Events

Social media marketing has changed in the last few years.  This makes it difficult for businesses to know how to approach social media. I hear echos that businesses have now had a chance to play around with social media and are incorporating social media into the marketing strategies for real business results this year.  And we continue to hear about social media success stories every month. But it’s still difficult to find real business examples.

This is why I particularly liked this slideshare presentation by Louis Gray where he compares what blogging used to be like last year and what it’s like today.  The differences are enormous. It’s hard to believe the tactics you need today have changed in such a short period of time.

It feels like you are continually chasing the train and can never catch up. It’s hard to keep up to date.  When a social media expert writes a book it is often out of date as soon as it’s published.   So how can you learn about the new social media marketing tactics?  How do you find out what’s working and why?

The World’s Largest Online Social Media Event

This online webinar is almost like a live event

Here’s how. Join the growing band of successful companies and attend this upcoming conference.

Social Media Success Summit 2010 will teach you how to harness the awesome power of social media. And it’s amazing: Consider that the “population” of users on Facebook (400 million) is greater than the population of the United States! More than 71% of businesses plan on ratcheting up their use of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs in 2010 (According to the Social Media Marketing Industry Report).

The summit, the world’s largest online social media conference, will give marketers and small-business owners cost-effective ways to directly contact prospects and customers without employing expensive (and often ineffective) tools such as list brokers, publications and advertising.

Superstar Instructors

Twenty-four social media gurus will reveal the secrets of their success at the Social Media Success Summit 2010. In addition to event organizer Michael Stelzner, the all-star lineup of presenters includes bestselling authors Guy Kawasaki (Art of the Start), Chris Brogan (Social Media 101), Darren Rowse (ProBlogger), Mari Smith (Facebook Marketing), Chris Garrett (Business Blogging), Denise Wakeman (The Blog Squad), Greg Jarboe (YouTube and Video Marketing), Kim Dushinski (Mobile Marketing Handbook) and Lewis Howes (LinkedWorking: Generating Success on LinkedIn).

You’ll also hear from social media pros at companies such as Home Depot, Best Buy, Whole Foods, Domino’s Pizza, Edelman PR, MarketingProfs, Foursquare, Groupon and SmartBrief. They’ll tell how they use social media tactics to help their organizations beat the competition.

In sessions such as How to Use Twitter as a Marketing Weapon, Optimizing Your Facebook Page for Profits, Five Ways to Measure Social Media Marketing Success and How to Bring Customers Repeatedly to Your Local Business, you’ll learn:

• The most effective ways to market your company with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, social bookmarking sites, mobile marketing and more
• How to track and measure the return on investment for social media programs
• A step-by-step method for creating a smart social media marketing plan
• How to build a loyal social media following
• How to reel more customers into your local business with social media techniques

The summit will also cover brand-new ground such as YouTube and video, social media bookmarking, mobile marketing and two hot new sites—Foursquare and Groupon—that can drive people to your local business.

By the way, the topics covered in the 2010 Summit are totally new content—there will be absolutely no repetition of last year’s event.

No Travel Hassles

You might be thinking, “Sounds good, but I don’t need the hassle of taking time off, arranging a plane flight and reserving hotel accommodations—not to mention the expense.” No worries. This is an “online conference”—you can sit back, relax and enjoy it in real time in your home or office. The event organizers have taken your hectic schedule into account by spreading the sessions over a month, so they’re convenient to attend.

If you miss a session, they’ve got you covered. You’ll get transcripts of every session and they’ll be recorded so you can replay them whenever you like. Also you won’t be learning on your own—you can ask the social media gurus questions during the live sessions and join private forums and LinkedIn groups to network with presenters and fellow attendees.

Discounted Tickets

The event kicks off on May 4 and runs until May 25. To take advantage of the 50% off special visit here. The discounted tickets are limited, so grab yours before they’re gone.

