When I first lived in a non-English speaking country almost 30 years ago, I did not know how much I would change my own way of communicating. My own English. And it has really changed.

The Difficulties Of A Non-Native English Speaker

In many ways, I think most foreigners, who learn English as a second language, go through more adjustments in learning this foreign language.

Foreigners often tell me English is an easy language to learn. It should be. There is just so much of it around.

Foreigners think English is easy. But there is a variety of English communication. There is a big step in thinking you know a language and in being a good communicator.

Good cross-cultural communication takes some adjustments. Both parties need to make an effort in finding a common understanding.

The Native English Speaker’s Job

When a native English speaker is in a foreigner’s home country, often the native English speaker does most of the adjusting.

If the native English speaker has traveled before, this usually happens naturally. He instinctively knows how to make it easy for his foreign listener.

Non-native English speakers do not always realize how much the English speaker will adapt his conversation to make it easy for him. English speakers adjust their communication in several ways to make it easier for non-native English speakers:

• Slang
• Strong accents
• Different dialects or country specific vocabulary
• Awkward grammar
• Difficult vocabulary
• Different communication styles

The Adjustment Process

I can easily forget the years of adjusting my conversation I went through. This is what I remember I did:

• Pay attention constantly to make sure everyone understands the same thing.
• Backtrack the conversation as soon as a little doubt came up or if I was surprised by any reaction or remark
• Explained I was tired, when I was and finding the effort too much.

I remember feeling as if I was doing all the effort in making the conversations work. I remember being surprised at many misunderstandings. I was also surprised at how and why they happened.

Everyone has their own perceptions of their cross-cultural communication. There is no right or wrong. There are only effective and enriching cross-cultural exchanges.

Native-English speakers communicating with non-native English speakers are in a situation with many different and uncontrollable perceptions.

It is important for native-English speakers to remember to adjust their own English communication during their first cross-cultural encounters.

Practice Makes Productive Cross-Cultural Communication

It takes practice to smooth over the hurdles caused by these communication differences. The more conversations you have with non-native English speakers the more you pick up receptive, productive and interactive cross-cultural communication skills.

Seasoned English speaking international professionals end up constantly using a reduced vocabulary. They have to adapt to so many different language levels. This makes it very easy for their non-native English-speaking partners to understand them. The non-native speakers feel flattered. This reinforces their opinion that English is a very easy language to learn.

I have lived in a non-English speaking country longer than I have in my native English speaking home. Adjusting my own communication is permanently on automatic.

My own day-to-day English is very simple and direct. I rely on creating pictures with words to get specific points across. Sometimes I get frustrated at limiting my own vocabulary. That’s when I hunt down stimulating conversation, or reading. And even writing.

Language is important. How you use your language to communicate with others is also important. Adjusting your English communication to meet the language levels of others is part of an effective communication process.

Read more on Internationalizing Your English in these articles:
- Translation Friendly International English
- What Flavor Is Your English?
- Adjust Your Own English Communication To Meet Other Language Levels
- Internationalize Your Own Communication
- A Multicultural Writer Gets More International Readers?

And read even more in the…
Get International Clients International Sales Road Map

Culture Customized Content Guide • What is the secret to effective international business development? Read more in this Get International Clients Business Guide

According to an article on Wired, there will be many, many more non-native English speakers in the world than there are native English speakers. They estimate only 15 percent of the 2 billion people using English by 2020 will indeed be native English speakers.

The reason why there are so many English speakers in the world is because English has become a lingua franca.

But I don’t want to look into the past and go into the reasons why English is used so much in other cultures. I would like to look at the future of this diversity in the English language.

The question that comes to my mind is the whether we will need more “International English” communication. Let me explain.

The cultural differences in the use of the English language add to the complexity of cross-cultural communication. The Wired article referred to earlier speaks of the Chinese “cleaning” up their English signs for the Olympic games. They are “cleaning” up their English to meet native-English standards.

The question is, will the native English “versions” maintain their advantage?

I think this trend will probably have different consequences than in the past.

Here is an example of what happened in the past.

If you have read my blog long enough, you know I have raised my two children in France, in French. So I’m familiar with the French education system. The English taught in school here is the British English. Obviously, we are all part of Europe. But the teachers have very strict guidelines to teach the Queen’s English pronunciations. For those of you who have not lived in England, this is a very “posh” English. Popular English television shows will use this accent in comedy.

