What This Means: Instant Gratification & Anti-Sales Vibes
Here are some key stats and insights:
- Gen Z spending is growing twice as fast as previous generations’ did at the same age, and by 2029 Gen Z is expected to eclipse Baby Boomers’ global spending.
- Gen Z already represents somewhere between $360 billion to $450 billion in spending power (in the U.S.), and that number is expected to keep rising.
- Among both Millennials and Gen Z, convenience and speed are no longer bonuses — they are basic expectations. Next-day delivery, fast checkouts, free returns are table stakes.
- These buyers are more likely to abandon a purchase if the process is clunky. One survey found that among Gen Z, ~46% want quick and easy checkout, and fast shipping is almost equally important.
- When it comes to communication preferences:
- 75% of Gen Z say they prefer texting or message‐based communication over phone calls.
- 80% of Millennials expect near-immediate responses from brands.
- SMS opens are extremely high (≈ 98%), and many messages are read within minutes.
What This Means: Instant Gratification & Anti-Sales Vibes
Millennials and Gen Z grew up in an era of instant access — fast internet, on-demand streaming, one-click shopping, same-day or next-day delivery. They expect:
- Speed and frictionless experiences: If a site is slow, a checkout takes too long, or customer support is hard to reach, they’ll bounce.
- Autonomy and control: They don’t want to be “sold to” via pushy sales calls or long email chains. They want seamless digital paths and less pressure.
- Authentic, useful communication: Spammy outreach, impersonal mass emails or cold calls are increasingly ineffective, even irritating.
That “anti-sales” posture isn’t “anti-commerce” — it’s about rejecting what feels outdated or overly aggressive in favor of relevance, convenience, and respect.
Why Conversational SMS Engagement Is a Game-Changer
Given these expectations, SMS and conversational messaging shine for several reasons:
- Immediate visibility & fast responses
SMS enjoys open rates around 98%, with a very high percentage of messages read within minutes.
- Low barrier, high comfort
Texting (or chat‐type messaging) feels natural, low effort, informal. For Gen Z and many Millennials, it’s preferable to phone calls or even long email threads.
- Conversion & revenue impact
Brands using SMS report strong ROI — sometimes 10-20% (or more) of revenue coming directly from SMS strategies. Abandoned-checkout SMS messages often drive very high conversion rates.
- Brand relationship & trust building
Conversational SMS allows for personalization, two-way dialogue, quick feedback, and feeling heard. These are crucial to Millennial/Gen Z loyalty.
Using Tools that Fit This New Buyer Mindset
To meet these customers where they expect to be met, brands need tools that are:
- Fast and automated, yet feel human
- Conversational, with two-way capabilities
- Integrated with marketing, fulfillment, and support workflows so nothing slows down
One example of a tool built with these priorities in mind is MockInByrd.ai. While every brand must evaluate tools themselves, here are a few ways MockInByrd.ai (or tools like it) can align with Millennial/Gen Z expectations:
- Enabling SMS / messaging campaigns that feel personalized and responsive
- Letting brands generate leads via chat-type interactions instead of forcing a phone call or in-person appointment
- Maintaining engagement through conversational follow-ups, answering questions quickly, reducing friction
- Building the brand by being seen as tech-savvy, customer-centric, and responsive rather than pushy or slow
Conclusion
The rise of Millennials and Gen Z buyers isn’t just about demographic changes — it’s about new norms in how people want to interact with brands. Instant gratification, autonomy, and anti-sales sentiment aren’t disadvantages — they’re guideposts for what works today.
Brands that adapt — especially by leaning into conversational SMS engagement and tools like MockInByrd.ai — will be the ones that attract, convert, and keep these customers.
If you want, I can turn this into a post specific to your industry (e.g. retail, SaaS, etc.) or include screenshots or quotes.
