Comments on: Record breaking results

By: The marketing power of perception

The marketing power of perception — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:46:01 +0000

[...] industry has sprung-up around the Apple brand. Moreover, it seems that right now, everything Apple Inc does is automatically heralded as great – often before it’s even announced. The [...]

By: Daily Links | AndySowards.com :: Professional Web Design, Development, Programming, Hacks, Downloads, Math and being a Web 2.0 Hipster?

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:01:06 +0000

[...] Apple quarterly profits revenue record | Jim's Marketing Blog Good Business news for apple! [...]

By: Djinou Flore

Djinou Flore — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:10:30 +0000

Great post Jim! But I believe it isn’t not just Apple & its products. It’s also the people surronding the projet. I do agree that a right targeted marketing + a great procudt = success.
Can’t wait for more marketing success stories.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:35:02 +0000

@ Stephen: Oh the joys of living in a first world country where capitalism forces competitive prices. However, with Apple now using Intel chips… it’s a PC

I think Gebadia got it right, Apple is cool. Again I go back to my disposable income point that they are aiming all kinds of devices iPhone, iPod…etc. These are cool devices. A standard MP3 player isn’t, a Blackberry… isn’t. Heck my Nokia 9300i is uncool and a brick!

Diversification is a great way of not putting all your eggs in one basket. This is where the Apple model has really won.

I would love to see like vs like sales. ie. All PC notebook sales vs MacBooks, iPods vs MP3 Players and so on. I’m pretty sure this will prove my point.

By: Gebadia Smith

Gebadia Smith — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:17:05 +0000

It is not just apple that does the marketing. The real engine that powers apple is its users…http://tastyblogsnack.com/

She is one of many bloggers and technerds that are part of this apple like cult that is growing bigger and bigger across the world…

Apple made it ok to be techy..they made it cool…

By: Stephen S Hultquist

Stephen S Hultquist — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:14:44 +0000

Robert, in the US, a similarly-equipped Apple costs about the same (and in some cases a bit less) than a Windows machine with all the necessary software and equivalent hardware. Most people, of course, don’t do an apples-to-apples, so don’t see that, however.

Anyway, until at least Windows 7 (which looks like it will be what Vista should have been), Microsoft doesn’t have a competitive OS. Apple offers a much better user experience from the purchase to the unboxing, the interaction, and even getting service.

And that’s what every business wants to do if they want to be successful.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:00:13 +0000

Stephen you might have a point there. I’m not a member of the Blackberry crowd… don’t do Microsoft… (I’m really not a fan of their OS – okay so Win98SE worked) but I’m no Apple Fanboy either. Here in SA an Apple notebook costs about twice the price of any other system so it’s pretty much an “elite” group that get their hands on them. It’s far more a status symbol than anything else.

Negativity is something I’ve not really picked up so much from either group I’ve not really sensed “sour grapes” of any kind.

I think nesh gets it right with the “belonging” point. It’s the elite belonging that’s the cultish part

By: Stephen S Hultquist

Stephen S Hultquist — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:49:34 +0000

nesh, great point, and Robert, I think you’re looking at an effect, not a cause.

The funny thing is that in my recent experience, many new Apple customers are brand new to Apple and not cultish at all. As a result, there’s been a (sour grapes?) backlash from the Microsoft and Blackberry crowds that’s pretty interesting to watch. Much more negative than the Apple fan-boys have ever been…

Interesting, wot?

By: nesh thompson

nesh thompson — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:46:51 +0000

Jim, the Apple story both highlights a very positive story amongst all the negativity but also highlights something that those who are failing are finding out to their cost – customer experience.

Yes, Apple’s marketing is among the best and they do have a cult following.. because their customers feel part of an experience. Apple engage their customers where others don’t – that is why they have such a loyal following.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:36:31 +0000

Well Apple’s marketing is among the best. But I think what is missing is the loyalty in following that they can generated. Lets face it Apple are more cult-ish than the Moonies ever hoped to be

Okay, that’s a bit extreme but I think you get the point. Not to mention they have targeted one group that actually has disposable income in the younger groups with many of their products.