Get in tune with the marketers who are enjoying dazzling social media success. Social Media Success Summit 2010 will help you move from playing basic “notes” to orchestrating strategic social media programs that’ll bring more sales and greater profitability.

Why I Recommend This Event

Yes, the links to Social Media Success Summit 2010 here are affiliate links.  I attended the event last year and it was well worth both the investment.  Part of what makes this event so good is how it’s set up.

It’s a virtual event and you get the recordings shortly after the live event so you can listen to it when it suits you.  There are generally 2 3-hour sessions a week over several weeks.  This pace is easy to fit into a busy schedule and it gives you time to digest the training.

In between sessions you can interact with other participants in the private forum and the LinkedIn group.  In previous Success Summits put on my Mike Stelzner, this interaction has been just as useful as the webinars themselves because the instructors are there to answer your questions.  If you do join in, be sure to say hello and tell me that you read about the summit here.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

Learn The Latest In Social Media Marketing

Twitter

Here is my article which was first published on Social Media Examiner:

Twitter is a networking haven for businesses. But is there an easy way to draw the right people to you with Twitter?

The answer is yes and there’s a great Twitter feature that can help you: Twitter lists. Twitter lists can grab the interest of people you most want to meet, help you make a great first impression and can help you with marketing segmentation.

Below I’ll show you some unique ways to use Twitter lists. But first…

How Do Twitter Lists Work?

Twitter lists creates separate lists of people. If you haven’t already used Twitter lists, watch this video to see how you can get started.

There are two interesting points to remember about Twitter lists:

• You don’t need to “follow” people on Twitter to include them in your lists.
• You can have both public and private lists.

Now here’s a look at what you can do with Twitter lists.

#1: Listen with Private Lists

Twitter lists are great to monitor and listen to different groups of people. No-one else can see your private lists, so this is a good place to start using the Twitter list feature. You can create private lists to:

• Monitor your competitors
• Carry out specific market research
• Keep track of different networks of friends and colleagues

Private Twitter lists can help you segment the fire hose of information streaming in through your Twitter feed, according to Rohit Bhargava. Segmenting people into lists also helps you more effectively listen to and monitor your market.

John Jantsch says Twitter lists make it easier to listen to what others have to say.

And monitoring people without following them makes it easy to carry out specific market research or intelligence gathering. Once you’ve finished doing your market research, you can simply delete your list without making any changes to the people you usually follow.

#2: Craft Your Brand With Public Lists

There’s not much space to brand yourself on your Twitter profile page. You do have space for a few words in the bio box and you can add in background graphics. But you can also add another dimension to your branding by carefully crafting your public Twitter lists. Here’s how.

Choose appropriate names for your lists
Spend some time finding the best name for your list. There are a few things to keep in mind when naming your Twitter lists:

• Engage the right people. You’ll get more people interested in looking at your list if the name sparks their interest.
• Remember to communicate with everyone. Don’t limit your audience. The right name could help you reach more of the people you want to connect with.
• The SEO bonus. Another reason to think about how you label your lists is for search engine optimization (SEO). Look at the screenshot below. This Twitter list is in a good position in Google search results for a competitive keyword.

The bad news is that if you change the name of your list, the URL of your Twitter list changes too and you’ll lose the people following that list. So take some time to get this right.

Choose appropriate Twitter lists for your public profile
When creating your Twitter lists, you want to think of how lists help you:

• Connect with your Twitter followers
• Achieve your main goal for using Twitter
• Continue the story you began in your Twitter bio

As you build up a following on Twitter, your followers will be interested in your Twitter lists. The choice of Twitter lists found on your Twitter home page is important for engaging with people.

Choose the number of public lists
Remember, there’s a limited amount of space available for your Twitter lists on your home page. Although you can create a larger number of lists, only about 4 to 6 will appear on your home page depending on the character length of the names of your lists. Your audience will have to click on the “View all” link to see all of your lists if you have more than this.

So you may want to think carefully about the number of lists you want to create and the order in which you create them. Put your most relevant lists at the top.