Try listening to non-native English speakers striving to speak with a “posh” English accent in all seriousness and very proud of their accomplishments, and keep a straight face. I think this illustrates the use of English as a foreign language as it has happened up until now.

But today the vast majority of the non-native English speakers learn English differently. They use English to live. To work. To communicate. It is not a question of imitating people.

Is this new use of English even a “foreign” language to non-native English speakers? I think their use of English is probably closer to the abbreviated slang my daughters use non-stop to communicated with their friends.

And if this is so, native English speakers will not be able to maintain the dominance of their particular cultural blend of English. There is a strong case for using what I refer to as “International English”.

What is “International English”?

It is simply English devoid of strong cultural flavors and with a carefully reduced vocabulary. The only words used are very easy for a wide range of cultures to understand quickly. These words are distilled after years of exposure and communication with a variety of non-native English speakers.

Why do I think there is a case for “International English”? It is all about good cross-cultural communication. You need to meet on common ground. You can read more on cross-cultural communication on Get International Clients.

It will be interesting to how the use of the English language will evolve over the next decade.

What flavor do you think English will have in the years to come?

Read more on Internationalizing Your English in these articles:
- Translation Friendly International English
- What Flavor Is Your English?
- Adjust Your Own English Communication To Meet Other Language Levels
- Internationalize Your Own Communication
- A Multicultural Writer Gets More International Readers?

And read even more in the…
Get International Clients International Sales Road Map

Culture Customized Content Guide • What is the secret to effective international business development? Read more in this Get International Clients Business Guide

Do you automatically assume your business will follow the flow if your local economy was going through a recession? Do you lack ideas on how to keep your company sludging through rough times?

How would you like to be able to free your company up out of any sticky recession your local economy might be in?

Let’s take a closer look at how your marketing team functions during recessions. Your marketing team is your lead generation tool, right? How can a seasoned marketer help you during recession?

Traditional Marketing Outlook In A Recession

Generally speaking, during a recession most offline marketers get their budgets cut. This appears to limit their choice of actions. Marketing life can seem pretty gloomy without the budgets companies become accustomed to.

But this will not deter the seasoned offline marketer. He will look for and find creative solutions he can implement on a decreasing budget. The seasoned offline marketer will learn to manage, if his company and products have staying power. And if this is not his first recession to ride through, he will have prepared for hard times.

Creativity is part of the key. Traditional marketers have to lift their heads up and look out at the whole world to try to find their solutions. Communication is live.
They have the upward and outward outlook. They might lack the tools or opportunities they desire in-house and will naturally look outwards to find them.

Online Marketing Outlook In A Recession

During a recession the online marketers will naturally look to increase their conversion rates. They will want to get even more out of the money they have. Good online marketers often still have weapons up them sleeve to get better conversion rates. Recession stimulates them into action.

But this leads the online marketer down one narrow road, totally fixated with numbers, and testing, concentrating on the math and science of online sales conversion.

His vision is totally focused, and can be narrow in scope during a recession. Increased conversion rates can help during a recession.

Fly Above The Crowd

The pressures of survival on low budgets can narrow your vision.

What happens when you get a marketer with both online and offline experience marketing during times of recession? What would he come up with?

Probably a solution that will give your company a big boost, taking you out of the whole recession arena.

A little creativity with focus…and the low-cost friend, the internet.

What will you see if you were to look upward and outwards with focus?

• There are other countries which are not operating under the same economic constraints as you are.

Creativity?

In a recession, dare yourself to find or create a product to sell further afield. Any company can. It just takes a little bit of imagination. Let the traditional marketer help you.

Powered Focus?

In a recession, dare yourself to find those clients fast. Of cours, you can. Let the online marketer help you.

Recession Proof Your Business By Getting More Foreign Clients

Flying above the crowds is a mindset, don’t let your mindset get caught in your local economy.

Developing clients further afield will help your company expand in the long term.

In a recession? Use both Traditional Marketing and Online Marketing skills to give you the power you need to get up and out of any local recession your company may be in.

