Seniors, Technology and You: Making the Connection

Subsequently, while you will continue to be carpet-bombed with information about the newest apps and social media connections that will make (some of) your clients’ lives easier, consider that this high-tech world is still not completely ideal for everyone.

While it’s unthinkable in modern teen and Millennial circles, my own parents still share a single email address, my mother abhors using even her old-school cell phone, and the electronic solicitations they receive mostly fall into their junkmail folder. They also one-upped the “Do Not Call” list by placing blockers on their incoming calls – and then subsequently shared that with all of their relatives, who also block their own number on all outgoing calls – meaning it’s occasionally impossible to reach them, even as a family member.

Some of this nearly paranoid fear of being contacted by salespeople is legitimate, as robocallers and high-pressure telemarketers became hard to avoid, despite being less of an issue nowadays, except – in the midst of a year of election campaigning ahead. Personally, even I will never answer a call from an unknown number on my own cell phone, and that’s the only phone I have.

How do you make any in-roads with clients who both embrace and simultaneously abhor technology? It seems to go back to the world of the personal touch. By building those personal connections and soliciting referrals from clients you’ve wowed with your honest and earnest approach, you may crack the code and be given the personal entrée into the lives of potential clients – ones who, once you get to know them, will actually appreciate your newsletters, your instantaneous communication on email and even some colorful updates on your YouTube channel.

Until then, keep in mind the shield that many younger seniors have erected to the outside world, and you’ll find yourself wasting less of your own precious time.