Gamefrontz

Back since time without beginning, people had tried to propagate their agendas/ideas to the masses. From the most primitive form of word of mouth to radio, and simple fliers to internet media, we have seen it all. Nowdays, companies spend more than hundreds of thousands of dollars to advertise on newspapers and TV media. The evolution of the Internet also brings about online advertisements, which amount to a market of billion of dollars by itself.

Tech companies, however, have introduced a new form of marketing – by organising tech shows and events. Think MacWorld and E3 for examples.

In the new age of iPod and MacBook, we see Apple holding their own shows, to introduce to the World their newest gadgets. This will be followed by throngs of fans rushing to stores and queue for the products. And this happens every year, if you noticed.

So you ask, what marketing had Apple did, to make its products so attractive and addictive?

Other than packaging, pricing, promoting and the commons marketing techniques we all knew, Apple did something drastically different. Rather than creating contents and paying media companies to advertise, Apple invited media companies to their show and bewildered/bewitched them. So much so that these companies compete among themselves to promote the Apple shows and products, for free. Think engadget and gizmodo.

Over the years, this art has evolved even further. From paying to advertise to free coverage, Apple is now ‘charging’ a premium to be covered. In the recent WWDC (Worldwide Developers’ Conference), apple charge up to a few thousand dollars for developers and media players to attend the event. This event, which give Apple the chance to announce new technology and features, and let game developers network, is the new Holy Grail of marketing. It even threw the original MacWorld out of the game.

Apple can now earn money, instead of pay money, to advertise.