Image by Steve Howard from Pixabay
If you want to export your products to the international marketplace, keep in mind you need to implement 12 steps.
They include:
1. Begin on a small scale in an English-speaking country.
Unless you speak other languages fluently, begin in a nation where English is spoken. Identify the country where your product will be in demand.
2. Do your research.
An excellent Web site to start your research is the Department of Commerce. First impressions are an important genesis for reputation management.
Study the demographics of the culture and learn it.
Understand the region’s customs in dress, hospitality and salutation. Learn the business practices, and legal issues.
You’ll want to check for a good transportation system and a reliable banking system.
Learn which companies are winning and losing. Study the competition. Strategize how you will market your brand.
3. Do an analysis of your brand.
Determine your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for each potential market. Identify what will work to effectively implement your company’s story.
4. Contemplate e-commerce.
Internet sales are the quickest way to start. Your Web site should be welcoming to the countries to which you’ll ship.
5. Take a trip.
Use a travel rewards program that will help you to minimize the cost of trips. Good discount travel sites include Kayak.
6. Employ a guide.
The U.S. Embassy can likely help you find someone who knows your industry to help you knock on the right doors.
7. Look for strategic partners.
Do your due diligence in determining what you need in agents, bankers, brokers and distributors.
8. Cultivate and maintain solid relationships.
Stay in communication with your stakeholders. Phone and e-mail will not suffice. Use online video conferencing. At this writing, affordable and convenient tools are Cisco WebEx and Skype. For the best-possible pictures, consider LifeSize‘s high definition service.
9. Money matters.
Be sure to bank with a financial institution that has an international trade department. You should be able to get help on details such as reference-checking and payment methods.
10. Be amenable to ideas.
Your foreign partners will probably make suggestions on your marketing, products, sales and service. Listen carefully and act.
11. Going global shouldn’t just be a plan B.
You must be committed to devoting enough effort, resources and time for a strong commitment. You’ll get out of it what you put into it.
12. If you expand to a non English-speaking country, speak the language.
That means all your materials should be accurately translated in accordance with the country’s customs and culture.
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“For the only way in which a durable peace can be created is by world-wide restoration of economic activity and international trade.”
-James Forrestal
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