Since this campaign started, Apple has seen explosive growth. Web analyst Net Applications now puts the Mac's market share at 8 percent, up from 5.3 percent in early 2007. That is stunning growth by any measure, especially when you consider that this is 18 percent growth in its market share...just since November 2007. And whether you are a fan of the ads or not, we can probably all agree that imitation is the highest form of a complement. These ads have been spoofed by both the novice producer and mainstream corporations like Novell. Most recently, I ran into a series produced by BankerSpank.com lampooning the differences between a Bank and Credit Union.
Do consumers think Banks are stuffy suits and Credit Unions are hip? Sure there are examples of cool Banks, look at Umpqua in Portland, OR. From their online music store, to their cutting edge retail strategy, and a moving van converted in to a mobile bank, these guys ooze cool and hip. And surely there are examples of stuffy Credit Unions out there. What this highlights to me is the continued importance of connecting and empathizing with our customers or members. Who among us doesn't want Apple like growth to talk about at the next board meeting? And, if someone will learn an new OS or port data to new hardware, what is to think that they aren't one campaign away from a switch?