Silver Disobedience® is a movement. What started with one blog post has become a rebel rousing daily discussion that “feels like a hug.” Each day I, Dian Griesel the founder of Silver Disobedience, post at least one inspiring and actionable essay that focuses on how we can each choose to live our best life ever, starting today, regardless of what might have happened up until this moment. Topics include common perceptions as to who we believe we are; how we feel about our physical presence and changes during our different stages of life; what we like and how that varies over time; how we act; what we feel and are concerned about; relationships and communication; self-perceptions and those we hold of others; and about how our priorities shift through different periods of life. Silver Disobedience honors every age for the experiences associated with that time period in our lives and rejects the silly idea that any age — particularly older considering those years of accrued experience — could make someone irrelevant or obsolete.
The Silver Disobedience® crowd is largely misunderstood, missed or ignored by marketers. Aged 48 to 100+, this significant collective of people is the first ever in history who might be carrying diaper bags for grandchildren or great-grandchildren — yet, because of advances in medicine, adoptions & second marriages — may also be raising their own children as well or opting to stay child-free. This Circle of Life audience is an unusual amalgamation of active consumers in basically every vertical imaginable.
I’m Dian Griesel, (61) President of Silver Disobedience® which I founded in October 2017. During the past 30+ years and counting, I’ve advised hundreds of people who have hired me as their corporate and/or personal strategist and confidant. I appear regularly in the media as an expert discussing effective messaging and lifestyle issues. And, as a Wilhelmina Direct model, I have appeared in many national magazine, newspaper and TV ads as a “silver” model, hired by companies that recognize the importance of appealing to my peer-group demographic. In the past 18 months, seven top international publications named me a “Top Influencer of those over age 50”.
Every month my blogs are read 4,000,000+ times. People find them posted on my website; on branded @SilverDisobedience pages on Facebook & Instagram and Pinterest and DianGriesel and LinkedIn. The average @SilverDisobedience post reaches thousands; with exceptionally high engagement rates; and, plenty of shares and saves.
Silver Disobedience® messages resonate with a passionate audience that is growing exponentially every day. @SilverDisobedience followers have subscribed to my “opt in white lists” and are open to receiving targeted offers and coupons from companies seeking to build their brand awareness with “those of a certain age.”
A powerful, influential collective of intelligent, lively people is actively communicating and sharing their opinions in @SilverDisobedience forums while inviting their peers to join the discussion. Alive and well, the Silver Disobedience® community is living lives you might not imagine — unless you’ve spent time reading through the more than 500,000+ comments that have been posted since inception, detailing how actively these people are living their lives.
SilverDisobedience® partners with respectful and aligned businesses seeking to connect with our members through unique sponsored content and special offers for our community members.
The Numbers: Silver Disobedience® reaches a segment of a powerful growing group. As of 2017, 50% of the population in the United States is over age 50: Those between ages 51 to 69 have hit 74 million strong. The number of Americans 65+ is projected to double over the next three decades from 35.9 million to almost 70 million. Thanks to growing health & fitness trends along with medical advances, the 85+ population is the fastest growing segment, and in an unprecedented longevity surge is projected to grow to 19 million strong by 2050. Those age 65 living in the USA today will live an additional 18 years, on average. Interestingly, the Silver Disobedience crowd might be grandparents or parents of young children…or both. We represent every phase of the Circle of Life.
The Money: The population that is 50+ makes up 42% of after-tax income in the US which is approximately $2.4 trillion. Many in their 50s are still in their prime earning years as their careers continue to soar. Those of Silver Disobedience years outspend younger adults online, in brick-and-mortar stores, and in every other way 2:1. On a per capita basis, we’re spending more than other generations by an estimated $400 billion a year. AARP says we actually control over 70% of all US disposable income and its projected that we may inherit about $15 trillion in the next 20 years.
Work Lives: 10,000 of us reach retirement age every day. Most of us, however, actually plan to work well past age 65. Why? Overall, we’re an entrepreneurial group: 45% of the Silver Disobedience™ population considers themselves to be entrepreneurs. We’re still buying cars, office supplies, advertising and spending more to grow our businesses. Oh– did I forget to mention that 50% of us are women who still work full time? We’re an equal opportunity group.