Advertise your Twitter lists
Create Twitter widgets for specific Twitter lists and put them up on your blog or website to engage people and establish your areas of interest and expertise.

Better Marketing With Twitter Lists

Twitter’s list feature can add some extra marketing power to your Twitter strategy if you take some time to get it right. You also need to find the right way to make your lists work for you. This will depend on your goals for Twitter, your audience and how they like to connect with you.

A good Twitter list improves your visibility in your market. Here are a few more benefits:

• The people you follow in your public lists will appreciate the recognition.
• By providing a useful resource, you’ll increase your credibility in your market and attract more followers.
• As you become more popular, you’ll be listed on other people’s lists. This is another way to measure your social media influence.

What are your thoughts about Twitter lists? How are you using them? Do you regularly follow other lists? Please share your thoughts and comments below.

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

How to Market Your Business With Twitter Lists

International Business Networking

How would you like to start your international marketing with one simple tactic? One you can start using with your very first international clients. Do this one tactic and you will also:

• Improve your international market intelligence
• Get the information you need to get more international sales.

Many small businesses put off doing this good international marketing tactic when they first begin to get international clients. There are several reasons for this.  They may:

• Imagine international marketing costs more money than they may have
• Simply not know how to go about marketing to foreign markets
• Feel awkward around different cultures
• Be afraid of making mistakes
• Think it requires a lot of time
• Feel inadequate with people that do not speak the same language

All of these reasons are normal the first time selling to a different country.  But your first international sales can be a source of useful information to use to close more international sales.

The problem with not doing anything is that it wastes time. How many sales slip by when you waste time without taking action?

So what is this one simple thing you can do to start your international marketing?

Follow Up All International Sales By Phone

This simple action often gives you more valuable market information than any other marketing tool for new international markets.

• Systematically follow up with all of your international customers.

And, the best way to follow-up for international clients is by phone. When you speak to your international clients in person, you will get much more than just feedback.

• Systematically following up your international clients by phone rapidly increases your market intelligence for specific countries.
• You will pick up buying patterns on different levels.
• You will identify how each specific foreign market responds to your communication, your product, your offer and your positioning.
• In addition, you never know what gems you may discover.

What To Say When You Follow Up

Do not approach this as a typical after-sales call.  Widen your scope.  Try to understand your international client’s entire sales process:

• Their initial problem and the reasons behind this problem
• Their motivations in looking for your particular product or service
• What they need to consider
• Why they were interested in your offer
• Why they bought from you when they did
• What are they happy about
• What they would change

Instead of treating this like a survey, strike up a real conversation.  Get curious and try to learn more about your international clients. Here are a few guidelines on how to call:

• Call them before they forget you. Do not wait or make excuses.
• Tell them how you value them as a client.
• Keep track of everything. Note the details. Do not summarize or make assumptions.
• Ask them to give you specifics, to explain why they say something.
• Dig a little to understand what got them to buy, what motivated them, what their problem was, what they like about your product and what they did not like, and what you can do to make it better.
• Keep your ears open for other marketing opportunities. Testimonials or referrals. Can you start a selection of international case studies?
• Share other ways clients use your products, give different perspectives on how your product is used.
• Afterward, try to find the little touch that says thank you and shows you listened to your client.

Before you start calling…

International Calls Can Go Wrong

Following up by phone sounds simple enough, right? It is. If do not forget some basic international business skills. Are you just beginning to sell to different countries? Then make sure you:

• Check your time zones before dialing.
• Check days considered as “weekend” days – in Middle Eastern countries.
• Avoid calling on Sunday’s for Saturday/Sunday weekend countries.
• Verify if the number you have is a home number, or an office number and which one is best for your client.
• Do not think that you need to speak their language.  If they bought from you, they must speak your language at least a little.  Be attentive to how they understand you, and adjust your communication to make it easy for them.

