Step 2 – Plan Your International Sales Road Map

Last updated 30 August 2008

Are you serious about developing your international business?

• Does international business development seem daunting?
• Are you stuck?
• Don’t know where to start?
• Need an easy action plan to help you create your international development plan?

This simple action plan is designed for any business. It does not matter where your international business is currently. If you want to get more international business, this International Sales Road Map will get you in action.

This means you should go fairly quickly through all of the steps and then repeat the process for as many times as you need to become an international company.

Even if this International Sales Road Map is simple, you will need to work on it. The International Sales Road Map is designed to keep you in action.

Go through all eight steps from where your business is today and you will become closer to the final step of being a global business.

Didn’t I just say this simple plan is designed for any business?

So repeat the process again and take action continually towards your goal of international business expansion. Repeat the process until this becomes your international business mind-set.

The more you learn about your international markets the easier it will be to find unique international business opportunities suitable for your current business.

Will this action plan really bring you international clients? Well it depends on a few other criteria. But it will help you to identify exactly what you do need to do to get those foreign clients.

This action plan will get you started. More than started. This action plan is all about getting the foreign market knowledge you need to create an international business strategy.

International Sales Road Map

Don’t forget to read the Get International Clients Manifesto

Developing your international business powered through international web marketing is only possible if you add the right marketing mix.

• Are you a small business and want to develop your international business? • Do you have a limited budget to develop your international sales? • Do you already have domestic clients but are just starting to reach out to international clients? Read this for a quick start.

Step 1

Discover

• What should you sell abroad?
• How do you choose them?
• Where should you start selling your products?
• Should you start in one particular country?

If you missed this step, go back and have a look at the first Get International Clients Business Guide.

Many small companies have a difficult time starting because they do not identify where their business is currently and the appropriate international marketing steps to take.

• Do you still have questions about what product to sell? • Do you need to review the different international marketing steps and the different steps to becoming a global business? Have another look at the brainstorming questions before continuing.

Step 2

Plan

• What choices do you need to make right in the beginning?
• What criteria are involved in your choice?
• How do you choose your communication platforms?
• What sort of a website should you use?
• What platform do you use to communicate with your international clients?
• What options do you have?
• How can I move forward if everything is in a foreign language?

If you are serious about developing your international business you will need a website that communicates well with both your domestic market and your international markets. It is possible to do this from one website.

Some businesses need two websites or web pages.

Sometimes your local markets simply need something very culturally specific. Websites like these tend to put off a large portion of your foreign visitors.

This is where you need to look at internationalizing your website. Even the smallest touches can help.

Learn more about this and find out what you can do to internationalize your website in the:

• How easy is it to set up an international website? Read about your international communication platform options.

Website Localization usually comes after Website Internationlization. At least, this used to be the case.

If you are hesitating about whether a Localized Website is appropriate for your business, have a look at Sub Domains on an International Website, or even your current website. Search engines have improved international search results recently.

This is a current trend to keep an eye on.

An International Website with Sub Domains may be your better option, depending on your current and expected international market reach.

You usually need to know more about your international market to set up a Localized Website than you do with a International Website.

If you do not have enough specific market knowledge for one country, and do not have the resources to get this knowledge, you may find it useful to start off with an International Website.

But some companies start off with Localized Websites.

Localized Websites are websites with one country URL, and targeting on country. They offer a distinct competitive advantage by bringing you closer to your foreign clients.

Website Localization Guide • When do you need to have a Localized Website? Read more about reaching specific foreign markets.

Remember to investigate how to get maximum visibility in foreign countries for your web marketing. Read more about how to submit your website to foreign search engines.

Foreign Search Engine Guide • How easy is it to set up an international website? Read about your international communication platform options.

Step 3

Design

What do I need to do to get started?
What do I need to know before I start communicating with my international audience?
How do I get started?

• 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.

Step 4

Build

How can I get international clients?
What will get me into the foreign country I am targeting?
What marketing do I need to get the results I want?
How can I get international clients faster?

• What do you need to do to create a good international marketing plan? • What different types of marketing are involved? • How complicated is it? Read about how international market research will help you plan your international visibility.

Step 5

Action

• Now that I have a plan, what should I do?
• How should I communicate with my international audience?
• Why is the choice of action I take important?

• 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.

Step 6

Analyze

• How can I know if my message is getting through to my international audience?
• How can I improve my results?
• What do I need to improve to get more international sales?

• 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.

Step 7

Run

Help! I am getting international leads and need to find my best sales pitch for them.

• How do I sell to my foreign clients?
• Is cross-cultural sales different?

• 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.

Step 8

Change

• How do I know what to change in my international sales road map?
• How can I get more international sales?
• What can I do if I am not getting any international sales?
• How can I find new product ideas to sell abroad?

• How to make your International Sales Road Map work for you? • Do you want to get more and more international business? Read about how to improve you International Sales Road Map.

Other Resources

Don’t forget to check out these other resources.

Key International Resources You will find more information here to help you expand your business into foreign markets

Free Translation Tools Are you facing language barriers? Dive into international market research using free translation tools and progress naturally to find the best solutions for your business.

Next Step

Guide 3 – Design Your International Visibility International market research is easy, find out more here.