Solution Marketing Lessons from the Apple iPad - Steve Robins at BarCamp Boston, April 2011
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The document discusses the Apple iPad as a solution for content consumption rather than just a product, highlighting its role in the declining PC market and the need for integrated experiences. It explores solution marketing strategies, emphasizing that customers seek solutions to problems rather than individual products. The author argues that an effective solution marketing approach can revive weak markets through simplicity and user-friendly experiences.
Solution Marketing Lessons from the Apple iPad - Steve Robins at BarCamp Boston, April 2011
- 1. Solution Marketing Lessons From the Apple iPad Steve Robins April 9, 2011 © 2011 The Solution Marketing Blog
- 2. Steve Robins 10+ years in solution marketing – Expertise in product solution and industry marketing product, – Experience: FirstBest Systems, Solution Marketing Strategies, EMC Documentum, KANA, The Yankee Group Founder, The Solution Marketing Blog, Top-rated solution marketing blog Inbound Marketing Certified Professional [email protected] LinkedIn.com/in/SteveRobins1 Twitter.com/SteveRobins SolutionMarketingBlog.com © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p2
- 3. Apple iPad… Is This a…. iPad… Tablet computer? Product? A t? Art? PC? Post-PC device? Media platform? Tablet Device Apple iPad © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p3
- 4. Apple iPad… Is This a…. iPad… Content Consumption p Solution Tablet Device Apple iPad © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p4
- 5. Apple iPad… iPad… Actually, It’s a Content Consumption Solution… Pictures Movies Tablet Device Music Apps Apple iPad Email, Games, Productivity, more © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p5
- 6. …With Integrated Tools to Obtain Content Music Apps, iTunes Mag. Subscriptions AppStore Tablet Device Bookstore Browser Apple iPad iBookstore Safari © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p6
- 7. Why It Matters – Putting It in Perspective Overall PC sales dropping from 15% growth to 10.5% because o tab ets of tablets. Consumer laptops hit most. (Gartner 2011) Apple share will drop from 86% today to 75% as new products enter the market that Apple created © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p7
- 8. Apple iPhone/iPod/iPad iPhone/iPod/iPad Quarterly Shipments 2011 (Calendar Qtrs) Qtrs) 50 45 40 35 ped Million of Units Shipp 30 25 iPhone iPod 20 Ipad ns 15 10 5 0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p8
- 9. Why It Matters The Chasm Main Street rs Relative % of Customer The Solution Opportunity The Tornado Tablets End of Life Early Lif E l Life Bowling Alley Innovators Early Adopters Early Majority/ Late Majority Laggards Time Technology Visionaries Pragmatists Conservatives Skeptics Enthusiasts Customers want technology Customers want solutions and convenience and performance Sources: E.M. Rogers, G. Moore © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p9
- 10. What is a Solution Anyways? so·lu·tion noun sə-ˈlü-shən a: an action or process of solving a problem b: an answer to a problem © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p10
- 11. Why Solutions? Customers want t C t t to solve problems or meet needs. They do not want to buy p products. © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p11
- 12. The Content Consumption Problem/Manifesto I want lots of content I want different types of content I d ’t want to work hard to get that don’t tt kh dt t th t content I don’t want to use different devices for that content I want it to be easy © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p12
- 13. What is Solution Marketing? so·lu·tion mar·ket·ing noun sə-ˈlü-shənˈmär-kə-tiŋ The process of defining defining, educating, and providing access to complete and integrated solutions l ti that deliver value by helping customers to solve their problems. © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p13
- 14. Solution Strategy S l ti St t © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p14
- 15. Complete Solution to the Customer’s Problem Solution People Technology/ Services/ Product(s)s Process Support Content/ Information © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p15
- 16. Solution Complete Solution to the Customer’s Problem People • User interfaces Technology gy • Training g OEM & Partners • Support • Hardware and People • Best practices infrastructure • Domain expertise • Applications • Complementary C l t technologies Process • Integrations • Process optimization • Custom coding Technology/ Services/ • Integrated experiences Product(s)s Process • ROI studies Support Reengineering Content/ Information • Data Content/ Services • Content, documents, • Communications services, hosting Information • Support images • External data sources • Strategy • Data security, data • Project management policies li i • Risk management • Consumer /Enterprise • Custom coding • Enterprise • Integration services © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p16