More Out Of Your Follow Up Calls

To get the most out of your follow up calls:

• First, remember to note details of the information you get back. You may not be able to identify triggers for sales until you can see a pattern. Review this information regularly.
• Second, try to have the same person call to follow up. If this is not possible, try to get one person per country. And, if this is not possible, arrange for everyone involved to share their information and review it regularly.

Follow-up phone calls are a fast way to get to know new foreign markets. They are simple to do, do not take up much time, and inexpensive with today’s international phone services. This is how systematic telephone follow-up becomes a key tactic for any international market entry strategy. Now, over to you…

• What is your favorite tip to follow up with international clients?
• How do you follow up with your first international clients in new markets?
• What stops you from following up with new international clients?

More on International Business Networking:

• Networking With The Wrong Questions
• 2 Habits To Grow Your International Network
• The Biggest Mistake In International Networking
• Online Business Networking When Cultural Communication Styles Clash

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

Follow Up With Your First International Clients

Cross-Cultural Marketing

Earlier this year, there was much talk about the rising populations of minority groups in North America. This was after the release of research data pointing to the increase in ethnic demographics. This means there is also more ethnic marketing research data available.

Have a look at this YouTube video on rising Muslim population in Europe and North America

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Interesting But Not 100% Accurate

I would have liked a more accurate comparison between European Muslim projections and North American projections.
Although I am sure the Muslim population has increased in North America in recent years, I do believe Canada takes in more Asian immigrants than Muslim immigrants.

The way the data is portrayed it is easy to think that the immigration statistics only represent Muslim immigrants, and I doubt this is the case.

Don’t let this stop you from watching the video. It shows us that our world is constantly changing. More than we think.

There Is No Magic Looking Glass

Different ethnic populations mean different marketing and probably different business opportunities.  Marketers and business owners would love to look into the future.

Unfortunately it is not easy to predict exactly what our business needs will be in the future. There is more than one influencing factor. The one thing we can be sure of :

• Our marketing will change with the changes in different ethnic groups

If you would like to open your mind to the different influencing factors I recommend the book Megatrends Europe by Adjiedj Bakas

Now It’s Your Turn

• How do you think these changes will impact your marketing?
• Do you think all businesses will need cross-cultural marketers in the future?
• What other trends do you see impacting our future marketing tactics?

More On Cross-Cultural Marketing

• A Future For Ethnic Marketing
• Cross-Cultural Web
• How Cultural Differences Influence Marketing Segmentation
• Marketing Segmentation Grows Both Sides Of Your International Business
• Sophisticated Marketing Methods And International Sales
• Why Cross-Cultural Marketing Is Not An Option
• Why International Marketing Needs To Do More

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

Why Cross-Cultural Marketing Is Not An Option

International Networking On Social Media

This questions is beginning to haunt me. I have only been active in social media for a few months. Yet I find myself reacting to old-school networking tactics. They just seem so obsolete now. Am I the only one?

When you have been active in social media for a couple of months it becomes easy to identify the newbies and the gifted communicators.

Is this the reason why I now find myself questioning other communication methods?

Or is this the reality of this new customer-centric environment we are in?

In order to make social media work for your business, you need to move conversations to real connections.

In international marketing, this often means phone calls for me. Face to face meetings do not happen often. So since Christmas, I have drastically increased the number of networking phone calls I make every week.

This is simply to correspond with the amount of social media networking I am doing.

Old-School Communication Versus New

My questions started last week, after one of my routine networking calls. I was struck by the “old-school” tactics my caller was using.

One of the obvious tell-tale signs was when this person asked if they could put my email address on their newsletter distribution list.

I remember hearing this tactic several years ago. This was before the spam laws came out, wasn’t it? And it was definitely before information overload became an issue for everyone.

It seems like everyone now uses Google Reader. And just like I fought using Twitter for a very long time, I also fought adopting Google Reader up until very recently.

I guess this was why this rather old tactic seemed so out of place to me.

