If you truly want your small business to succeed, then you need to have a successful marketing plan in place.
While you might already have a local-national marketing strategy; what about marketing on an international level?
Here are just a few ways you can market to consumers outside the U.S. and few small businesses doing just that:
Small U.S. Businesses Marketing Internationally
Thanks to the Internet and other advancements in communications technology, reaching out to customers is easier than ever before.
As a result, more and more small businesses are taking their marketing efforts global.
They include:
- Tandy Leather Factory – Although Tandy Leather Factory is still considered a small business, it has grown in recent years and all thanks to its international marketing. Located in Fort Worth, Texas, Tandy Leather Factory now has over a dozen stores located outside the United States;
- Elecsys – As a small machine-to-machine communications tech company, Elecsys builds custom electric equipment, RFID devices, and remote monitoring hardware out of it headquarters in Olathe, Kansas. Since marketing to international clients, the company now has hundreds of global clients in countries across the world;
- Etsy Users – Etsy has thousands of small business owners that strictly sell their handmade goods through the Etsy site. These businesses ship their products globally each day and it’s all thanks to an effective marketing strategy.
With the businesses above in mind, here are some tips for marketing your small business globally….
Research International Sales Guidelines First
As the following article looks at, whether you’re planning on marketing cosmetics to Asian consumers or selling handmade good to customers in Europe, you need to follow international sales guidelines.
There are a number of export rules and international sales tax guidelines that go along with doing business globally.
Fortunately, the U.S. Small Business Association has clear guidelines you can follow.
Before you begin marketing internationally; first visit the SBA website for information on customs laws, duties, taxes, and information on international consumer protection.
Hire a Translator
First impressions count for everything, which is why your international marketing campaigns need to be flawless.
Although translating tools like Google Translate can help, translation software isn’t always accurate, especially if you’re trying to replicate regional dialects.
This is where hiring a translator comes in handy.
By hiring a translator who is from your target country, you can ensure your marketing campaigns are accurate and as expressive as you hope. Even if you’re marketing to an English-speaking country, hiring a local will help you with common phrases and sayings.
Track Time Zones
Effective marketing comes down to a few different factors including concise content and timing.
When marketing internationally, it’s important to send campaigns based on your clients’ time zone – especially if you’re marketing via SMS and social media.
Sending campaigns in the morning, noon, and night while avoiding weekends, is a wise marketing move in any country.
Tracking time zones will ensure you send your marketing messages at the most opportune time no matter what country you’re targeting.
When you’re ready to market outside the United States, first consider the pointers above.
About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including marketing and international sales.