Tools to develop your international activity efficiently

Companies are constantly looking for new ways to expand and diversify into new markets. International market development is a way for companies to expand outside their home country and to open up to new customers and business opportunities abroad. However, effective international market development requires proper planning and strategy.

Understanding the target market

Before starting our international market strategy, it is important to understand the target market. This includes research on culture, economic trends, laws and regulations, competition and consuming patterns. It is also important to determine whether the product or service is suitable for that specific market. Companies can turn to organisations such as in-country International Chambers of Commerce or government institutions for foreign trade for information on the target market.

Building local partnerships

Local partnerships can be very useful for companies seeking to expand internationally. Partnerships can include distribution agreements, joint ventures with local companies or collaborations with local marketing and sales experts. Local partnerships can help companies understand the target market and access local distribution networks.

Using social media

Social media is a powerful way for companies to connect with potential customers abroad. Companies can use social networks to promote their product or service, build their brand and establish relationships with consumers. It is important to understand cultural differences and consumer preferences when planning a social media strategy. Companies can also use machine translation tools to assist communication in other languages.

Translation and localisation

When entering an international market, it is important to adapt to local and cultural conventions. This often means translating your website and products to make them accessible to local consumers.

There are many tools available to help you translate and localise your business, including:

Online translation tools

There are many online translation tools, such as Google Translate, that can help you quickly translate your website and products for free or at low cost for a first approach. However, if your business iniciatives consolidate, it is best to use a professional translator or a translation agency like AbroadLink, which has many professional translators in different fields to ensure the quality of the translation. 

Localisation software

One of the first tools to consider when developing your business internationally is localisation software. These allow you to tailor your website, marketing content and products to the needs of each target market.

Localization software can efficiently handle the translation of your website into many languages, while helping you to respect local cultural conventions and business practices. This may include changing colours, images and content to suit the culture and preferences of each target market.

There are a number of localisation software packages on the market, such as Smartling, MemoQ and SDL Trados, to name but a few. Each has its own features and benefits, so it's important to choose the one that best suits your specific needs based on the size of your business, the complexity of your content and your budget.

By using effective localisation software, you can improve the quality of your translation while reducing costs and increasing the speed of the localisation process. It can also help you avoid costly mistakes and translation errors that can damage your reputation with your foreign customers.

Using e-commerce

E-commerce can be an effective way for companies to expand internationally. Companies can use e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba or eBay to sell their products or services online to customers around the world. E-commerce can help companies to access new markets without having to invest in costly local infrastructure. It is also useful to familiarise yourself with the e-commerce laws and regulations in different countries to ensure that online transactions are secure and comply with local regulations.

Optimising the website for search engines

When companies expand internationally, it is important to optimise their website for search engines. This can include the use of local keywords and localised content to help potential customers find the website when they search online. It is also important to ensure that the website is compatible with the different browsers and devices used in different countries.

International communication 

When companies expand internationally, it is important to have clear and effective communication with local customers, business partners and employees. International communication can be a challenge, as there may be language, cultural and time zone differences to consider.

There are companies that offer international communication services that can help companies overcome these challenges. Integrate a professional virtual telephone service, with the possibility of virtual telephone numbers in over 100 countries. Companies can use local numbers to communicate with their customers and employees abroad, without having to invest in costly local infrastructure.

You can also opt for teleconferencing services and international call centre services, which will help companies to improve communication with customers and employees abroad. Businesses can use these services to hold virtual meetings, make remote presentations and manage inbound and outbound calls.

Do not hesitate to take care of communication to strengthen your presence abroad, which will help to increase your success in new markets.

Calling on experts in international development

For some, international market development can be complex and confusing. Companies can call on international market development experts to help them plan and implement an effective strategy. Experts can help companies navigate local laws and regulations, establish local partnerships and optimise their online presence.

In conclusion, international market development can be a powerful way for companies to grow and diversify. However, it is important to plan and implement an effective strategy to ensure success abroad. Tools such as understanding the target market, local partnerships, social media, e-commerce, website search engine optimisation and the use of international market development experts, as well as translation agencies to translate websites, can help companies achieve their international market development goals effectively.