This caller is obviously very skilled in these old marketing and networking tactics. We have so many things in common that we really should have hit it off much more than we actually did.

The communication lacked authenticity. But is it my fault. Has my own social media communication mind set overtaken all of my own communication expectations?

Has Communication Changed?

This got me wondering just how much social media has changed my networking tactics. The old communication style just seemed to clash too much with the new one.

Last week I also had two great phone calls with people who are social media savvy. And in reality the generation gaps and different backgrounds would normally have limited the power of our connection.

But our phone conversations were extensions of our Twitter conversations. The connection was authentic right from the start and continued to be authentic through the transition to the live phone calls. These two phone connections proved to valuable resources for my business.

• Do social media communication skills also help you when networking over the phone?
• Or is it just the continuation of the initial authentic conversation?
• Is networking catching up with our customer-centric world?

International Connections On Social Media

Earlier today I caught a thread of a conversation on Twitter, where someone thought social media will improve cross-cultural communication. Now, I am looking forward to taking this conversation live, but time differences have not yet made that possible.

It is an interesting thought. In some cases, I do think social media tears down cross-cultural communication barriers. But there are still some cultural combinations that are mined with difficulty.

A common problem I have involves people from cultures with high context and low individualism scores on the Geert Hofstede cultural behavioral scales.

This usually involves a “hello” and no direct communication. There is never enough information for me to work on. I feel their sincerity in starting a conversation, but the conversation seems to be one-sided. One-sided from my end, even though they were the ones that initiated the contact.

It is very difficult to create an authentic conversation online with these cultural differences.

There is one overriding factor. Social media federates people. So if two people from very different cultures have acquired social media communication skills you would think that this would topple quite a few barriers.

Different Ways Of Using Social Media

There is one question you have to answer first.

• How do other cultures use social media?

It is easy to assume that social media communication skills are the same in different countries. But they cannot be. People use social media differently in different countries. They have different expectations. People approach social media with different mind sets.

Every time I put my nose into the French social media scene I am amazed at how different the climate is. And I must say that I rapidly close the door.

It is not a place I like to linger.

Social media is much, much nicer in English.

I guess the differences in atmospheres relate back to how North Americans smile much more than French people. And how smiles are not accepted on the same level here in France as they are in North America.

Opportunities To Connect

Apparently there are huge populations of social media users in the East. But would you find these social media scenes nice or would you want to rapidly shut the door? Or would two people be having conversations in parallel without connecting?

This brings us back to the question of whether social media improves cross-cultural communication and international networking.

If you have any thoughts or experience of social media in other cultures, please do take a moment to leave a comment and share them below.

More on International Networking On Social Media

• Social Media Networking With Twitter Lists
• Links And International Social Networking
• Is Social Media Changing Business Networking?

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

Is Social Media Changing Business Networking?

Improve Your International Marketing

Do you want to find the best marketing tactics to develop your international markets?

Before jumping into international marketing, you first did to be aware of why there are different marketing tactics.

It is easy to think that:

• Everyone shares your definitions of marketing terms everywhere else
• Marketing tactics that work well in your environment will work and definitely not harm your company in another environment
• A good marketing practice that works well in your environment can halt all business possibilities in another country

These assumptions can be wrong.  When you start off with an error in the foundation of your international marketing strategy, you will not get optimum results.

Let’s look at some assumptions that lead to confusion…

Different Definitions

People from other countries do not always have the same definition of marketing terms.

• Even if you think your have the right translation, this marketing term might mean something different in two different countries.
• There might be other cultural influences that affect the scope or meaning of your marketing term.  You might need to rethink your marketing strategy.

Some of the terms where I notice differences in definitions are:

• Brand marketing
• Cross-cultural marketing
• Global marketing
• Interactive marketing
• Intercultural marketing
• International marketing
• Multicultural marketing

These differences can be small.  But when you are establishing your marketing strategy, it helps to acknowledge these differences.  This enables you to find the best international marketing tactics for your business.

