Overall we got what we expected from Apple concerning the new iPad. It’s a large scaled iPhone that Apple fanboys all over the US will flock to buy. Hipsters will fill every Starbucks reading eBooks and people will be walking around with these awkwardly sized tablets.
But what we did get from Apple that was unexpected was such a low price. The pricing strategy to sell these new iPads at the $500 dollar mark is a gift from Apple to the print industry.
We all know the struggles that are occurring in the Newspaper and Magazine industry, not to mention the Yellow Page industry but at this pricing point it, the iPad does offer a gleam of hope for these failing markets.
By no means will this device save the industries but it will put more and more of these tablets, or eReaders in the hands of more Americans. More devices equals more downloads, which then opens up the opportunity for more advertising opportunities.
Just as any new Apple product that has been released over the past five years there is always a flutter of activity and people waiting in lines for their product. This presents a great opportunity for certain news companies i.e. NY Times, The Wall Street Journal and other large print companies to reach more customers. Even if sales are modest at first there will be millions of more people who will have the opportunity to purchase content from these companies.
It is up to the news supplier to present easy to use applications and fill those applications with content that the iPad users will want to read.
So will the iPad save all of these failing companies? No, but if there are any out there with a competent, forward thinking management team they can take advantage of iPad and reach a whole new audience of Gen-Y’s.
Justin Freid is an internet marketing entrepreneur who currently heads up SEO and Social Media marketing efforts for Peterson’s College Search. Justin also runs an Internet Marketing Forum on MarketingScoop.com. You can find Justin’s thoughts on the world of social media and SEO on his blog,Justin Freid | Search Engine and Social Media Marketing and follow him on Twitter under the handle @Justin_Freid
About Justin Freid
