customers, but in the Netherlands I absolutely think the older public is ready for ecommerce.
Offcourse I may be biased, turning only 33 in a week
Happy Birthday Alex
A bit of arithmetics:
IBM PC born 1983.
Someone entering the office with personal computers in his/her twenties is now over 45.
And that’s it.
Personal computing obviously is not exactly the same thing as web based services,
but I think the barrier of >100 keys keyboard is much more than on-line services usage.
Anyway it’s funny for me, 46 two weeks ago to read your message
I entered the aforementioned age bracket just 6 weeks ago myself.
for some insight into how different age groups interact with travel brands on the web i can point you (via a blatant plug) to our splendid Travolution Generations project from last September:
http://www.travolution.co.uk/Articles/2007/09/20/1062/Travolution+Generations.html
:-)
Blimey, its not obligatory for everyone to give their ages away on this thread!
@Kevin - are you really still speaking to me?
@Henrik - calling people 50+ “old” is dangerous. Lucky this is a virtual world we all live in
@Henryk - I wrote a stock market management system when I was 11 on a Vic 20 in 83 / 84 or so. Isn’t that what 11 year olds do?
Alex: I said older, not old. A slight difference my mum reminds me of a lot
But what I meant to say is I’m seeing a shift in booking source so to say. More customers 50 years and older are booking online than say 4 years ago.
Background: I work in online marketing for a small dutch touroperator with both a direct and an agency brand.
Hi Alex:
Wish you a great Birthday and a super year ahead… both personally and professionally.
Well, on the demographics of older age customers, when it comes to buying packages/holidays, they prefer to talk to someone and does all the research on net. However, when it comes to buying plain vanila tickets, hotel accommodation or other products, they are most active buying online.
Further to this, they are also loyal to a particular website if they had a good user experience and good customer service and are willing to pay extra for all this…
Hope it helps!
Rajat
Hi Alex,
Wellcome aboard!!!!
Think about it hte positive way. It could be worse! Earlier on in February I turned 39!
All the best,
)
Ivan | Seo Consultant
(soon to be retired I guess