Family Structures: Many of us are supporting and making choices for our adult children. This includes things like education, travel and housing. We’re helping with student loans, living expenses, transportation and medical bills. Two out of five of us that are parents have actually helped our children get out of debt by helping to repay outstanding bills. We are refinancing mortgages, looking at annuities, wondering about social security, investing in stocks and bonds and watching our pennies while hoping they grow.
Homes: We’re taking care of our homes. 66% of us won’t be moving or selling the homes we’ve been living in. 67% of us will stay in our home state to remain in proximity to our children and friends. Those of us who will move, 50% will reside within 30 miles of their hometown. 46% of us will want to move to bigger homes, while 54% will downsize.
Health & Beauty Trends: Beauty-wise, we’re putting our best face forward. Informed consumers, we intend to live long lives, looking good while we’re at it! We’re working with our healthcare providers & doing our own research to be sure that we’re aware of the consumer products, medicines and plethora of wellness options available to enhance our looks, everyday life and our longevity. At the same time, we are shopping for the health insurance plans, for ourselves and our extended family members, while maintaining a willingness to pay for certain out of pocket medical bills & treatments.
Online Shopping, Social Media & Technology: We’re better at technology than “kids” might think…and advertisers might realize. 77% of us own smartphones. We associate our phones with work flexibility and freedom. All said…some of us admit to being addicted to Video Games. However, the 50% of us that enjoy video games believe they are helping us with our cognitive decline. Silver Influencers like online and digital puzzles, solitaire, word games and trivia. 78% of us are online checking the news, ordering from all kinds of retail websites and…nobody has to give @SilverDisobedience followers permission to spend money. Although you might think the Internet is where kids hang out…more than 71% of us are on social media including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and more. We love YouTube and often consult it for instructions regarding “How To” projects, sewing and craft ideas, recipes and everything else the channels have to offer.
Entertainment: @SilverDisobedience followers go to the movies, live theatre and we still rock out at concerts. Who else but us could pay those outrageous ticket scalper prices for the last Rolling Stones, U2, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Grateful Dead tours…or Bruce Springsteen on Broadway? We might even take a helicopter or private plane to get to our destination…although coach class is largely populated with us, too. Growing up with record players and albums–we are still largely willing to pay for our music choices. We like the tunes that take us back in time…as well as a surprisingly wide range of current artists. We make up almost one quarter of online music sales…and love live music too.
Travel: We’re traveling! Since many of us are still working…90% of us, are getting Paid Vacation Time–and about 54% of us are using all or most of it. We take planes, trains, cruises, buses and cars. Many of us are working through our Bucket Lists…and we’re not opposed to getting great suggestions for travel destinations. We trust what our friends say about places including hotels, airlines, car rental companies and everything else that goes into planning a perfect trip.
Leisure Time: 42% of us still enjoy watching basic TV and cable channels. About 21% of us are testing out Netflix, Hulu and Amazon TV — thanks to the influence of our children and grandchildren. We are readers. 40% of us still like books–whether traditionally bound or Kindles. We’re gardeners–whether we live in suburban, country or even city settings. We like plants and flowers. 69% of us still enjoy caring for our yards and gardens.
Silver Disobedience® members are informed and active consumers who actively share their opinions through spending money, then telling friends and others all about their choices through social media sharing…AND good old-fashioned face-to-face conversations!
Shockingly, widely respected research reports that only 5% -10% of all marketing efforts target “those of a certain age.”
That’s a very expensive decision.
Silver Disobedience research confirms the frustration felt by this valuable audience expressed daily through commenting on our blog posts. They openly acknowledge feelings of being ignored and abandoned by marketers. Worse, due to choices of the words and/or the actors in campaigns designed to target their pockets – many Silver Disobedients have expressed that they feel disrespected. Don’t believe me. Go on our very pubic pages and read the commentary yourself. What a shame and loss for those companies and brands that don’t understand the potential impact of reaching decision-making Silver Disobedients of the World.
We know the value of this audience.
We appreciate their opinions.
We are #SilverDisobedience
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Website: SilverDisobedience.Rocks
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