Don’t miss this guide on Get International Clients:
- The Secret Of Successful Intercultural Communication

Here are some articles on Mindset In Cross-Cultural Communication:
- Cross Cultural Vision Is More Important Than Learning International Habits
- Communication Across Cultures Is Better With A Whole Brain Approach
- How To Acquire The Right Mindset For International Sales
- The Right Mindset For International Negotiations
- Boost Your Company Way Out Of Your Local Recession Field

Here are some articles on Cross-Cultural Communication Differences:
- Free Courses, Content And Culture Scams
- Different Countries = Different Rules
- Different Eye Tracking For Different Cultures
- Music In Cultural Differences

Read more on Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges in this article:
- Small Businesses Learn From Intercultural Communication Difficulties To Grow Their International Business

And read even more in the…
Get International Clients International Sales Road Map

Guide 5 - Connect With Your International Markets • How can you connect with your international clients?• What communication do you need to connect with international markets? Read about how to create your international marketing strategy.

Guide To Cultural Web Tools • How can you tweak your web site to improve your cross-cultural communication? Lots of tools here.

Studying different habits and learning how to shake hands in different cultures has a value. But this is not this skill that will help develop your international business.

Cross-cultural vision and an international mind-set will give you a skill set to communicate better with your international clients. This skill set will also help you to evaluate your international business potential in foreign markets. Here is how this will help you:

• The ability to see from different cultural points of view
• An increased ease of adapting to different cultures
• An understanding of different forms of politeness
• An understanding of cultural differences in respect
• An awareness of different professional behaviors and their meaning
• An ability to adjust your own behavior to these cultural differences within seconds
• The ability to navigate through different cultures without communications, and business, coming to a halt

Next week there will be an article on Get International Clients on Third Culture Kids. These are some of their natural skills.

Read about Third Culture Kids on Get International Clients:
- How A Third Culture Kid’s Natural Cross Cultural Vision Can Power Your International Business Expansion
Don’t miss this guide also on Get International Clients:
- Web Tools For Cultural Communication

Don’t miss this guide on Get International Clients:
- The Secret Of Successful Intercultural Communication

Here are some articles on Mindset In Cross-Cultural Communication:
- Cross Cultural Vision Is More Important Than Learning International Habits
- Communication Across Cultures Is Better With A Whole Brain Approach
- How To Acquire The Right Mindset For International Sales
- The Right Mindset For International Negotiations
- Boost Your Company Way Out Of Your Local Recession Field

Here are some articles on Cross-Cultural Communication Differences:
- Free Courses, Content And Culture Scams
- Different Countries = Different Rules
- Different Eye Tracking For Different Cultures
- Music In Cultural Differences

Read more on Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges in this article:
- Small Businesses Learn From Intercultural Communication Difficulties To Grow Their International Business

And read even more in the…
Get International Clients International Sales Road Map

Guide 5 - Connect With Your International Markets • How can you connect with your international clients?• What communication do you need to connect with international markets? Read about how to create your international marketing strategy.

Guide To Cultural Web Tools • How can you tweak your web site to improve your cross-cultural communication? Lots of tools here.

During this last step of the International Sales Road Map, you need to look at your international sales results and analyze your tracking and statistics in your viability analysis.

You need to find ways to improve your results. Try to get better in tune with your foreign market. There a many questions to ask during this phase.

Use These Tools To Refine Your Cross-Cultural Marketing

• How can you tweak your web site to improve your cross-cultural communication? Lots of tools here.

Next Step

This is not the end of your International Sales Road Map!

Once you have completed all 8 steps, do not think you can stop. The key to pinpointing the best offer you can make to your international markets, is to create one ongoing process where you:

• Interact with your international prospects
• Get feedback relevant to your business
• Improve your marketing, and sales offers

So what is your next step?

Your next step is to start all over again, at the beginning with the Get International Clients Business Guide 1:

Discover Your International Business Briefly review your product. Then repeat the rest of the steps again, and again.

Keep your International Sales Road Map constantly in action.

Will you ever need outside help?

This depends on your particular business. And your ambitions. Review the first 2 steps in the first Business Guide carefully. The right answers to these questions will guide you in making the right decisions.

Yes, there is a learning curve to expanding your business into different countries and cultures. It is not insurmountable. In fact, it can be extremely easy through methodical steps.

Set up a process and keep taking action.

Keep running through this 8 step process until it become second nature.

I am very interested in hearing your stories. So please let me know how this International Sales Road Map has helped you to develop your international business. Either leave your comments below, or email me.

Adapt Your Sales Pitch Across Cultures

• Are you finding cross-cultural sales a little difficult? • Do you know how to approach cross-cultural saels? • Are you as ease with cross-cultural sales as domestic sales?

As you gain exposure to international clients, you will develop your international negotiation skills:

• Would you like an easy guide to keep you away from the big first time blunders? You will find this and more, here.

