How Gen X Entrepreneurs Can Leverage Digital Media (Without Feeling Like TikTok Teens)

If you’re a Gen X entrepreneur, you already know how to adapt. You’ve survived dial-up internet, the death of the cassette tape, Y2K panic, and the corporate world’s obsession with synergy and “thinking outside the box.” You’ve watched entire industries move from fax machines to Slack channels. You even survived eating dinner while your parents blasted Wheel of Fortune on the console TV.

And through it all, you’ve built real-world experience that younger generations just can’t fake.

But here’s the thing: in 2025, digital media isn’t optional. Customers expect to connect with you online, learn your story, and trust you before they ever pick up the phone or walk through your door. The challenge? Doing it in a way that feels authentic… without pretending you’re a 19-year-old influencer busting out TikTok dances in your living room.

Good news: you don’t have to. Here’s how Gen X entrepreneurs can use digital media to grow their businesses while staying true to who they are.

Play to Your Strength: Storytelling

Gen X grew up on MTV News updates with Kurt Loder, Friday nights with TGIF, and stories swapped on mixtapes passed around like prized currency. You know what it means to tell a story across different mediums.

That’s exactly what digital media is today.

Use your experience and perspective to create content that resonates. Blog posts about lessons you’ve learned in business. Podcasts that highlight your unique voice. Videos that show the human side of your brand.

Customers aren’t looking for you to be trendy; they’re looking for someone they can trust. Think less “viral dance trend” and more “authentic unplugged performance on MTV Unplugged.”

Choose Platforms That Fit You

Not every business needs to be on TikTok. Seriously. If your customers aren’t there, why torture yourself?

• LinkedIn is your boardroom. Think of it like a grown-up version of your old Trapper Keeper, but digital.

• Instagram is like flipping through glossy magazines at the grocery store checkout.

• YouTube is your Blockbuster aisle: Endless shelves of video content for every taste.

• Podcasts? That’s your late-night radio show, but now you’re the DJ.

• Pinterest is your idea board. People use it to find inspiration and click through to your website or blog, driving traffic and visibility. It’s built for discovery.

Pick one or two, go deep, and stop trying to be everywhere at once. Remember, we survived just fine with three TV channels and PBS.

Repurpose Instead of Reinventing

Gen X entrepreneurs are busy. Between running a business, raising kids, and trying to remember your Netflix password, who has time to create content from scratch every day?

Here’s the hack: repurpose.

• A blog post can become a video or podcast episode.

• A podcast episode can be chopped into YouTube Shorts (think “music video edit” but for your ideas).

• A customer testimonial can turn into a quote graphic for Instagram.

It’s like recording a mixtape: one killer track can live in a lot of different playlists.

Lean Into Authenticity Over Flash

We grew up in the age of grunge, where ripped jeans and flannel said more than a three-piece suit. That lesson still applies: real > polished.

• A quick video of you explaining your service from your office can outperform a glossy ad.

• A behind-the-scenes shot of your workday connects more than a stock photo campaign.

Your customers don’t want you to act like an extra from Euphoria. They want you to be yourself: The seasoned entrepreneur who knows what it’s like to hustle without hashtags.

Use Tools That Make It Easier

Back in the day, building a website was like programming the Oregon Trail game in DOS. Not exactly user-friendly. Today? Way easier.

• Squarespace (for websites that look professional without requiring a “computer science degree from 1994”).

• Canva (the Photoshop killer for those of us who once struggled with MS Paint).

• Audacity (for podcast audio editing without the full DJ equipment spread).

• Podcast hosting platforms like Podbean or Buzzsprout (plug, play, and go live).

And if the tech still makes your head spin like a broken Discman, that’s where teams like Fervorfish come in. We make digital media painless… no cheat codes required.

Remember Your Audience Is Just Like You

Here’s the kicker: your customers probably don’t want to feel like TikTok teens either. Most of them are Gen Xers or older Millennials, juggling kids, careers, and too many streaming subscriptions.

They want clarity, reliability, and connection. They’ll happily scroll past the lip-syncers to hear from someone who actually knows what they’re talking about.

Final Thought

Being a Gen X entrepreneur in the digital age isn’t about trying to look younger or trendier than you are. It’s about owning your voice, telling your story, and using digital media as a bridge, not a disguise.

Leverage the platforms and tools that make sense, repurpose your content, and lean into authenticity. Your customers will thank you, and you’ll never have to learn a Fortnite dance.

Want help finding your digital media sweet spot without the TikTok cringe? That’s what we do at Fervorfish. We help small businesses and entrepreneurs build websites, podcasts, and media that feel authentic, effective, and easy, like a well-made mixtape for your brand.