By Jazelle Hunt, NNPA Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON – The most effective way for companies to connect with African Americans is by reflecting diversity in their advertisements and utilizing Black media, according to a new study by Nielsen.
This year’s edition, titled, “Powerful. Growing. Influential: The African-American Consumer 2014 Report,” marks the start of a partnership between Nielsen and Essence magazine.
“What’s also important is when you take a look at other groups as well, you’ll find that they are also more likely to buy a product [when shown diversity],” said Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, senior vice president of U.S. Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement for Nielsen. “Pearson-McNeil says. “…Campaigns that have ads in it featuring Blacks also resonate with Caucasian and Hispanic audiences, as they find diversity in casting equally, or as likeable than advertisements featuring only their own ethnicity.”
Acknowledgment of racial identity was important for 87 percent of all Black respondents, compared to 59 percent of the general population. Blacks were 38 percent more likely to make a purchase when the advertisement included Black people, and 43 percent more likely to patronize a business if it is minority-owned.
Black media, as well as brands that have advertised within these channels, have consistently resonated well with Black consumers. According to the report, 59 percent of respondents agreed that advertisers in Black Press publications “know how to connect with the African-American audience.”
Additionally, 45 percent of Black adults with incomes above $50,000 per year have read a Black-focused magazine in the last month. The data shows that Black Americans consume more media than average, particularly in the case of Black-centric radio, magazines, and television, and digital media in general.
Pearson-McNeil stated, “When we’re talking about what we want the corporations to take away from this, it’s also the influence that we as African Americans bring to the table. We tend to be trendsetters. We tend to have spokespersons that cross all ethnic, racial, and social lines. …It makes sense [for corporations] to want incorporate diversity into their overall strategy.”
Among trendsetters, no one exercises more economic clout than Black women. That was made clear by a special section of the report on women.
“The entire report is about African American consumers,” Cheryl Pearson-McNeil said. “But, we have a special page dedicated to Black women, because we know for our households, we see Black women making the spending decisions.”
When Black women spend, they rely heavily on brand loyalty and word of mouth: 79 percent of Black women respondents said that it is important to trust a brand when purchasing its products, and 80 percent will tell a friend about a product if they like it.
At the same time, the report suggests that Black women are open to trying new products under certain circumstances. They are 40 percent more likely to use a daily deal app than the general market. They’re two times more likely than the general market to spend more than three hours a day on social media sites, where they may learn about new brands. And 46 percent shop only online, where it is easy to shop around.
Other factors may sway a Black women’s wallet: 59 percent believe supporting Black-owned businesses is important, and the same percentage expects companies with large Black consumer bases to give back to the Black community.
“Having this data is a tremendous resource. It’s important because absent the data…marketers tend to work from their own reference points,” says Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications, Inc. “It seems a study of this magnitude reinforces the importance of [diversity], which is very helpful to marketers—or else they reinforce the same stereotypes about beauty, success, and relationships.”
According to the report, 62 percent of Black women surveyed agreed that “embracing and supporting their ethnic culture” is important to them.
The report also briefly discusses trends in health and wellness, and financial management. It seems Black consumerism is sprouting new dimensions because Black socioeconomic factors are changing.
“A younger, growing population and higher educational achievement are the engines behind gains in economic power…. Along with exercising more purchasing power, African-Americans have started adopting behavioral changes in their lifestyles,” the report explains.
The custom survey co-created with Essence was administered to more than 7,000 visitors during and in connection to the 2014 Essence Festival; those results were added to Nielsen’s data to create a sample size of 10,208 respondents.
Ebanks says the survey “was a great opportunity.” She points out that Essence Fest is the largest live event in the nation, and that the host city, New Orleans, rakes in more than $200 million from the three-day affair. Pearson-McNeil adds that advertising firms have referred to it as “the Superbowl of marketing to Black women.”
“One thing that surprised me was the reaction from folks who stood in line to take the survey. A woman hugged me and said, ‘thank you for this opportunity, for caring about how I spend my money,’” Pearson-McNeil says. “So often we don’t get asked and our voices are not heard; that’s why it’s so important if you’re asked to participate in a study or survey, you say yes.”
