The most important reason to take your business to the global market is to improve your company’s growth and expansion. Many companies consider expanding globally to reach higher goals that are not possible in their current environment. If you plan to have international market success you’ll need to learn a few simple steps and always explore the new market.
Below are some steps that might help beginners that plan to conquer the global business market.
Research the country you intend to conquer
Companies that want to take their services and products globally to explore the great opportunities offered by globalization, should do plenty of research before even starting to plan their expansion. Planning and investing in trips to get to know the country you plan to expand your business to, should be a fundamental part of your strategic plan.
This will also be a great way to learn more about the market rules and regulations, competitors, and local consumers. Don’t forget to look out for necessary paperwork like visa requirements and such, since this can slow the process of moving into your desired country.
If you plan to expand your business to the US or the UK, know that document translation services are crucial for entering the country and avoiding visa rejection. You’re required to translate important documents like birth certificates, transcripts, and more, to be able to comply with the regulations of institutions like the USCIS, UKVI, or Department of State.
Understand customer behavior and product offering
The people and products you’re marketing go hand in hand. Understanding the people of the country you plan to expand your business is an essential part since you may end up selling a product they don’t want and probably will never buy.
People who have made missteps when they cross borders often stumbled over the same problem and that is assuming that the target market functions similarly to their current one. So, when taking your product overseas, you first have to see if there’s even a market for your offering.
If you notice that your current offering doesn’t play in the new market you can either decide not to sell in that market or change your offering to meet the local demand. For example, to be successful, McDonald’s had to alter their menu for each country they have a restaurant in, leading to some pretty interesting entrees. This is great for those planning to branch out to foreign markets.
Promotion
Note that you’ll need to choose strategies that will work in the new environment to be successful. Figure out effective methods for marketing your products and services abroad, and remember that this is not so different than doing it domestically.
You should do additional research to find out where your target audience is and which mediums they frequent. Finding an online platform that can reach out to global markets is a must.
Most common people promote on Facebook, but if you want to expand globally note that countries like South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Brazil, Poland, and Vietnam don’t use this platform as much as other countries in the world.
For Netherlands, WhatsApp is the top social media platform used with Facebook in second place as per consumer market insight for the Netherlands. Doing plenty of research will help you figure out your target country’s preferred medium for promotion.
Pick a global expansion partner and listen to local teams
When entering foreign markets, companies need to fully understand all aspects of the country’s regulations and laws. Partnering up with companies whose primary focus is to recognize warning signs and understand potential risks can lead to a successful business. In-country partners include a consultant to advise on local compliance and a local attorney.
So, picking the right global partner can make all the difference in the global expansion experience. Another crucial thing is to never overlook your local team. In fact, according to this Harvard Business Review article, one of the top global marketing mistakes that companies make is not listening to their local teams.
Hiring competent and intelligent local people means considering their input when making strategic decisions since that can help your business. Companies should note that they need to incorporate local teams and also use them as a helpful resource.
In closing
Entering a global market can be quite difficult and stressful but doing your research correctly, getting to know your targeted country, and understanding the market and its customers can be quite beneficial. If you have the right approach you can enter the new market easily and quickly. Making your company global will bring credibility and recognition to your brand, making it a successful business. Also, allowing to get to know the new market will give a competitive edge, offering innovative insights.
