5 steps to Achieving Global Business
The world is becoming a smaller and smaller place – especially where business is concerned. This article looks at ways to start building your business – around the world!
In this day and age, with the rise and fall of the Australian dollar, fluctuating economies and communication and transport that can quickly and effectively connect you with any country, the world is yours. Or more precisely, the world is your business!
Businesses have been increasingly going global over the last decade, realising the potential for clients and customers in overseas markets. These days it doesn’t matter if you have a shopfront set up in New York or none at all, you can still competitively conduct business with locals — and this goes for a range of business types, from professional services, through to clothing and speciality items. Now it is only a matter of clicking a button to order, and popping the product in the mail, or emailing advice or correspondence.
Needless to say, this opens your business up to a vast array of opportunity you may never have considered before. But how do you tap into this trend? Below are five ways you can set yourself up to achieve a global business.
1. Website
The first and most obvious step is a good website. Not something the neighbour’s teenager put together — something you have invested in, tested and perfected. If you plan to sell online, you will also need to consider a merchant facility.
When building your site, unless your targeting a very specific demographic, or your product is unique, remember users are only interested in shopping, not in your life story. Keep your site clean, uncluttered and easy to use. Homepage space becomes the best real estate for your for sale catalogue and point of sale material all at once. Be smart, be realistic and keep it simple!
2. Webinar software
Once you have gained a few international clients, you need to be able to meet with them, face-to-face, if possible. Get yourself a tried, tested and recommended webinar software that enables you to conduct online, face-to-face meetings, it will improve your communication, change the way you do business and is usually so simple it only requires a webcam or phone system.
3. Skype
Like any client conversation, not all of them will be undertaken from the office. To save your business money, consider installing a Skype App on your mobile phone, getting a cost effective data plan, and making calls over the internet.
4. Office phone
In addition to your mobile, you should also consider a VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol – in the office. There are companies dedicated to this business phone system, which is a cheaper option for making calls. To improve your one-on-one client conversation, also consider a video phone that allows face-to-face communication.
5. Seminar
If yours is a service based business, no doubt, somewhere along the line you will want to extend your client relationship by meeting them. As opposed to meeting people all over the world, consider running some group seminars and projecting, over the Internet to clients in other areas. If you do this once a year and visit a different place each time, you will save!
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