International Lead Generation

With the right marketing mix you can create an online lead generation machine.

Guide To International Lead Generation

• How can your international marketing bring in sales? The answer is here.

Sell Without Toil

If you really feel overwhelmed and do not want to make that first step there are other solutions:

• Do you know your international market inside out? • Are there other options to develop internationally? • Do you need some brainstorming to see all of your options?

Next Step

Guide 8 - Improve Your International Development Plan • How can you improve your results? • What should you change? Read how to improve your international sales road map.

Before running your international sales strategy, set up a dashboard to analyze your sales results. Your international business success depends on adapting your business to your international markets.

Good tracking procedures and regular analysis will help you to adapt your business faster and in a more suitable manner.

This guide will be developed further.

Next Step

Guide 7 - Run With Your International Sales Strategy • Do you need help setting up your international sales strategy? • Do you want to know what to say to your foreign prospects to get the sale? Read about how to create your international sales strategy.

Last updated 1 September 2008

How can you connect with your international prospects and clients?
What can you do to open up foreign markets?

How To Connect With Your International Clients • Are you just starting to develop your business abroad? • Are you worried about your budget? • Would you like an easy option to start connecting with foreign markets?

Build Cross Cultural Communication Skills

Cross cultural communication is where the rubber hits the road. This is where delays happen and miscommunication stops sales. And yet cross cultural communication skills come through practice. As you begin to interact with your foreign markets use each experience as a learning tool. Give all cross cultural exchanges your full attention and be open to new cultures.

Cross Cultural Communication This guide is coming soon.

The 3 Types Of International Communication For International Business Success Online • Do you want to develop your international business primarily through your website? • Do you know the different forms of international communication? • Do you want to use the right communication for your international success?

How To Prevent Most Cross Cultural Miscommunication By Examining Your Own English Communication • Do you feel you might have miscommunication problems with your international clients? • Is your communication with your international clients easy? • Would you like to know what you can do to make it better?

Adapt Your Own Communication For International Business Success Like The Professionals • What can you do today to improve your international communication? • Do you feel that your international communication is effective? • Do you know how to improve your international communication?

Why You Need To Internationalize Your Own Communication First To Avoid Cultural Blunders • Is your international communication blunder-free? • Would you like to improve your communication with internatinal clients? • What can you do to limit the cultural blunders drastically?

Communication Across Cultures Is Better With A Whole Brain Approach • How can you make cross-cultural communication easy? • Do you struggle with communication across cultures? • How does a whole brain approach help your international communication?

Communicate Through Culturally Customized Content

After internationalizing your website and with a minimum of market research under your belt you will feel ready to start communicating directly with your foreign prospects, on their own territory. Learn more about this and customize your content in the:

• What is the secret to effective international business development? Find out here.

Use Multicultural Marketing

Use multicultural marketing to make your international internet marketing powerful. International internet marketing often lacks good multicultural marketing practices. And yet it can make all the difference in boosting your website to become a real international sales system. Learn more about Multicultural Marketing with the:

• Do you want more powerful international marketing? Be sure to look at this.

Advanced Cross Cultural Web Marketing

If you have already connected with your international markets, have a look at these cross-cultural web marketing tools.

• Would you like to tweak your communication to fit better with a foreign culture? Read these Cultural Web Tools for inspiration

Next Step

Guide 6 - Analyze Your International Viability • Do you want to know your chances of success? • Do you want to know how to improve your chances of international success? Read about how to create a viability analysis to keep your international business on track for success.

Last updated 14 August 2008

Your international business success depends on finding and using the right international marketing mix both for your business and your international clients.

An effective international marketing strategy is based on several different marketing strategies including:

• Traditional international marketing - for the core strategy
• Cross-cultural marketing - to get the right communication
• Strategic marketing - to get your message right
• International web marketing - for easy international business development
• Lead generation marketing - to leverage your web marketing and bring in clients
• Multichannel marketing - to create intimacy with the right marketing mix

This guide will review all of the different marketing strategies for you to create an effective international marketing strategy.

Review General Plan

Plan Cultural Marketing

Internet marketing makes international business development possible for everyone. But you need to use internet marketing strategically in order to develop your international business. Especially if you are relying solely or heavily on internet marketing without any offline marketing in your foreign markets.

Choice Of Internet Marketing Methods • How much choice do you have in marketing methods? • Is your choice of marketing methods important in international business development? • What web marketing methods should you choose for international business development?

