Failed Branding: Apple flourishes while Microsoft fades
Failed Branding: Apple flourishes while Microsoft fades
When Apple announced it’s 1 billionth app download, Microsoft watched silently.
What’s going on with Microsoft’s branding? How much of Apple’s success can be attributed to their own successful advertising?
CNET’s article discusses that it seems that Apple was able to use advertising to enhance its brand, while Microsoft never found a good jumping off point.
Also, Apple’s products receive more everyday exposure than Microsoft’s do.
How often do you see iPods, Macbooks, and iPhones?
It seems to be that Apple’s successful branding is in part to consistency.
You KNOW when something is an Apple product, but when you see products like the Xbox 360, do you think Microsoft?
No. Exactly. Alas we have the crux of Microsoft’s dilemma. They are not consistently identifying themselves with their own products, their brand is not cohesive.
When we think Microsoft, we think Windows. That’s it.
When a company like Microsoft fails to reach out via advertising, it should act as a lesson for all aspiring advertisers.
People will not automatically make the branding connection between products… you must do it for them.
April 29th, 2009 at 6:32 am
I have read a recent article about what seems the first good, competitive answer from Microsoft to Apple. Basically a comparison of price of ownership between a MacBook and an inexpensive laptop + Windows.
Check
replyhttp://video.google.com/videosearch?q=laptop+hunters+microsoft&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:it:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=0Fb4SdyyBNeNjAeAo8XTDA&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#
April 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Marco,
replyThanks for sharing that video link. Short but definetely gets the point across, while poking fun at the newest PC commercials that I’ve seen circulating around. Much appreciated.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I completely agree with these comments addressing these two company’s differences. The other factor which I believe makes a significant difference between these two leading companies is the ease of operation that Apple offers. As a very recent survey concluded, customers ranked Macs as the easiest and most enjoyable to use (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=3729) . I don’t suggest that Microsoft imitate Apple’s programming, however they may want to take note of the enjoyability and ease users feel when operating a Mac. It may just give them a new competitive edge; considering the abundance of black, white and silver Macbooks brimming the UCSB library, Apple seems to be quickly sweeping up the market.
replyMay 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Tough one - MS doesn’t have so many physical products as apple and it’s hard to say a Dell / Compaq / etc is MS when Dell / Compaq / etc also want to be branded and differentiated in terms of appearance from each other.
I would say that windows, live, office etc are all obviously MS though so in their software sphere they are pretty consistent.
replyJune 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
You are probaly right is saying that Apple’s successful branding is partly due to consistency. But it’s not easy to compete against such monster as microsoft with all its billions on ads budget and global spread. We’ll see how it’s going, but most of Apple products are definitely good and I wish them good luck.
Regards
replyRob
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
As a computer repair technician, I don’t see my skills at use too often for Mac work. I probably deal with around 100 customers a month, it’s been six months since I’ve touched a Mac. Now is that because there aren’t as many, or because they don’t break. Probably a little of both. The point being, if MS can’t get a better product than Vista out, a lot of people will be sorely tempted to go towards the Mac’s. After all 99% of what people do is email and internet and a few documents.
replyAugust 7th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
At the moment, Microsoft is pretty quiet, as of now, they are working with Xbox to create a new gaming console called Project Natal, its supposed to be better than the Wii, if it works as predicted, Microsoft will get lots of recognition because the motion capturing sensor is like anything of its kind so far, and its some of Microsofts latest technology.
replyJanuary 30th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Lots of of bloggers not really pleased with the new iPad.There was too much hype regarding it and lots of people got turned off.You see, I for one see some of the awesome potential uses of the device. Third-party soft for playing tunes, games, newspapers and magazines and FFS books, all kinds of neat stuff, but they failed to sell it properly (excluding the books). It looks rather not finished
replyMarch 10th, 2010 at 3:18 am
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replyMay 12th, 2010 at 9:26 am
I usually do not leave comments, but I thought this was a great post! Failed Branding: Apple flourishes while Microsoft fades | Dr. CK Lin | Productivity. Innovation. Entrepreneur Profiles was a wonderful read. WoW:)
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