Increase your chances of success when going global.
As the world enters the digital age and physical market boundaries start to collapse, small businesses are given the opportunity to compete more effectively in the global market. With the right strategies in place, small businesses can earn their rightful place in the global arena and enjoy the kind of success that they deserve.
How can small businesses compete against large multinational companies in a globalized economy? Here are some helpful tips that you should consider.
Start small. You need to test the waters before jumping in. Focus on a small niche and identify a target country where you would like to test your product.
Think local. Research the local market and use the information you have gathered to plan your moves. Make sure your marketing tactics resonate with the local audience to increase your chances of getting the results that you need and reduce your risk of failure.
Collaborate with local firms. Partnering with local companies does not only help you gain access to resources ? it can also help you understand local culture and market conditions. Needless to say, this can help you develop a more viable strategy to reach your target customers.
Consider viable alternatives. If you want to expand to international markets but do not have enough experience marketing in that territory, you may consider working with distributors, establish joint ventures, or offer international licenses.
Be different. Since there is a high possibility that you will be competing against some well-established local competitors, you need be different. Have a unique value proposition to stand from the rest of the competition. For best results, focus on quality, value and service, and not on price.
Learn to listen. If you want your business to thrive and survive, listen to what your customers are saying and learn to adapt to changing market conditions. Ask for your target market?s feedback and fine-tune your strategies to adapt to market conditions.
Personalize. Sending the right messages at the right time will definitely work in your favor. It can increase brand awareness, foster better customer engagement and loyalty, and increase customer retention rates. However, make sure you personalize your suggestions and do not rely on complete automation since it can negatively affect your bottomline and reputation.
Use the power of social media. Social media can help you expand to global markets without a fuss. However, you may need to translate your social media pages into the local language and hire local administrators to get good results and prevent cultural and language mishaps along the way.
Be mobile. Considering the fact that the future of marketing is in mobile, you need to properly optimize your web presence to capture your mobile audience.
