Why the Apple iPad matters…

image © Reuters

Why would anyone bet their company’s future on something that nobody has ever seen?

That’s exactly what’s happening with Apple’s iPad as publishers scramble to prepare for the introduction of the iPad in just a matter of days…

“There’s gold in them thar hills…”

Plenty has been and will be written about the iPad in the coming months. We’ll hear about the name, the features, the form factor, the price…

What we probably WON’T hear as much about is far more important, IMO.

The iPad is giving publishers a reason to believe.

They believe that the era of stunningly high-quality rich media magazines and digitally syndicated news content is here and now.

They believe that Apple’s track record of creating sustainable, profitable marketplaces in previously infertile soil is well proven.

They believe that the massive penetration of the iPod and the iPhone into our modern culture has primed the well beautifully.

I happen to agree with them.

The iPad matters because it gives everyone a reason to believe… to get excited by the possibilities… to WANT.

For the last several months, I’ve already been delivering syndicated content in the Apple native Quicktime format that is natively “iPad-Ready”. It’s PERFECT for the iPad.

I’m even toying with the idea of absorbing the cost of an iPad into an upcoming training program. It will offer such a superior experience for consuming the material, it’s worth giving Apple that $$$ that would otherwise go to me, because it gives my customers such an awesome reason to believe…

A reason to get EXCITED about spending their money with me.

What are you doing to give your customers a reason to believe?

I’d love to hear your take on the IPad… or your latest “reason to believe”.

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