When coordinating with different cultures you always need to clarify definitions.

Marketing Sophistication

Another source of confusion I see is the difference in sophistication of marketing tactics used in different countries.

It is much easier to start at the very bottom of the basics.

No matter what marketing tactics you set up do not forget adapt the basics to your new foreign market:

• Your offer
• The positioning of your offer
• The positioning of your company

When you get these right you will usually know how to choose the best marketing tactics to open your international markets.

Different Marketing Environments

Different countries have different marketing environments.

One marketing tactic may work well in one country and may not work in other cultures.

It is easy for marketing professionals to make assumptions.  But they also quickly learn to verify assumptions before approaching new international markets.

Awareness Leads To The Right Questions

Yes, some assumptions can lead to confusion.

Most marketing professionals notice when a wrong assumption is made and start asking questions to correct it almost immediately.

We also need time to notice problems.  And, in practice, we do not always have this time.

Awareness is the key.

Simply being aware of the danger of  wrong assumptions usually gets you to spend an extra minute or two to question the right tactic to use.  Questions help cross cultural barriers.

Knowing when to ask the right questions at the right time is one of the first  international skills you acquire through experience.

More To Improve Your International Marketing

• Branding And Building An International Business
• Marketing Maturity At Different Stages
• Marketing Tactics For Different Countries

Don’t Miss:

• International Web Marketing
• Improve Your International Web Marketing

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

Marketing Tactics For Different Countries

International Marketing Basics

I recently received a flow of questions online around the topic of marketing from people with a website who want to get international clients.

Now…

There are many definitions of marketing. There are countless books and marketing experts that can give you an accurate definition of marketing.

What Is Marketing?

And today, I really only want to raise the question.

But here is a short definition:

• Marketing makes people want what you have.  It makes your product or services desirable.  In fact, marketing should make your product or services so desirable that your prospects are ready to buy it.

Lack Of Marketing

You see, the problem is…

Some internet marketers do not seem to take marketing into their international business equation.  This is often because

• They confuse an online presence and online visibility with international web marketing
• The think domestic marketing online is equivalent to international marketing

Marketing Actions

So what does marketing entail?

• You define a strategy
• You use marketing tactics

For example…

Article marketing is more than the marketing tactics:

• Writing articles and publishing them online.

You also need to include the article marketing strategy if you want to make your readers want to take action.

You need to think through your article marketing strategy:

• Who are you writing for?
• How well do you know this audience?
• What can you write that will interest them?
• What do you want them to do?
• How can you get them to do this?
• Do you know how your audience will respond to your strategy?
• How will your audience find your articles online?
• Will your audience find you?

A Good Marketing Strategy

A good marketing strategy is based on how you well you know your audience.

Your communication must be right for your marketing to make your audience want what you have to offer.

More On International Marketing

• Define International Marketing
• How Too Many Contributions Spoil International Communications
• International Article Marketing
• International Email Marketing
• International SEO For Quick Results
• Marketing Segmentation
• Mindset Differences Between Offline Marketers And Online Marketers
• More Segmentation = More International Sales
• My Own Case Study – Small Business Flexibility In An Online World
• The Difference Between An eMarketer And A Geek Marketer
• Ways To Enter International Marketing
• What Is Marketing?
• What Is Your Definition Of International Web Marketing
• Your International Marketing Choice

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

What Is Marketing?

International Marketing Basics

What marketing tactics can you use to begin international marketing?  How do you find the right ones for your business?

Variety In Marketing Tactics

In theory, you can begin with the list of marketing tactics available to you for your domestic marketing.  This is what I hear people talk about today:

• Article Marketing
• Association Marketing
• Content Marketing
• Educational Marketing
• Email Marketing
• Event Marketing
• Joint Venture Marketing
• Post Card Marketing
• Referral Marketing
• Video Marketing

…And this is by no means a complete list.  There seems to be new phrases coined every year for different marketing tactics.  You may find all of these choices confusing.

