How to Craft Content That Resonates with Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X in 2025

Did you know Gen Z has an 8-second attention span, while Millennials are 35% more likely to share branded content online if it's personalized? Understanding generational differences is key for marketers aiming to connect in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

This in-depth guide breaks down timeless strategies for engaging Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X through your content and storytelling. You’ll learn how to:

• Adapt your tone and messaging for each generation’s values
• Choose the right platforms and formats to capture their attention
• Avoid common “one-size-fits-all” mistakes that miss the mark

Follow our 10 proven tips to craft content that resonates with all ages and drives real results in 2025 and beyond.

How to Craft Content That Resonates with Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X in 2025

Defining the Generations: Core Values and Communication Styles

Meet Gen Z: True Digital Natives

Born: 1997–2012
Coming of Age: 2013–2028
Current Age: 13–28 years old

As the first generation born into a fully digital world, Gen Z lives life online. They carry a wealth of knowledge in their pockets and have grown up surrounded by technology and social media.

Meet Gen Z: True Digital Natives

This gives them unique expectations when it comes to communication:

• They prefer brevity: Gen Zers have notoriously short attention spans. Content needs to get to the point quickly or risk losing their interest.
• They communicate visually: Thanks to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Gen Z is highly visual. They use images, videos, and graphics to express themselves creatively online.
• They value authenticity: More than any generation before them, Gen Z demands truth, transparency, and authenticity from brands. They are quick to call out fake or disingenuous marketing.

Gen Z is also committed to:

• Inclusivity and diversity
• Experiential learning
• Financial pragmatism (shaped by entering the workforce during the Great Recession)

Key Platforms: TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat

Brand Examples:

• BzzAgent’s TikTok campaign promoting MTV’s reality show “Double Shot at Love” with funny memes targeting Gen Z
• Coca-Cola’s “Real Magic” campaign celebrating Gen Z's passion for inclusivity and authenticity

Understanding Millennials: The Curators

Born: 1981–1996
Coming of Age: 1997–2012
Current Age: 27–42 years old

Sandwiched between Gen Z and Gen X, Millennials represent the transition generation between analog and digital dominance. While they did not grow up glued to cell phones, they quickly became fluent in the digital world and new forms of communication.

Understanding Millennials: The Curators

As a result, Millennials developed a unique set of attributes:

• They value social consciousness: Millennials care deeply about corporate responsibility and aligning their values with brands. They are the most cause-driven generation yet.
• They thrive on sharing: Millennials are more likely to become brand ambassadors, share content, leave reviews, and publicly support companies they believe in.
• They crave interactivity: Whether it’s personalized emails, segmented landing pages, or virtual try-on tools, Millennials expect dynamic, interactive content.

Other defining traits include:

• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Workplace flexibility over job security
• “Experiences over things” mentality

Key Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter

Brand Examples:

• TOMS Shoes’ social campaigns supporting causes like mental health, bullying prevention, and ending gun violence
• Glossier’s Instagram engagement driving word-of-mouth referrals and user-generated content

Who is Gen X: The Self-Reliant Individualists

Born: 1965–1980
Coming of Age: 1981–1996
Current Age: 42–57 years old

As the often “forgotten” middle child between Boomers and Millennials, Gen X has plenty to offer brands who take the time to understand them. Forged by recessions, energy crises, and the explosion of personal computing, they’re characterized by:

• Independence: Gen X is resourceful and values self-sufficiency. They look for convenience and flexibility.
• Pragmatism: Having entered the workforce in unstable times, Gen X became practical problem-solvers. They appreciate clarity and straight talk.
• Work-life balance: While devoted to their careers, Gen X prizes family time and maintains strong separation between work and life.

Who is Gen X: The Self-Reliant Individualists

Other typical Gen X traits:

• Appreciation for work-life balance
• Entrepreneurial tendencies
• Value on experience over cost

Key Platforms: Email, company websites, online forums

Brand Examples:

• Apple’s “Think Different” campaign celebrating mavericks and independent thinkers
• AARP’s mid-life content speaking to financial pragmatism and enjoying milestones

Crafting Share-Worthy Content for Each Generation

Now that we’ve broken down the core values and communication preferences of Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X, let’s discuss concrete strategies to grab their attention.

While generations are not monolithic, these tips represent time-tested techniques for superior engagement:

1. Play with Gen Z’s Love of Slang and Humor

Gen Z communicates through the web’s vernacular. They popularize trends on TikTok, revel in memes, and use slang terms like “snatched”, “slay”, and “GOAT” (greatest of all time).

Brands have found success putting their own spin on Gen Z lingo. Take fast food chain Wendy's popular use of meme culture and trending slang on social:

Play with Gen Z’s Love of Slang and Humor

To appeal to Gen Z in 2025, aim for lighthearted, humorous, and modern communication peppered with current slang. Participate in viral meme trends and challenges organically. But avoid forcing it—inauthentic “fellow kids” marketing will fall flat.

2. Give Millennials Meaning Through Storytelling

Thanks to their social conscientiousness, Millennials crave meaning in their interactions and purchases. They’re 35% more likely to share branded content that tugs at their emotions.

That’s why compelling storytelling lands so well with this audience. Tell inspiring stories about your brand values, quality manufacturing, sustainability efforts, or founding mission.

For example, TOMS Shoes publishes in-depth stories about their corporate social responsibility initiatives on their blog:

Give Millennials Meaning Through Storytelling

Weave brand narratives that tap into Millennials’ passions around social impact, creativity, and innovation. Use emotive language and relatable examples they can identify with on a personal level.

3. Speak to Gen X’s Self-Reliant Nature

Gen X has lived through massive cultural shifts over their lifetimes. They’re comfortable with change and learning new skills, but also prize independence.

