The term "Gen Z" has been making rounds lately, especially in the marketing world. This generation is becoming more influential as consumers since more of them are joining the workforce and gaining disposable income. To keep up with their preferences, companies must connect with them.
Gen Z refers to individuals born between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s. They have grown up with the internet and social media, making them stand out from previous generations - they have access to more knowledge, and are far more digital-savvy. They value experiences and prioritize their health more than their predecessors. Thus, engaging with them requires a unique approach.
This blog post will explore how hybrid fitness challenges and virtual races can be used to connect with Gen Z. These activities are a powerful tool since they offer the benefits of traditional fitness activities while also providing an immersive digital experience.
1. Gen Z is craving unique, digital-infused experiences
Gen Z is all about experiences. They value authenticity, creativity, and uniqueness, and they want to participate in activities that provide them with these things and are different & exclusive.
Hybrid challenges offer unique experiences that cannot be replicated elsewhere. For example, a hybrid fitness challenge that combines digital and physical activities can provide participants with a unique fitness experience that they cannot get from the usual fitness activity like running or gymming. This can make the challenge more appealing and exciting for Gen Z, encouraging them to participate.
2. Digital challenges use social sharing to attract more users
Gen Z, also referred to as "the first true digital-native generation", is known for their constant connection to social media. They enjoy sharing their experiences on various platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, with over 60% of TikTok's one billion users being Gen Zs. Hybrid challenges are an excellent opportunity for participants to share their progress, results, and overall experience on social media. This creates a buzz around the challenge, motivating more people to join in. Additionally, social sharing can help increase brand awareness and grow the challenge's popularity.
3. Hybrid Challenges Provide a sense of community
Gen Z values community and wants to feel like they are part of something bigger. Hybrid fitness challenges generate a sense of community by connecting users with others and encouraging collaboration and teamwork. The idea is to create and maintain a sense of belonging and encourage participants to engage continuously with your brand. By providing a sense of community, Gen Z is more likely to feel invested in the challenge and will be more willing to participate.
4. Hybrid Fitness Challenges & virtual races as a gamified way to be active
There is no way around it - Gen Zs are big on video games. A study by Google found that 97% of Gen Zers play video games, and they spend an average of 2.7 hours a day playing games.
That's why having gamification elements, such as points, levels, and rewards, is a hugely powerful lever when it comes to making virtual experiences engaging and enjoyable to them. Adding competitive elements, like leaderboards, can also increase motivation and invite participants to keep coming back to the challenge.
5. Hybrid Fitness Challenge can help Build brand loyalty
The younger generation tends to choose brands that share their values and offer one-of-a-kind experiences. Hybrid Fitness challenges & virtual races can leave a lasting impression on participants, and they will likely associate the experience with your brand. This positive connection can increase the chances of these customers continuing to support your brand in the future. It is vital to build brand loyalty to create a strong and lasting relationship with Gen Z and encourage them to become loyal customers.
In conclusion, hybrid challenges can be an effective way to engage with your Gen Z audience. By offering unique experiences, encouraging social sharing, providing a sense of community, creating a gamified experience, and building brand loyalty, you can create a memorable and engaging experience that will keep Gen Z coming back for more. Hybrid fitness challenges can help you connect with Gen Z on a deeper level, creating a long-lasting relationship with this valuable demographic that has a lot of potential to take your business to a higher level
This is why, at District, we ensure that our apps are constantly evolving to include technologies to keep all audiences, including Gen Z, engaged.
- Personal goal & tracking progress with customised notifications. This will give users a sense of ownership for their fitness journey as hybrid challenges can be linked to fitness trackers to cater to their individual goals.
- Teams – We have dedicated team pages with a chat and leaderboard for users to connect with other people in the fitness community on the app. This is not only a powerful motivator but helps to foster a sense of belonging.
- Gamification – With a point system, quizzes and timed challenges, the District app is able to provide an immersive experience to keep users engaged. The Redbull Takeover project is one such example of how District created a unique digital team vs team game challenge
So if you are looking for a hybrid solution to engage with your audience & especially Gen Z, District could be the solution you need to capture their attention.
Interested to find out more? Reach out to our team today.