Selling abroad does not mean anymore expensive booths at fairs, visiting potential providers or setting up an office in distant countries.
The online world allows companies to start international sales in a more controlled and cheaper way than traditional internationalization. The key to success is met by means of an on-line presence. The three fundamental keypoints are:
There are companies everywhere selling succesfully without a known store. They simply use the Internet. So why shouldn’t you try your luck in the same way when aiming at foreign markets? For instance, an online shop with a few selected items and a lean logistic process to guarantee deliveries may be as valid for starting an activity in a foreign country as opening a local store.
Brand awareness is indispensable for selling. Awareness might be obtained with a good product and publicity using the right media. Content marketing, search engine optimization and social. Networks can considerably help to create an initial small community of followers of a brand.
Without trust there is no deal. Getting trust of potential buyers without a physical presence is not easy, but neither is it impossible. Constant and repeated contact with the follower community through social media, providing good content and advice and answering questions, builds trust and facilitates the first deals.
Once these three cornerstones are established, the internationalizing company will find, at least, highly valuable information on the new market:
In many cases first deals are made, thus obtaining the beginnings of a market. The growth of this small market might be driven with caution in order to allow the structure of the company to adapt to new processes, need of language skills and appropriate financial tools.
We are certified online marketing consultants of the Spanish Commerce Institute (ICEX), a government service that helps Spanish companies to export.
We help companies in the internationalization process:
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