The global market has a great deal of untapped potential, and many small and mid-sized businesses are starting to realize the value in taking their businesses international. It is no small feat to become a global player in today’s market, but it can absolutely be done with some preparation, research, and cultural awareness. Utilizing these guidelines will help you take a step in the right direction towards turning your company into a global player.
Have an International Business Plan
When you set your sights on one or a few particular areas to expand to, make a plan. Talk with any contacts in those areas, do some market research to determine the likelihood of success, and speak with financial advisers and lawyers to ensure you know how to handle the logistics of such an expansion. The goal of this plan should be to prepare you to deal with the social, legal, cultural, and economic differences of operating a business outside your current country.
Utilize the Web
If you own a booming local or national business, you likely already know the value of a good website and effective social media campaigns. As you go global, you need to utilize the web even more to reach out to markets who were unreached by your company in the past. Using the web to market is important as many people use search engines to find services whether it is typing in best accountant in Florida or driveway cleaning Mississauga the searcher will likely go to one of first results. Since you have no brand recognition or local rapport in these new places, you must promote yourself, and there is no better way to do that than with free access to millions of consumers on the web and on social media sites. “We have found that authentically engaging with our global audience is key to using the web effectively as a promotion and awareness tactic. We regularly curate and share content that speaks to our key audiences. It not only helps increase overall engagement, it also lets our customers know we understand what influences them on a day to day basis,” states Stephanie Hoaglund, Digital Marketing Manager of international telecommunications company VIP Communications.
Translate your Website
English has become the globally accepted language of commerce, but many English speakers tend to be a bit narcissistic about their language. Of all the people on the web, only about 25% speak English. So while business partners in another country might have no trouble on your all-English website, potential consumers throughout the world will have a hard time understanding what your company does and what you can offer them. You can get professional, high quality translations to various languages at an affordable price and within a few short hours, which can make all the difference when expanding into a new country with a different language.
Use a Global CDN Provider
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) essentially helps your website run faster and more smoothly. It allows your visitors to access your site’s content from various servers, making load time much shorter. In addition to making visitors happier, this faster load time looks good to Google, who may influence your rankings due to load time.
Act Like a Local
This may seem like a simple task, but it goes far beyond eating the local cuisine and adorning yourself in cultural garb. Getting to know the culture of an area you want to do business in will help you to connect with local consumers and understand how that particular sector of your business needs to be operated. Having a site in the local language and a local phone number are two of the easiest ways to make your presence and cultural awareness known in the global marketplace of a new area. There are many services that offers companies and individuals the opportunity to turn an international number into a local number to build rapport with consumers all over the world while saving money.
Turning your company into a global player doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or impossible feat. With some planning and understanding of what you’re facing, you can bring your company in the global marketplace and have an enormous amount of success across the world.
