Want to improve your international sales strategy? Try this 7-step checklist to ensure you are doing everything you can to help your company succeed internationally.
How to Increase International Sales: 7-Step Checklist
Selling in the international market can be overwhelming. However international sales can greatly boost your business and help it grow. So, what can you do to enter your business in the global market and support it?
1. Review Local Competition
It is important to check out the local competition and find out how they are making their sales and what benefits and perks they offer. Then you can utilize similar strategies or go beyond them to attract customer attention. Specifically, pay attention to local pricing structures and service expectations so you can match them instead of sticking out as different.
2. Get International Business Numbers
To successfully sell internationally, it is necessary to create and maintain a reliable communication system. This means getting international business numbers such as international toll free numbers or local business numbers. You can have calls made to these numbers routed to your main office, remote employees, or a device of your choice in any location. This helps your business remain accessible no matter its location is.
You can get toll free numbers for international countries and give locals the option to call your business for free. Incoming calls are forwarded to a number or destination of your choice. This lets you manage international sales from any location of your choice.
Similarly, you can get local numbers for specific cities or regions in these countries. Locals can call these numbers for regular local calling charges, even if the call forwards to your main office in a different country.
3. Invest in International Payment Methods
A big hurdle — when it comes to international sales — is being able to accept various payment methods. Most international buyers will use a MasterCard or Visa for international transactions. However, apps and services such as PayPal also make international purchasing possible. Find the right international payment method for your target location, one that locals are comfortable using.
4. Offer Global Customer Support
As mentioned above, a reliable communication system is fundamental because it lets you offer global customer support. Customers who need help with a purchase or want to inquire about new products should be able to quickly get in touch with a representative. Be available not only via phone conversation but also by offering localized omnichannel support. Think: email, social media, live chat, video conferencing, etc. This helps you offer support in more ways, making customers of every type comfortable.
5. Execute International Marketing
Besides making your business accessible, you will want to increase brand visibility and awareness in the international market with the help of international marketing. Some common ways to get started are:
- International SEO
- Targeted social media ads
- Developing an international-friendly URL structure
- Language targeting
- Advertising local contact information
- Translating your website and social media to local languages
- Advertising in local markets and directories, and more
These local advertising ideas can help your business become more visible and accessible in foreign markets.
6. Be Available in Different Languages and Time Zones
Another way to support your international sales is by making your company accessible through localization. For example, convert prices into the currency of your target areas. Translate your website to local and regional languages for every country you extend operations to. Offer customer support and sales in local languages. You may even choose to hire remote agents within target areas to match language and time zone requirements.
7. Make Shipping & Delivery Affordable
Lastly, make delivery affordable. Many customers and prospects switch providers or services if shipping and delivery charges are high. And this is especially true of international shipping as those prices stack up significantly. To combat this, you want to be clear and upfront about shipping and delivery charges, including customs charges and beat the logistical issues. Find a carrier that fits your budget as well as offers reasonable shipping charges. For instance, the cost of shipping should not be more than one third the price of the purchase.
Start Selling Internationally!
Not all ideas mentioned in the above checklist may fit or work with your business. However, try and experiment with ones that may and adjust them according to your needs. And before you know it, your business will be offering international sales and gaining recognition globally!