Apple products are universally renowned for their solid design and extremely strong sales. In fact, over the last decade, Apple has proven that regardless of the market it enters, whether it is hardware or software, it can find a way to attract customers and establish itself as the go-to option against all the others. But what makes Apple’s products special? For years now, consumers, researchers and even competitors have been trying to determine what goes into Apple products to help them sell as well as they do. Is it all about design? Is it the mystique of using Apple products? Or is it something that no one has quite put a finger on yet? Of course, Apple won’t say. But if we dig into the company’s many products and analyze some of the features we might find, there is a general formula for success that Apple uses with each new product it sells. This eWEEK slide show will examine the elements of that formula and show that when it comes to Apple’s products, certain essential factors make them a success.
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Ease of Use
Ease of use is arguably the biggest factor contributing to the success of Apple products. Whether it’s the iPhone, the iPad or a Mac, consumers can pop the devices out of the box and know how to use them. That’s not the case with many products. And it helps Apple’s sales immensely.
A Combination of Software and Hardware
Whereas many companies in the computing and mobile markets offer their own hardware, but use another firm’s software, Apple controls both sides of the coin. By doing so, it can ensure that all its customers get the same experience. Even better, it can guarantee that the software works well with the hardware. By controlling software and hardware, Apple is putting itself in a great position.
Tight Control of Its Product Universe
The previous slide hints at what might be one of Apple’s most important strategies: control. Whether it’s the way developers create third-party apps for the iPhone or Apple’s unwillingness to make its source code open, the company maintains ironclad control of its product universe. Some critics say it’s a bad thing. But much of the company’s success can be tied to that control. And it won’t give that up even in the face of persistent criticism.
Top-Notch Design
Whenever someone heads to their local electronics store and compares Apple product design with all the others, they come to one quick conclusion: The iPhone maker reigns supreme. Due in large part to Apple, consumers care more than ever about what a gadget looks like. And Apple’s sales are soaring because of that.
High Prices
Over the years, Apple has been criticized for selling its products at prices that are much higher than those found on competing devices. And yet, people keep paying those fees just to get their hands on the company’s products. Apple is a premium provider of a premium product. That is how it wants the world to view it.
Secrecy
If it weren’t for Apple’s unique ability to keep its product plans secret, but still stoke the rumor mill engine, it’s unlikely the company’s products would be nearly as successful as they are now. No other company in the market can command the level of secrecy Apple has. Its sales seem to prove that.
Service Integration
One of the more interesting things about Apple is that it’s willing to develop services to round out its selection of products. For instance, with the iPod, it brought iTunes into the mix. Now, with iOS, Mac and even PCs, the company has iCloud available. Service integration is integral to Apple’s plans.
A Desire to Do What’s Next
One of the nicest things about Apple is that it’s willing to take risks. Over the years, the company brought the mouse to the computer, welcomed USB to its Macs before all others and, now, has included the Thunderbolt flat-panel display in its products. The company has also been working on killing off the DVD drive. Some of its moves might not always be popular, but in one way or another, they turn out to be a success.
A Greater Focus on Value
Unfortunately, not enough companies in the technology industry think about value. In far too many cases, they simply offer up an iterative update to an obsolete device and try to turn a quick profit. But Apple is different. The iPhone maker has a desire to deliver unique value with every new product it sells. And in most cases, it succeeds.
A Consumer ‘Pull’ Strategy
When companies want to try to sell products to consumers, more often than not, they follow a “push” strategy that determines what customers are after and then provides them with that. Apple, however, follows a “pull” strategy that assumes consumers don’t know what they want, but are looking for something new and exciting. Apple did that with the iPod, iPhone and iPad. And we all know how well that went.
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Apple products are universally renowned for their solid design and extremely strong sales. In fact, over the last decade, Apple has proven that regardless of the market it enters, whether it is hardware or software, it can find a way to attract customers and establish itself as the go-to option against all the others. But what makes Apple’s products special? For years now, consumers, researchers and even competitors have been trying to determine what goes into Apple products to help them sell as well as they do. Is it all about design? Is it the mystique of using Apple products? Or is it something that no one has quite put a finger on yet? Of course, Apple won’t say. But if we dig into the company’s many products and analyze some of the features we might find, there is a general formula for success that Apple uses with each new product it sells. This eWEEK slide show will examine the elements of that formula and show that when it comes to Apple’s products, certain essential factors make them a success.