Article Contributed by Cameron Johnson
According to the U.S. Small Business Association 9SBA), small businesses provide over half of all American jobs. However, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA), less than one percent of America’s 30 million companies export products abroad. The good news is that there are great opportunities for exporting, importing and expanding your business abroad. Below explains five tips for making your international transition smooth and trouble free.
Get Free Help
International business may sound daunting, but there are many excellent resources available to help you through the process. For example, the U.S. Small business Association (SBA) offers a variety of assistance programs to businesses. For example, there are online tutorials, counseling sessions and even the SBA Loan Program. Free, local assistance is available through the SCORE program, which involves experienced or retired business experts mentoring small business owners.
Supply Chain Secrets
All imported items into the U.S. must be cleared through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) by a licensed Customers Broker. Therefore, you can outsource your import needs to a professional. For exports, any business person can book an export container through one of the major shipping lines online and clear customs through CPB’s free, online Automated Export System (AES). As a result, you can save thousands of dollars every year by taking care of your export logistics yourself. Keep in mind that there may be transportation or supply chain restrictions in your target country.
Licensing and Certification
U.S. import and export laws and controls are not only complex, but also confusing. Small importers and exporters face the daunting task of dealing with not just international shipments, but a host of state and federal regulations. For example, the Dept. of Commerce may require an export license, depending on your product’s Export Control Classification Number (ECCN). In addition to these, certain industries also have required certification. For example, the USDA must inspect and certify many different agricultural and wood products for export. Always check with your Customs Broker for the necessary licensing and certification requirements at home and in your target country. Keep in mind that almost all U.S. business related bureaus and departments provide limited customer service support for businesses.
An American Abroad
Many Americans avoid traveling abroad based on what they see in films or the news. Contrary to common perception, traveling abroad is quite safe and easy to do. Keep in mind that your international business success depends on your ability to develop and maintain professional relationships. Therefore, setting up a business abroad will eventually require you to travel abroad to meet with your overseas business partners or customers face to face. This will be both an enjoyable and challenging experience. Consider learning a little about the culture and language. Be patient, friendly and outgoing. A successful trip abroad will solidify your business relationships and increase your chances of long term, international commercial success.
Universal Content Marketing
When it comes to marketing, experts often focus on being culturally specific with in-depth local market research. For example, Microsoft’s famous search engine Bing actually means ‘sickness’ in Mandarin Chinese. This is exactly the kind of marketing blunder that you want to avoid with one of the largest potential markets in the world. However, most marketing content isn’t about slogans or catchphrases. In fact, you can save money and time through designing universal content which can be easily adapted for different countries and languages. Multi-purpose content will increase your efficiency and marketing effectiveness. If needed, consider using professional subtitling services. Keep in mind that one study found that over 60 percent of companies outsource their content marketing.
In conclusion, small businesses can successfully expand internationally through getting free help from the SBA, making smart supply chain choices and always verifying the necessary licensing and certifications. Connecting with partners and customers abroad and creating universal content marketing are also excellent ways to be internationally successful.
About the author:
Cameron Johnson is a business consultant and entrepreneur. Over the course of his career he has conducted case studies on both social media optimization and non-profit marketing. Cameron has also had the opportunity to speak at international business conferences and was recently recognized as one of the world’s top 100 advertising experts to follow on social media.