Marketing Apple: Secrets of the World's Best Marketing Machine

Keep it simple, stupid

So while everyone can remember the phrase "KISS" :keep it simple stupid (or keep it sweet and simple if you have kids) it seems that no one can really do such a thing but Apple. You see, creating software and hardware is a really hard thing. You focus on getting the features in and getting the bugs out. And you are so close to the product while you build it that it's easy to lose sight of the goal. Keep it simple. This CW article really hits the nail. One of the tenets of my eBook is clear here: get early adopters to help you, but build easy-to-use pragmatic products for the late majority mass-market. In a nutsell, build it for your mom.

New Apple Event

It's that time again! Last year Apple offered a free iPod to students who bought a new computer during back to school. Right in the middle of that campaign, they unleased their new iPods. Rumor has it, they are about to do it again. So stay tuned to this blog for comments on AAPL on Sept. 5th. Seems like my other post was right after all - we'll see how I do this time.

It's good to be on top

There's marketing and then there is shock and awe marketing.
Occassionally Apple has to remind people of their market power.
Witness this photo I took this morning of Boston's busy South Station
where thousands of commuters rush to and from work. Every single
available ad space in the entire building is owned by Apple's iPod
marketing team with dozens of posters custom made to fit the space.
Truly impressive.

Free Publicity

One of Apple's many tricks is its ability to generate free publicity for anything they do. Today the boards are all abuzz about an Apple event next week. How is it that with absolutely no information given, Apple can generate interest in the interest about something? While they may be in a class by themselves my eBook will help anyone approach this level of marketing prowess. Oh yeah, I'm on vacation and the eBook will be available when I return on Monday, Aug. 27. Get ready!
(of course by then we'll all know about the new Macs, keyboards and other goodies the press has so helpfully enabled Apple to market...for free.)