7 Tips for Expanding Your Business Internationally

In a digital day and age, it has become easier than ever for businesses to reach a wider audience. This means that local businesses now have the chance to grow and expand far beyond the borders. And if you thought this process would be hard, think again – we’ve prepared some tips and tricks that will make it easier for your business to reach new lands. 

Tip #1: Make it easier for your customers to reach you.

When you offer products or services to international customers, it’s important they can reach you in as many ways as possible in case they have an issue. Some customers prefer to write emails, while others would rather use a live chat. However, most of the people prefer to call, as hearing an actual person at the other end of the line will put their worries to rest.

To do that, we recommend you get an 1800 number (which is a Toll Free Number ). This way, customers will be able to reach you 24/7 and they won’t have to pay a cent. The easier a customer can get in touch with you, the more likely they are to become a loyal client.

Tip #2: Study the market you’re expanding to.

Before taking your business beyond the border, make sure you’ve thoroughly studied both the target audience and the competition for that market. This will give you precious insights that you’ll later be able to use effectively in your marketing campaigns. And it makes perfect sense if you think about it – you cannot address your international customers the same way you address your local ones. The social norms are different, as well as the language subtleties and culture references.

By studying your competition, you’ll be able to see exactly how they sell to that specific market. How they talk, what promises they make and what strategy they use. This will help your business better connect to a foreign audience that might be skeptical at first. 

Tip #3: Adapt your website.

When you want to reach an international audience, you should always make sure your website’s content offers different language alternatives. You can still find global success by using English as your only website language, since it’s so widely-spoken. However, try to keep in mind that not everyone speaks English and a localized version of your site would help tremendously. 

If your website offers multiple language alternatives, it becomes more relatable and trustworthy. It tells your international customers that you care enough about them to speak in their own language. And that will build trust. 

Tip #4: Adapt, don’t translate.

Since we’ve talked about offering more language alternatives on your website, this tip will help you improve upon that. Sure, you can use Google Translate for a quick fix but a computer will never understand the local subtleties of a language. That’s why we recommend working with an actual human translator that understands the context and cultural references of your target audience. 

Someone who speaks and understands French, for example, will be able to provide a better translation than any machine. That’s because they understand the culture and the different language nuances. You could take a look over your analytics and see where exactly your customers come from so you’ll know exactly how to adapt your content for them.

Tip #5: Work with local influencers.

You will come to a point where you’ll inevitably have to promote your products and services abroad. For that, you’ll also use various social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. When you work on your global marketing strategy, it’s a good idea to include local influencers that can help push your brand further to your desired audience. 

When using local “celebrities” that people are familiar with, you’ll be able to take your brand to a whole new level of recognition. However, try not to overdo it. Instead, you should have the local influencers make subtle mentions of your product before launching into full-fledged testimonials.

Tip #6: Use government resources.

Most of the legal authorities will be glad to help local businessesgo global as that means exporting locally-sourced goods and services. It helps both the economy and your business so you should also do some research and find out if your government has any kind of special program you can sign your business up for. 

Sometimes, they might even hold Trade Events where the most successful company owners and CEOs train small business owners and set them on the path to success. You should definitely attend such events, as they offer precious insights into export fundamentals, knowing your target audience or working with foreign distributors.

Tip #7: Get local help.

Expanding your business globally will be a much easier process if you get local support. Many countries have special programs for foreign entrepreneurs. These can either offer considerable financial support, legal help or small goods such as consumables or furniture items for your new offices. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for this kind of help as it will also help you get a better understanding of the country and people you’ll be selling to. Just think about it – if you’ve been vetted by a local authority, your customers are more likely to trust you.

Closing Thoughts

Expanding your business globally might seem like a difficulttask at first. There are so many things you need to consider, from hiring local talent to getting to know your audience. However, this process will get a lot easier if you do a minimum of research beforehand. Get to know your market, their language and their culture and you’ll already be on the right path. 

If you make a clear and upfront effort at the beginning of this process, you’ll save both yourself and your company a lot of money and headaches later on. Once you’ve developed a solid strategy to become a serious player on a foreign market, all you have to do is stick to it and you’ll find success sooner than you think!

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Christophe Rude
Christophe Rude
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