How To Start Selling Internationally In 2018

Want to position your business for selling products overseas? Here are 5 steps to successfully selling internationally in 2018 and beyond...

5 Steps To Successfully Selling Internationally In 2018 And Beyond

Selling products or services internationally is becoming an integral aspect of a sales strategy for many companies. Strangely, only 1% of US companies have decided to sell products overseas, which means there is much-untapped business potential for all businesses, regardless of size.

If you are thinking of selling your goods or services overseas, find out how to start selling internationally in 2018 and beyond.

Pick An Overseas Market

The first step you will need to take is to identify the country or region you plan to market and sell your products or services. Your choice will more than likely be determined by culture, economics, politics, and the market risk.

In addition, you will need to identify if there is a customer demand for your goods.

Conduct Market Research

Don’t jump into a new market without doing your homework. Conducting market research can help you decide whether to export to a new country, as you can:

Identify your competitors
Average product pricing
Wants and needs of consumers

Aim to collect the data via telephone interviews with prospective customers and government representatives.

Identify How You Will Connect With Overseas Customers

Have you thought about how you will connect with your target market?

For example, if you are running a B2B company, you will want to make cheap international calls to communicate with your overseas clients. In turn, if you want to build a professional relationship with a client in New Delhi or Mumbai, you might consider Viber rates India.

Create An Export Strategy

Improve your success when selling overseas by developing an export plan that outlines information regarding your business goals, financial plans for expansion, and how you intend to market and sell your products or services abroad to your target market.

Questions to answer:

Will you introduce an international sales teams?

Will you produce specific marketing campaigns for your target destination?

Will you need financial investment to make your international goals a reality?

Adapt Your Website

If you are currently running a business, you more than likely already have a website up and running. Fortunately, it can be easy to adapt your website to an international audience.

A talented web designer and SEO manager will have the knowledge and skills to promote your existing site to overseas customers, so they can shop on your website just like your domestic customers. However, you will need to identify the best overseas shipping processes, and you’ll need to learn more about foreign taxes, duties, and custom laws.

It might also be helpful to introduce third-party payment systems, such as PayPal, to securely accept different currencies.

Also, consider offering translation services on your website when marketing to a new foreign market. There are many fantastic translation software tools on the market. Alternately, you could employ a translator to write content for your website, social media posts, and marketing materials.

Final Thoughts On Selling Internationally

Many companies eventually consider opportunities for selling internationally. Following the steps above will help your business successfully prepare.

Do you have any expert advice on how to sell goods and services overseas?

Write a comment below to share your tips.

10 Replies

By nomita on 23rd May, 2021

you are just shown the exact points. this is very helpful for me and others who want to start something these. thanks for sharing your opinion.

Reply to nomita
- By Keri Jaehnig on 23rd May, 2021
  
  Nomita, Glad you find this article helpful and feel it will be for others too. Thank you for your kind words, ~Keri
  
  Reply to Keri
By Charlie Bavister on 20th April, 2020

This is very helpful information on promoting business internationally. thanks for sharing such a nice tips.

Reply to Charlie
- By Keri Jaehnig on 21st April, 2020
  
  Charlie, Glad you felt this article was helpful for promoting business interntaionally. Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
  
  Reply to Keri
By Alex Marsh on 30th March, 2020

Translation can help you to keep your brand presence adaptive at a particular region. Translating your website, brochures, and even document translation can be very helpful for this. Thanks for the amazing information.

Reply to Alex
- By Keri Jaehnig on 30th March, 2020
  
  Alex, It is true that we need to meet our target markets where they are comfortable, and that includes using their own language. Online and offline translation is important, and can increase sales. Glad you liked this article. Thanks for your comment, ~Keri
  
  Reply to Keri
By Nora Mark on 8th March, 2019

I have read your blog its really good and awesome. I want to ask which company is providing legal Document Translation services?

Reply to Nora
- By Keri Jaehnig on 8th March, 2019
  
  Nora, As I have worked with international people in my previous career, I have a group of trusted sources I work with personally for my business. For others, we let them find their own resources, but do recommend options if asked. Thank you for your question, ~Keri
  
  Reply to Keri
By Alan on 2nd April, 2018

Hello Keri, Nice article one more thing if you need to translate your website don’t use software or any Machine translation because software do not translate correctly and doing many mistakes avoid software’s and hire a translation company to translate your website because you know machine don’t beat a Human 😛

Reply to Alan
- By Keri Jaehnig on 2nd April, 2018
  
  Alan, It is true that a well-educated human will bring better translation results than the average software. Thank you for your kind words, for sharing your thoughts, ~Keri
  
  Reply to Keri