- 17. The Apple iPad Solution Ease of use Integrated experience C i di l Crisp display Not designed for one People Accessories particular user Tablet Maps Technology/ Services/ Email Process Product(s)s Support Integrated Stores Twitter Apps/Mags 65k apps Content/ Music Store Music Information Books Photos Videos YouTube (free) Browser Books © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p17
- 18. Solution Scorecard Dimension Rating Comments Completeness p • People/users, fit to needs 4 Exceptional experience but users not ID’d • Process 4 Integrated; multiple stores may be confusing • Content/Information 5 Full breadth • Technology: Hardware and software 5 Excellent breadth and quality • Services & support 4 Mobile – cell, WiFi Strategy • Differentiated offering – unique in market 5 Unique • Partners: includes tech, apps, and content pp 3 Includes many techs – lacks Adobe Flash • Partner-friendly business model (win-win) 2 Evolving Low points: subscriptions, friction over book prices Total 32/40 © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p18
- 19. Solution Marketing Strategy S l ti M k ti St t © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p19
- 20. Traditional Marketing – 4 Ps Promotion Product P Price P The 4 P’s P Place P Derived from SIVA model, Chekitan & Dev © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p20
- 21. Solution Marketing Strategy The 4 P’s - updated “Where can I learn more Education about it?” “How can I solve Solution Value “What is the my problem?” SEVA benefit and total Solution Marketing cost of this solution? l ti ? Access “Where can I find it? Where it?” Solution Marketing answers 4 customer questions Derived from SIVA model, Dev & Schultz © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p21
- 22. Solution Marketing Education Education – Message Customer: “Where can I learn more about it?” Where it? Message – It’s About Relevance –Speak the customer’s language –Business benefits, not technical features Match the message to the reality Create a dialog with the market © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p22
- 23. Value Value = Benefit - TCO Value- Value-Based Pricing Assume that vendor charges fair price for features provided Business Benefit ($) Lost revenue Customer Benefit Benefit Unneeded features Customer Benefit Benefit Price B Customer Customer Benefit Benefit A B C D High Value Fair Value Poor Value Fair Value Lost software Price matches Unneeded Price matches revenue benefit features benefit Solution use-case drives benefit and value use case © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p23
- 24. Solution Marketing Access Access Customer: “Where can I find it?” Where it? Customer-friendly sales: y – Where, when how the customer wants to buy iPad: access to iPad device as well as apps, content © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p24
- 25. Solution Marketing Scorecard Dimension Rating Comments Education and Engagement • Relevant, targeted message 5 User-speak, not tech-speak • Message matches reality 5 User experience is consistent with reality • Company engages in dialog with the 4 • Apple speaks with its actions • Apple SVP Prod Marketing ranked as top market social CMO • Minimal social media • Heavy on branding, experience •U Uses right channels t reach th audience i ht h l to h the di 5 • Message reaches market broadly Value • Customers willing to pay solution price 5 • Does not include low-value features 4 Apple is leader in spare design • Does include features customers want 4.5 • Price is profitable to the vendor p 5 © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p25
- 26. Solution Marketing Scorecard Dimension Rating Comments Access • Product available through channels 3 convenient to customers • Solution components available through p g 5 convenient channels • Sustainable business model for partners 3 Tradeoff: volume for lower profit • Partners offer quality products 5 App certification program Solution Marketing 53.5/ 60 Solution 32/40 Total 85.5/ 100 © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p26
- 27. Apple iPad - Solution Marketing Lessons Solution approach can revive weak market Simple device Integrated user experience g p Must be win-win for channel © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p27
- 28. Thank You Steve Robins [email protected] LinkedIn.com/in/SteveRobins1 LinkedIn com/in/SteveRobins1 Founder Solution Marketing Blog Twitter.com/SteveRobins SolutionMarketingBlog.com www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com © 2011 www.SolutionMarketingBlog.com p28