Content that teaches valuable skills resonates well with this audience. How-to guides, career advancement tips, and actionable advice leverage Gen X’s pragmatic mindset.

For example, financial brand SoFi publishes advice on achieving life goals through articles like:

• Ask a CFP: Should I Save for Retirement or Pay Off Student Loans First?
• How to Negotiate Your Salary Like a Pro in 2025

Empower self-reliance in Gen X by sharing insider strategies they won’t find on generic blogs. Frame your content around helping them excel at professional skills, life management, and practical self-improvement.

Speak to Gen X’s Self-Reliant Nature

4. Blend Data with Emotive Storytelling

An effective way to engage all generations is blending logical and emotional appeal. Back up inspiring stories with supporting data, and humanize dry statistics with anecdotes.

For example, a B2B cybersecurity brand could say:

• “In 2025, over 70% of data breaches will be traced to human error, according to research from IBM. That’s why proper employee training is so critical—just ask Acme Co, who lost millions after a negligent employee clicked a phishing link...”

This marries data with relatable storytelling. The brand positioning is backed by authoritative research, while the anecdote creates urgency through emotion.

Blend story and statistics to craft resonant narratives grounded in fact. Structure it as concrete data, illustrative example, takeaway lesson. The combo taps into logic and feeling to capture any audience.

Blend Data with Emotive Storytelling

5. Personalize Content through Segmentation

While personalization takes more effort, the ROI is tremendous. Buyer preferences, behaviors, and demographics allow you to tailor content to their interests and needs.

For example, an athletics brand like Nike could segment their email lists by:

• Sport interest (football, basketball, running)
• Location (tailor weather-specific recommendations)
• Activity level
• Gender

Then craft personalized content like:

Personalize Content through Segmentation

According to Campaign Monitor, personalized promotional emails generate 6X higher transaction rates. Take the time to segment your audiences and customize their content experience.

Generational Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

When trying to appeal to multiple age groups, it’s easy to slip into lazy generational stereotypes. Here are 5 universal pitfalls to avoid:

1. Thinking Gen Z is All About TikTok and Memes

While today’s youth is certainly active on social media, that’s not all they care about. Like all humans, Gen Z appreciates meaningful content and wants brands to see them as multidimensional people first.

Focus on their core values like diversity, inclusion, and authenticity. Don’t reduce Gen Z down to lazy stereotypes or try to force slang or memes indiscreetly.

2. Overgeneralizing Millennials as Entitled and Lazy

Demeaning labels like “lazy”, “entitled”, and “snowflakes” are grossly unfair and only alienate Millennial audiences. They actually have a strong work ethic and just want flexibility, creativity, and purpose in their careers.

Appeal to Millennials shared values around engaging work, innovation, causes, and lifestyles without labeling or belittling them.

3. Assuming Gen X is Technologically Challenged

Just because Gen X didn’t grow up with smartphones doesn’t mean they struggle with technology. Gen X swiftly adapted to the digital era, with 96% actively using social media today. They simply prefer different platforms.

Avoid assuming you need to talk down or simplify things for Gen X. Appeal to their pragmatism and independence, regardless of the medium.

4. One-Size-Fits-All Content

Taking a single content asset and pushing it out to every channel and demographic misses big opportunities for optimization. Adapt your content to each age group's preferred platforms, formats, and styles.

Segmenting your audience does require more work but drives much higher engagement. Remember—there’s no silver bullet for reaching everyone.

5. Appealing to Vanity Over Substance

While generations may favor certain aesthetics, medium is less important than the underlying message. Craft content around universal human motivations like achievement, relationships, and self-improvement.

A meme on social media or interactive email can both inspire and engage—if grounded in a meaningful core message. Don’t let fancy packaging overshadow your substance.

The Future of Generational Marketing: Closing Thoughts

In an increasingly crowded digital landscape, marketing to diverse generations may seem daunting. But brands who invest in nuanced, segmented content strategies reap the rewards.

Key principles like storytelling, personalization, and understanding generational psychology will serve you well both now and in the future. Lean into what unifies us rather than only what divides us across ages.

At the end of the day, high quality, meaningful content never goes out of style—regardless of platform or audience. Prioritize resonance and value above all else.

What generational marketing tactics have you found most effective? Share your top learnings with us below!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X?

Gen Z (born 1997–2012) are true digital natives who crave interactivity, visuals, and authenticity.

Millennials (born 1981–1996) are socially conscious, value-driven, and thrive on sharing.

Gen X (born 1965–1980) is more pragmatic, self-reliant, and values work-life balance.

What kind of content does Gen Z prefer from brands?

Gen Z wants short-form, visually engaging content layered with humor, memes, and trending slang. Video and interactive formats work well on the platforms they use like TikTok and Snapchat.

How do you appeal to Millennials with your content?

Millennials appreciate meaningful stories that reflect shared values like social impact, creativity, and innovation. A conversational, personalized tone blends well with long-form storytelling.

What content best resonates with the Gen X audience?

Gen X responds well to practical, informative content that helps them solve problems and build skills. Straightforward writing in longer email, blog, or newsletter formats performs best with this pragmatic group.

How can you avoid generational stereotypes in your marketing?

Steer clear of assumptions or labels based on age. Focus on the values, passions, and needs that unite us across generations. Tell meaningful stories, foster community and provide value for all.

What’s the best way to engage multiple generations?

Mix storytelling with data, segment content by platform, and adapt formats and styles to resonate across the board. For example, use video for Gen Z, long-form blogs for Millennials and email newsletters for Gen X. Blend universal human truths with personalized delivery.