Use A Multicultural Internet Marketing Strategy To Develop Your International Business • How does a multicultural marketing strategy help you develop your international busienss? • Why should you use multicultural marketing? • Does multicultural marketing fit into your international business strategy?

Turbo Charge Your Multicultural Internet Marketing To Get International Clients • How can you boost your international marketing? • Is there a quick fix for your international marketing? • How do you get the most out of your international marketing?

Find Your Marketing Mix

Multicultural Marketing & Cross-Cultural Marketing

• Do you know the difference between Multicultural Marketing and Cross-Cultural Marketing? • Do you know when you should use them? Find out how to get more from the right cultural marketing.

International Web Marketing

Use this guide to help you plan your international marketing plan:

• Do you know how to pull all of your different international marketing pieces together? This guide shows you how

Multichannel Marketing And The Right Marketing Mix

Creating an international lead generation or sales system through internet marketing becomes a reality with the right marketing mix. Once you have the foreign market feedback, once you develop some cross cultural communication skills you will be able to identify the marketing mix you need to get your market to respond to your offers.

• Do you know how to communicate with different countries? This guide shows you how

Develop A Marketing Plan For International Sales

International Lead Generation

With the right marketing mix you can create an online lead generation machine.

• How can your international marketing bring in sales? The answer is here.

Create Marketing To Stimulate International Connections

Build Trust With These Tools

There are a few ways to build trust. Consistency and clarity are the two main factors contributing to trust in international communication. Here is how you can build trust through consistency:

Building Trust With These 3 Changes In Your Communication Will Get International Visitors To Listen To You • How do you build trust with your international clients • What can you do today to improve your communication with foreign clients? • Are you interested in building more trust with your international clients?

Once you establish your first regular communication plan you will need communication tools: Case Studies can be used for marketing to both your domestic markets and your international markets. If you already have some case studies with your domestic clients remember to make these visible to your international readers. Of course you should aim at getting a variety of case studies with international clients. But their main value in an initial international business plan lies in their trust building capacity.

Case Studies - Best Small Business Tool For Building Trust In International Clients • Do you have a trust-building strategy in your international marketing plan? • Do you know the best trust-building tools you can use for international clients? • Did you know that this same tool is also a great trust-building tool for all of your clients?

Case Studies - Easy Small Business Strategy Strengthens International Client Relationships • Do you need to build stronger relationships with your international clients? • Would you like to kill two birds with one stone and use one trust-building and relationship-building tool for all of your clients? • Is your company already using case studies for international marketing?

Design International Web Visibility

Your international business development relies on good web marketing practices. Good web marketing can challenge some businesses. With international business development not only do you need excellent web marketing practices, but you also need to tweak your web marketing for international audiences.

This Business Guide tells you how to give your website international visibility.

• How do you know if your international clients can find you? • What do you need to do to make it easy for them to know you are there? Find out how to design your website for international visibility here.

Finished?

Next Step

• How can you connect with your international clients? • What communication do you need to connect with international markets? • What is the secret ingredient for great international communication? Read about how to create your international marketing strategy.

Last updated 13 August 2008

What do you need to know before starting your international sales road map?

Research Your International Markets

This is the most important part of this International Sales Road Map.

International Market Research challenges beginners often to the point of delaying action. It is not difficult. The hardest part is jumping in and finding the first two or three key information contacts.

You need to constantly seek up-to-date information from each of your international markets. This does not always need to be in depth information. It is more important to develop a regular schedule to touch base with your international markets.

International business success depends on regular international market research.

Learn how to create an easy process for your international market research :

International Market Research Guide International market research is easy, find out more here.

Continue to develop your international market research skills until they become second nature for your business.

Get Used To Foreign Languages

Would you like to sell to foreign countries?

Are language barriers keeping your back?

Even if you cannot speak a foreign language you can still a large amount of online research using free international tools.

Don’t slow down your international business development simply because everything seems so foreign. Start using the free translation tools for initial market research. Use this information to start a phone research.

Guide To Use Free Translation Software Tools International market research is easier and faster with free translation software tools find out how to use them here.

Get International Web Visibility

Guide To Design International Web Visibility Your website needs to be tweaked for maximum international visibilityfind out what you need to do here.

Next Step

Guide 4 - Build Your International Marketing Strategy • What information do you need to know before starting your international business expanision? How can you get the information you need? Read about how international market research will help you plan your international visibility.