Apple Marketing Portfolio: Mac Computers Essay

One key element of Apple’s strategy in computers, personal media players, tablet computers, and smart phones is product innovation, diversification and development. Over the years Apple has been very successful in integrating software and hardware in new developing products. Despite the struggling economy in recent years, Apple has been able to grow their market share and stay ahead of the game.

Apple Inc manufactures both hardware and software uniquely with methods of their own. Apple’s computer operating system is highly secured and is not subject to viruses and hackers and the products are designed to be concerned about the consumers’ style life. Apple is successful with their marketing is this is because of Apple build strong name and image in the market. Apple’s products are different as mentioned and it has a lot of unique features. This is another method of Apple doing marketing.

Before there was Apple Inc., there were two young high school friends, Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniak. These two young geniuses were extremely interested in technology and electronics, and they used this passion to find employment. Jobs worked for Atari, and Wozniak worked for Hewlett-Packard. In April of 1976, in a garage with just $1,300, the two Stevens came together to form a dynamic duo. With Wozniak’s flair for computer design, and Jobs ability to look further into the future, they both created the Apple computer. Now branding began to emerge as Ronald Wayne became a 3rd founder of Apple Inc. since was responsible for creating the company’s first logo which he later resigned because he believed that the company would pose a financial risk. The new logo was created by Ron Janov designs. The company’s first president was Mike Scott. The company was not taken seriously until 1977 when the company came out with the Apple II, which was the “first personal computer to come in a plastic case and include color graphics,” at this point Apple Inc. became incorporated. The company continued to improve with the introduction of Apple III. In 1983, Apple Inc. became the fastest growing company in history, and at this time

Another aspect of their success is their approach to product designing. In Apple, product design always precedes engineering. They envisage their product, engineer one way to the goal, and start from scratch if anything does not seem right. They have always tried to make products which are easy to use and does everything better than a similar product in the market. This approach has worked pretty well so

Apple came back from near extinction to become one of the most revered technology companies in recent memory. They achieved this status by developing innovative design products and pushing the limits of their marketing prowess. Apple is known for their ability to listen to consumers and revolutionize market segments by providing modern design laden and feature rich alternatives to the target markets. They employ strategies that might contradict normal convention by keeping their prices high to build a brand image of prestige and promote their products through word of mouth. The impact on marketing is hugely noticeable by other companies following suit with store models

The development of Apple Inc. came during the unstable economic times of the 1970’s. Best friends and college dropouts, Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak pooled their electronic and business

“Apple uses promotional and advertising tools to capture the attention, interest, and desire of the consumer. Apple captures our attention and interest through innovating and sleek imagery of their products on Apple's official website as well as keynotes and other publication” (Villefranche, 2011). For example Apple just released the I phone 5 which was highly anticipated and the publicity that Apple had prior to the release was tremendous and also brought in many new customers. It has been said that the first weekend the I phone 5 was available they sold 5 million phones. Apple made a plan and set up objectives and goals that they desired. Through integrated marketing they have met those goals and it allows for them to set higher goals and reach them as well. Apple also knows their competitors very well and this allows them to be in this market and compete very well.

In the early 1980’s, Apple encountered heavy competition from IBM which sold millions of PCs. Competition continued throughout the years with Microsoft releasing software such as Word and BASIC. The original Macintosh was released in 1984, known as “the computer for the rest of us”, while the Apple IIe simultaneously received awards for excellence (Alcom, 2012).

By the time 1980 rolled around Apple had garnered thousands of fans and employees. Jobs had begun developing the Lisa but was taken off the project by the president of Apple. Instead of giving up with his ideas all together he decided the best course of action would be to take over someone else 's project, which just happened to be Macintosh. Around this

Apple Inc. is a corporation that designs and manufactures computer hardware, software and other consumer electronic products. The company is known for the Macintosh personal computers, iTunes media applications and the iPod personal music players. Apple was founded in April 1976 by Steven Wozniak and Steve Jobs, both college dropouts. In 1976, Wozniak and Jobs created the Apple I computer which did not have a keyboard or power supply for a computer hobbyist club. Later that summer Wozniak started his development of the Apple II, which

Apple pursues a differentiation strategy since it started in 1976. Only one time they offered a computer aiming for the mass market, but soon came back to their differentiation strategy. This differentiation strategy was at one point supported by a strong promotion campaign, with the goal of to ‘differentiate the Macintosh amid intense competition in the PC industry. Apple has always been a very innovative PC manufacturer. Through excellent R&D, Apple always managed to launch PC innovations on the market. Although the products sometimes showed weaknesses, the innovative role still gave Apple a lot of attention. Apple designed its products typically from scratch,

Stephen Woziniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer in 1976, which was called the Apple I, then in year 1978 just two years after, Apple II was introduced. More than 10,000 units were sold which relatively was a success, Macintosh (Mac), which dramatically change personal computer. iMac, iBook, iPod, iPad, iPhone, and other come from the lineage of Apple.

This paper comprehensively describes the marketing plan of a charismatic organization Apple Inc. The main focus of the paper is to describe the most important marketing strategies which Apple has espoused from the date of its emergence and different challenges which it has faced from time to time. The paper begins with an introduction to the organization. Apple Inc. is an American MNC; engaged in the business of developing and marketing of IT products. Apple has expanded its business operations all over the world. Every product which Apple introduces has its own target market; it develops marketing plan and strategies for each of its products separately (Apple, 2012). Apple's strengths include strong brand image, financial strength, product and process design, and highly efficient operations management while high prices and inability of up gradation of some products are its main weaknesses. Apple has threats from its competitors, increasing costs, and economic situations but has greater opportunities in entering new markets, making strategic alliances, and bringing innovations through efficient R&D. Before entering new markets, Apple has to analyze the business environment through sensitivity analysis, and then decide a framework for the future strategies.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.”

Riding on the success of the iMac, this allowed the company to cast a wider net to include more products and services such as the Apple Store, iPod, iTunes, MacBook, iPhone, and now the iPad.