Whether you buy an iPhone, MacBook, or iMac, you’ll find that they come with Apple stickers and this has caused many people to wonder why, which is what I’ll explain right now, so Apple has one of the most loyal fan bases in the world and this has been the case even as far back as 1984 when the original Macintosh was introduced. In fact, when Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy in the 90s, devoted Apple fans reportedly hung around the Mac section of computer stores and recommended them to shoppers. This brand loyalty is fairly unique to Apple, to other tech companies like Microsoft.
Google doesn’t have such a dedicated following. Apple recognized this as a competitive advantage and did everything they could to strengthen their fan base and Apple stickers were a result of that effort, allowing their users to display their favorite brand, similar to wearing a shirt featuring your favorite band. Although most people today buying iPhones probably feel indifferent toward Apple, the company wasn’t always this popular. In fact, Apple used to be the little guy, the only company with a chance to defeat IBM who was trying to monopolize the entire computer market. So show your support.
For Apple, displaying their stickers was a signal to others that you were rooting for the underdog. But as Apple grew, so did its marketing. They eventually went on to create popular products like the iPod and the MacBook became one of the most popular notebooks among students. Apple wasn’t really the underdogs anymore, so they became the cool kids instead. Just consider they get a Mac ad campaign from 2006. The two characters served as humanized versions of a Mac and PC. One was hip, cool, and casual while the other was a bit nerdy, overdressed, and uptight. This was. Apple told customers that their computer determined their identity and if they want it to be cool, they had to buy a Mac, including Apple stickers. Those products further reinforce the notion of brand identity since they could be displayed almost like a badge of honor that designated you part of the cruel Apple Club. But whether you use the stickers out of love for the brand or because it’s cool, it all results in one thing. Free advertising for Apple in the early day of word of mouth was what caused Apple to be a big hit among computer hobbyists, and it allowed hype to build around apple. And Macintosh. Apple has always understood that organic word-of-mouth marketing is the most valuable form of advertising. Hearing a family member rave about their new MacBook Air leaves a much bigger impact than glancing at the product in a TV ad and seeing multiple people around you with Apple stickers provide social proof that there must be something good about their products.
