How To Make Microsoft Cool (Part 1)
Posted: June 9th, 2008 | Author: Christian | Filed under: Random | 4 Comments »This afternoon I was reading an interesting article in Fast Company about trying to make Microsoft “cool”. Here’s the crux of the issue. Everyone says that you can’t make yourself cool. You either are cool, or you’re not.
I don’t believe that. I believe that people (and brands) can change. I know plenty of people who, with a change in attitude and a new wardrobe, became cool. It’s all about self-confidence and being authentic. Be someone that people want to talk to. Be interesting. Tell good stories.
The challenge for Microsoft is that they already have an established brand image. They are a massive monopoly. They are the bastions of uncool. They don’t know how to communicate with people.
The proof is in the pudding. Microsoft spent $500 million to tell people about Vista. Nobody cared. In fact, Apple succeeded in defining Microsoft’s brand for them with the PC vs Mac ads. They made them look like Dwight from “The Office”.
The metamorphosis to becoming cool will require more than a new haircut, some ripped jeans and a vintage rock t-shirt. Microsoft will have to build its foundation of cool on the shit that’s actually cool. And then fix what makes it lame.
What Makes Microsoft Cool:
1. Xbox 360
2. Guitar Hero
3. Bill Gates dropping millions in coin for African aid
What Makes Microsoft Lame:
1. Vista
2. Looking like a tool in Mac ads
3. Trying to be cool by buying into Facebook
- Christian
PS. Sometimes being a dork is cool in itself:
hahaha…”no its not an inconvenient time.” classic.
What about “Zune”?
Zune making Microsoft cool or lame?
[...] the past two days, I have been pondering how to make Microsoft cool. Sure, I could have generated ideas that have been born out of insights. I could have constructed [...]