Segmentation is the heart of marketing because it is the best way to guarantee the relevancy of the offering, of the value proposition, and of the messaging to the target market. So, by definition, what is aimed at one segment does not necessarily please another segment, nor should it. This “Marketing 101″ lesson seems lost on the mass of skeptical technology enthusiasts who do not see in the iPad what they were hoping for. But make no mistake: the iPad is a transformational product. Apple intends to capitalize on the momentum of the iPod and iPhone to rope in enough partners and spark another revolution.
Archive for the ‘Product Management’ Category
iPad Strategy Misunderstood
Thursday, February 4th, 2010Strategic Marketing Case Study: Thin-Film Solar Technology
Monday, June 29th, 2009
Solar power has been a topic of discussion and high hopes for decades now. Actually, that is not a very good sign. Solar power technology still needs to “cross the chasm”, to become a widespread technology that can effectively compete with electricity generated from fossil fuels. Success is not so much a matter of popular acceptance of the technology which is high overall, but mostly a matter of cost. Here’s a suitably hot, summer mini-case study on the future of the solar power business.
21 Signs That Your Company Is Not Customer-Driven
Monday, April 27th, 2009
Companies talk a lot about being more customer-driven, but it mostly remains just talk. It makes for good PR internally and externally. The question is whether a transition has really been made away from being mostly product-driven. Here is a selection of practical signs that indicate that a focus on products is preventing your company from unlocking real value for customers.
Market Research by Product Launch: When Does It Make Sense?
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
We all know of companies that put products out in the marketplace like the proverbial spaghetti tossed against the wall just to see if “it sticks”. Spotty planning and tentative execution usually lead to mixed results and perplexity as to what to do next.
But are there circumstances when a solid case can be made for the “let’s see if it sticks” approach? What if throwing spaghetti had real value? (more…)
