Thursday, November 18, 2010

Apple's Brand Loyalty Success

When shoppers sleep outside of stores just to be one of the first to buy an iPhone,it's obvious that Apple Inc. is a company that has brand loyalty.  This brands' success is not a result of luck or  beyond Apple's control. Apple knows exactly what there doing and how to do it. Its part of a well-thought-out plan to deliver strong products and to create an Apple culture. 
A Store Just For Apple: Have you ever been in a store that sells a variety of electronics- like Best Buy for example- each department has a team of people who know specifically about just the products in their department? And you have to go searching everywhere for someone who knows about a certain product ? Apple is very different. . Apple has created a store, strictly devoted to Apple products.  Apple  has not only eliminated the problem of ill- informed employees but has made an excellent customer-loyalty move. Apple stores are a friendly place where Mac and PC users alike are encouraged to play with and explore the technology that the company offers. This is a space where people who love mac can not only get service but also hang out with others who enjoy Apple products just as much as they do. By creating this space, Apple encourages current and new customers to get excited about what it has to offer.-
Complete Solutions: Apple's products complement and complete each other. If you buy an iPod, you can download music via iTunes. Most Mac programs are produced by Apple. This strengthens customer loyalty. Apple users generally don't have to stray to find products and solutions they want.
Are You a Mac?:  Apple is a hip brand. It pushes a strong identification with everything young, up-to-the-minute and smart. Consider Apple's "Im a Mac" campaign. The Mac guy is smooth and confident, while PC appears uptight and old. Once you've become smooth, would you want to go back to uptight?
Varied Products: Many consumers may not be ready to buy an Apple computer, but they're willing to give gadgets like the iPod or iPhone a try. By selling products with lower entry costs, it creates an opportunity for new users to be introduced to Apple. If these users enjoy their product, they're more likely to consider buying an Apple computer in the future.
Education Sales: By selling its products to schools and universities, Apple turns classrooms into showrooms. If students go through school using Apple products, they become comfortable with the interface and familiar with the superior performance the brand offers. By creating this early exposure, Apple captures customers before they even know that they are customers.
Products That Deliver: Apple carefully considers what consumers are looking for, so its products are a result of both extensive research and strong design. This planning is a large contributor to Apple's high customer-satisfaction rates. It's plain and simple and easy-to-use products not only make your customers happy, but also make them want to buy more products from you in the future.
Consistency: All of Apple's products have the same basic architecture. Because of this consistency, customers who already own Apple products have a good idea of what they'll be getting before they make a purchase. They know that it will be easy to adapt to new hardware, and this makes them more open to making a repeat purchase.
New Innovations: Although the architecture of Apple products is consistent, its portfolio is not. The company offers consumers a number of different ways to enjoy its products. By giving customers an opportunity to employ Apple in their living rooms, pockets and offices, Apple makes it easy to stay loyal to a brand they already like.
Attractiveness: From packaging to design to user-interface experience, Apple makes its products accessible and attractive. Bright colors, a smiling icon and slick-looking hardware remind customers every time they use Apple products that what Apple offers is appealing.

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