Here’s the weekly roundup of all of the useful and interesting links I share on Facebook and Twitter.

Cross-Cultural Topics

• Chinese Tigresses - It’s always interesting to look at how well women fare in business in different cultures. Here’s a look at women in China.
• Poetry to boobies wins the Dutch press ad “peoples choice” award - As @DR4WARD say on Twitter, winning awards in one country would earn fines in another. Outside of Europe, where do you think this campaign would be received as intended?
• The big red word, the little green man, and the international war over exit signs. - A very interesting read on the cultural differences in the perception of different types of “exit” signs. And a look at America’s skepticism toward pictograms and symbols, which have long been more popular in the rest of the world.
• Gestures Speak Louder Than Words – Gestures have different, very specific meanings in different places. This is an endless source of miscommunication, amusement and despair for the world traveller and in International Business. Do you have any amusing stories to share?
• Africa’s Cyber WMD - Here’s something to read if you like to follow International Social Media. Do you think this is a real threat?

International Business

• Middle Eastern Mirage - Dubai’s spectacular collapse has destroyed vast
  fortunes and exposed the dangers of doing business in the Golf. What
  have investors learned?
• The World’s Most Tech-Friendly Countries - The U.S. is slipping and Sweden is in first position on this list. Martin Lindeskog does this surprise you?
• Get a Great Start - Many French entrepreneurs decide to move to the United States to set up their company. Start ups simply have it easier there than in France. Here’s some useful information from globalEDGE if you’re thinking of starting a company in the US.
• Hands on or hands off? The social media balancing act - This is an interesting read on Interbrand with a few examples of what businesses have learned about giving more power to their audience. So, who has another example like the Vegemite story?
• Princeton Map Of The Month – A world map showing how Starbucks & McDonald’s are taking over the world.

International Marketing

• Getting Real About Creating Change – This article by Amber Naslund raises some great questions about the reasons why our customers want to connect with us on Twitter and read our company blogs. How has this impacted your international marketing today?
• Cultural impact on advertising - Here’s a slideshare presentation on the cultural impact of advertising. Does anyone have any others to share?
• Facebook’s global gaffe - John Yunker raises some great points: the new Facebook globe icon for notifications is potentially confusing to users. And it also prevents Facebook from creating
  a global gateway strategy that leverages the globe icon. What icon would you like to see Facebook use for notifications?
• Best Global Brands List In 2009 – There are not many surprises on this list, but it’s worth a look. Which of these brands has your vote?
• Digital across cultures: superglobal or hyperlocal? – A good read on how mobile impacts cross-cultural marketing in International Social Media. “Evidence shows that the better a brand understands its customers’ local cultural triggers, the more likely it will be able to profit from digital marketing’s unique cross-market potential.”

International Sales

• How to Shorten Your Sales Cycle - Using trigger events to your avantage gets more international sales too. This article by Jill Konrath is a must read for anyone in international sales.
• The U.S. Commercial Service International Sales Leads Gadget is Here! - globalEDGE shares information about a great resource to find international sales leads… and its an iGoogle Gadget! Is anyone using this? What’s you take on it?
• W.T.O. Sees Trade Rebounding in 2010 - China overtook Germany as the world’s top exporter of merchandise in 2009, accounting for almost 10 percent of global exports. Do you see changes in where your international sales are coming from?
• The China Price. Low, Lower, Lowest And Incredibly High. - Here’s a very interesting read on the cultural differences of how price is perceived in China. On the one hand China produces very low cost items, but on the other hand it’s a culture where high priced items are perceived as much better. Do find the contract interesting too?

International Social Media

• Iceland wants to be your friend. Really. - Here’s an example of how another country is using social media.
• Social networking: Twittering classes - Here’s a graph to have a look at for an international perspective on how much time people spent on social media in 2009. The keenest social-network users, Australians, spent over seven hours a
  month on such sites, “poking” friends and “twittering” in late 2009, twice as much as users in Japan.
• Link Building and International SEO - Here are some tips on basic international SEO. Do you use any of these?
• The best global web sites of 2010 - Here’s John Yunker’s 2010 list of best global websites. Facebook is tie with Google. And the new baseline to be a global website is 20 or more languages, and climbing. Which one of these websites is your favorite?
• Blurred Out: 51 Things You Aren’t Allowed to See on Google Maps - There are a few things listed here located outside of the US which is interesting to note. Thanks to Blog Godown for sharing on Twitter!

Now It’s Your Turn

• What about you? Did you find any interesting links recently?
• What do these international and cross-cultural links inspire for you?
• Which international link is your favorite?

What do you think? Please share your thoughts and comments below.

Photos from Shutterstock.

  Filed under: International Business

Cindy King

Comments

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  Lucy · 29 March, 2010 · 

  This was a great list – interesting and usual, as always. Thanks Cindy!

  • 

    Cindy King · 30 March, 2010 · 

    Thanks Lucy! Glad you like it.