Readers often ask me for my opinion on whether they have an international market or not.
The short answer is that no matter what anyone thinks, you are the only one that can find the answer that question.
Here are a few guidelines to help you:
Elimination
First eliminate the obvious restrictions on international trade.
- Lethal products have restrictions
But do not automatically exclude international sales.
- It is usually not viable to sell fresh baked bread to foreign country, but a bakery would easily sell information products to international clients
This step requires a minimum level of common sense and some basic research.
Research Possibilities
Next, research some possibilities.This is a wide sweeping exercise.
- What do you have to sell?
International sales implies international clients. And this means that you have something to sell to them.
- What would other people in other countries be willing to buy from you?
This is a tricky question, because you may not know what expertise or products you have that interest people in other countries.
When in doubt:
- Get on the phone and ask questions
- Research
- Test your idea
Test Your Idea
The best way for you to know whether you have an international market is to carry out a small test. Rub elbows with your foreign clients.
The type of test you run depends on your business.
Ideally you need to get direct feedback from your international clients on your products.
If this is not possible you may decide to approach professionals that import similar products and get feedback at this level.
The Actions You Take Will Give You The Answer
There are many examples where people succeed in selling products into foreign markets, and there are also examples where people fail. This is understandably why people are cautious.
The truth is that only your actions will tell you whether you nave an international market. As you take action there are a few variables:
- Your product
- The country you are selling to
- Your timing
And there are also many other variables within each of these.
Test your idea on a small scale, and you will learn how to manoeuvre these variables in selling to international markets, whether you start off with an excellent product match or not.
More From Cindy
Interested in reading more on my personal opinions and experiences with cultural communication and international sales?
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This is part of the Get International Clients Business Guide 1 Discover Your International Business Be sure to check out the other useful tips to discover your international business. |
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