Apple and its sales strategies

As we all know, Apple Inc. is a manufacturer of Smartphones, Tablets, Computers, and the iOS software. Apple seems to generate about $55,600 in sales, per week, in the United States of America and has about 200,000 visitors in its stores.

At every launch of a new Apple product, we raise this full-on turmoil about how the product is different from the already existing ones. Apple has always had the craze of its customers and the customers also tend to be loyal to the brand. Apple always holds the gaze of everyone who has admired the brand, its sales, its technology, and all the new products.

But ever wondered, how the company can just capture the attention of the whole world while developing and launching the product?

When Apple Inc. launched, it seemed as if Steve Jobs and Ron Johnson, the former directors of the company, have reinvented the sales techniques and were much different from the traditional sales strategies.

Here are a few strategies which Apple has followed to achieve this level of success and brand value:

Simplicity: Apple understood that complexity can get them nowhere. The complex marketing strategies do not catch up with the public. They had to find a way where the public starts talking about the without using jargons and technical terms. Apple’s copywriting includes short, direct messages with no hard-to-understand words.

Avoid Pricing wars: Apple has not spent much time thinking about how their competitors were going to price their products, instead they have allocated their attention towards other marketing areas. By pricing their products higher than other phones, Apple has already stood out. And by doing so, they are conveying the actual value of what it means to have an Apple product. Hence, having an apple product gives a sense of having a luxury product.

Selling benefits and not just the product: Everything about the product is thought about. From the first step they take into the store till they open their product. They think about the entire user experience. Opening an Apple product has been one of the most loving videos online and Apple has taken this as an advantage and gives its customers one of the best memories while opening their product. This whole experience makes people want to buy the product again and again just to go through the feeling again and again. This shows that, Apple sells the experience and not just the product. This has created some of the loyal customers for the brand.

Limited Stock delusion: Apple creates a tension before launching their products. They put their products on pre-sale and create a sense of scarcity. It creates a fear of missing out on the new versions and updates. This scarcity creates greater sense of urgency to buy the product as soon as it launches or even pre-order at higher prices!

Embedded marketing: Apple has dedicated enough time and money into placing their products at remarkable places. For example, paying characters in movie to use the product. By doing so, Apple is making their product feel more present in the market and associate with role models of many customers.

Apple Incorporation has its own tactic of selling the products. The APPLE way.

A- Approach. A personalized approach and a friendly contact with the customers, makes them feel like home and comfortable to get to know more about the product and what they want to experience.

P- Probe. Probe politely to understand the customer’s needs. Ask them questions about what they want and allow them to exhibit their needs

P- Present. Present a solution for the customer’s needs. A solution which will make the customer take home a wholesome but thoughtful experience. It may not be a product but a small fulfilling experience can make them think about it.

L- Listen. Listen about the concerns and issues the customers have and resolve them as soon as possible.

E- End. End on a good note. Finish the conversation on a good note which builds a friendly bond, which could lead to relationship and loyalty.

Apart from all the tactics and strategies, Apple has awesome products. All the marketing or tactics would have made no sense with poor product. Apple has made something incredible from the origin of the company. Every product has something new to offer to its customers. They put in so much efforts into making a perfect product which can cater to the needs of their customers. This leads to having a very loyal customer base which is obsessed with the brand of Apple. And that has been the greatest driving force of Apple’s success.

- Jayasri