There are many different ways to market to your foreign prospects. The choice is more complicated when you think of the different cultural aspects.

• There may be other marketing tactics popular in different countries.
• Some marketing tactics may work more than others in different countries.

What marketing tactic is best suited for international marketing?  First of all, let’s not cloud the issue with these cultural differences.  Let’s stay focused on a couple of business basics.

What is the one marketing platform you should not ignore for international audiences?

How To Use International Web Marketing

It is true that today no business can afford to overlook  web marketing to reach international markets.  The trouble is that as the web is global, most people consider that international web marketing is:

• Not difficult
• Cheap
• Easy
• “Global”

And this is usually where confusion really sets in.

You see, if you consider all of your web marketing to be “international”, and you make no difference between your domestic marketing and your international marketing, what results can you really expect?

• Are you just trying to catch the stray customer?
• Or do you want to develop your business abroad?

Althoug you may make an occasional international sales, are you really marketing to people in different countries and from different cultures?

To get the most out of any market, you always need to adapt your marketing to each particular market.  The narrower your focus and the more targeted your marketing and communication, the better results you will get and the more sales you make.

To make your international web marketing work for your business you need to:

• Focus on one country or culture at a time
• Target and adjust your communication to try to connect with this one culture

Once you decide what you want to sell and where you want to sell it, how do you choose the marketing tactic you need?

Your Choice Of Marketing Tactics Depends On Your Business

The truth is, no one really knows the best marketing tactic you need to use, and how to use it, to reach your international markets.  This is something you need to find out for yourself.  You will need to try and test many different tactics before you find what works for your business.

The best marketing tactics will depend on your foreign markets. There are several factors that come into play.

• You can begin with the marketing methods that work well in your domestic markets.
• You can also try the marketing methods easiest for you to reach your international markets.
• Remember to think out of the box and look for different ways of connecting with people.

Good businesses regularly test different marketing methods on a small scale first.  International marketing is the same.

How do you find out which marketing tactics work best for your business and your markets?

Market Research Integrated Into All Of Your Marketing Actions

There is one important difference between starting a domestic marketing strategy and an international marketing strategy.

International marketing requires more research… and this research is ongoing.   You need to spend more time on your international market research to:

• Dig deeper, question your results and keep this research open in a cross-cultural business environment
• Investigate avenues that come up as your understanding deepens and be able to adapt your marketing tactics

In fact, ongoing market research is the secret to international marketing.  International market research needs to be an integral part of your international marketing and sales tactics.

In your domestic market, market research is fairly straight forward.  You do not need to question your findings systematically, you can be reasonably sure your understanding is accurate.

But things are different in your international markets where cultural differences impact your understanding throughout the whole marketing process.

• Different countries have different cultures
• Different cultures have different ways they like to be sold

If you are just starting to market your products and services internationally, internatinal market research is critical.

Test Different Marketing Tactics And Add Market Research

Try different marketing tactics until you find what works for your business, but…

Don’t forget to add in ways to stimulate and to get feedback back from every communication with your international market.  Include market research across as many of the marketing tactics you use as possible.  This will help you to connect with your each of your international markets.

• What is your secret to finding the right international marketing tactic for your business?
• Which international marketing tactics does your business use?
• How do you connect with your international markets?

More On International Web Marketing

• Define International Marketing
• How Too Many Contributions Spoil International Communications
• International Article Marketing
• International Email Marketing
• International SEO For Quick Results
• Marketing Segmentation
• Mindset Differences Between Offline Marketers And Online Marketers
• More Segmentation = More International Sales
• My Own Case Study – Small Business Flexibility In An Online World
• The Difference Between An eMarketer And A Geek Marketer
• Ways To Enter International Marketing
• What Is Marketing?
• What Is Your Definition Of International Web Marketing
• Your International Marketing Choice

Copyright Cindy King 2006-2010 - International Business Blog

The Secret To Finding The Right International Marketing Tactics For Your Business