Former CEO of Apple
Steve Jobs is one of the best marketers in the world, but he was also an engineer, a salesman, and a designer. He revolutionized how we think about personal computing.
Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976, and served as CEO from 1997 to 2011. He is widely recognized as a visionary leader in the technology industry, and is considered one of the most successful and influential business leaders of the 20th century.
As a renaissance marketer, Steve Jobs was multi-disciplined, with a deep understanding of not just marketing, but also product design, computer science, and business strategy. He had a long-term vision for Apple, and was able to balance the art and science of marketing to create products that not only sold well, but also had a lasting impact on culture and society.
One example of his mastery of the art and science of marketing is the launch of the iPhone in 2007. Jobs understood the importance of design and user experience, and worked closely with Apple’s design team to create a phone that was not only functional, but also beautiful. He also understood the power of storytelling, and used the keynote address to launch the iPhone as an opportunity to weave a compelling narrative about the future of technology.
Another example is the launch of the iPod in 2001. The iPod was not the first digital music player, but Jobs was able to create a sense of excitement and anticipation around the product through the use of clever marketing and packaging. He also understood the importance of the ecosystem and created the iTunes store as a platform to sell music, which helped to increase the stickiness of the iPod.
Marketing is about values. This is a very complicated world, it’s a very noisy world. And we’re not going to get a chance to get people to remember much about us. No company is. So we have to be really clear on what we want them to know about us.
Steve Jobs
Another example of Steve Jobs’ renaissance marketing approach is the way he positioned Apple as a premium brand. He understood that consumers are willing to pay more for products that they perceive as being of high quality and value. He also understood that people don’t just buy products, they buy into a lifestyle or an idea. By creating a strong brand identity, he was able to create a loyal customer base that was willing to pay a premium for Apple products.
Jobs also had a unique approach to product development and launch. He was known for keeping new products under wraps until they were ready to be launched, building anticipation and excitement around the release. He would also carefully control the messaging around the product, only revealing key features and benefits
Related links:
- Biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson