Learning About Marketing Through the iPad

Learning About Marketing Through the iPad

The new Apple iPad has certainly created a big marketing buzz in the last few months, but how great is it really? There is no doubt that the iPad has been incredibly successful in generating sales. It has even far surpassed analyst expectations and even Apple’s own estimates. It sold over a million units in just the first four weeks after its launch alone.

Then hit over 3 million sold within the first 80 days on the market.

Not a bad debut for a product priced at $499.

Is the iPad really just that revolutionary?

If you have used one or read many reviews you will have no doubt discovered that it really doesn’t do that much. In fact the technology used in the Apple iPad has been around for quite a long time. Similar products in the past have been nothing more than passing fads. The Apple iPad absolutely looks cool, there is no denying that. However, when it comes to functionality, while it offers smooth use it is stuck somewhere in the wasteland in between the iPhone and the massive array of laptops available today. If you are looking for something to play around with casually it can be tons of fun. However it is certainly not a replacement for a laptop for those who need to accomplish anything efficiently and clearly not quite as handy as a smart phone. In short it is a neat luxury gadget that can make a cool gift and, at least for right now, can attract visitors on your site as a marketing giveaway, but beyond that it really doesn’t do anything so fantastic that you can use it instead of the technology you already have your hands on.

So how is it that it has sold so well? It is all about Apple’s marketing and advertising, and the goal of giving the world what it wants (not necessarily what it needs). The Apple iPad is cool. It feels good, and the Apple stores around the world are truly cool outlets that not just make you want to go in, but drown you with the value that they say they offer from workshops to their ‘Genius Bars’. Regardless of your opinion of Apple, you can’t deny that Apple understands marketing — and how they’ve built their online reputation through consistency and experience.

So before you launch your next product or service, it may be wise to remember it is not how good your offering is, it’s how you present it.