There are 195 countries in the world today, and with the advancements in technology and logistics, your business could expand its global reach using a solid international marketing plan.
But what are the most common international marketing mistakes that you should avoid? After all, when investing time and money in your business’s expansion, making unnecessary mistakes is a luxury you can’t afford.
The good news is we’re going to run through 7 typical errors that companies may make when going global, so you can steer clear of these issues.
Keep reading to learn more.
Avoid Common Marketing Mistakes Made by Your Business
1. Not Understanding Cultural Differences
What may be acceptable in one country could be considered offensive in another, and this could derail your marketing plan right from the start. Before advertising, learn about the local culture and identify the differences that exist in various countries.
This applies to many aspects, such as the type of content that is allowed and the language you can use in your marketing materials. It’s also important to think about people’s beliefs and the activities that make up their way of life.
Learning about these cultural differences can help you avoid making mistakes and also assist you with developing more effective ad campaigns.
2. Failing to Change Your Marketing Channels
It’s natural to include sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube in a digital marketing strategy. However, this may not be the optimal plan when advertising in other countries. For example, WeChat and Sina Weibo are popular social media platforms in China.
You may also find there are differences in the number of hours each platform is used depending on which country you are in. This means you could need to adjust your digital and social media marketing campaigns to get the best results.
In addition, you should ensure you use SEO and keywords that are relevant to a particular locality. If specific words or phrases are frequently used in one country, then you need to ensure your marketing plans reflect this.
3. Not Adapting Your Offering to the Market
When targeting different audiences, it’s vital to learn what each demographic wants in a product. For example, when selling electronics, people in one country may want to buy mobile phones, whereas another country’s population may be more enthusiastic about smartwatches.
If you try to market the wrong product, you are unlikely to see a good uptake. This is why you should carry out research that can tell you what products are sought after in each country. This could take the form of online or phone surveys. Or, you could perform keyword research to gather more information.
You can then adapt your marketing to highlight that your company supplies the products that people are searching for.
4. Being Too General
You may be keen to target certain markets, such as Asia or Europe. But, there are many countries within each region, and they might have their own features which could affect your marketing results.
For example, trying to sell ice cream products at certain times of the year could be popular in hot countries such as Spain, but not in cooler climates such as Denmark.
There could also be different marketing regulations. If you fall foul of these, your ads could be taken down, and you could lose revenue. When you identify your preferred markets, niche down and learn as much as you can about each country in the area.
5. Failing to Ask for Local Marketing Advice
Doing your own research is essential, but there still may be information you miss out on or can’t find. It can also be difficult to pick up on nuances specific to a country if you haven’t visited it or lived there.
Therefore, it’s important to ask for help from local people who have this experience. You may have worked with businesses who could give you advice, or wish to send employees to talk to people who reside in a country.
Alternatively, you could work with an expert company that specializes in helping businesses expand globally. If this sounds like a plan that could help your firm, it’s a good idea to find out more details.
6. Not Tracking Your International Marketing Data
Your marketing data can tell you if your trading strategy is working or if it needs to be tweaked. Take the time to review your online advertising statistics to find out which materials are most effective.
You should also compare your marketing spend to your sales income. You can then decide if you are getting enough success in each country to justify the cost. This process can help you determine if you should invest more in marketing in one location and if you should stop advertising in another.
7. Not Considering International Trading Logistics When Marketing
Your marketing message needs to explain what you can offer without overstating your capabilities. If you don’t take logistics into account, you could end up accidentally making false promises.
For example, when marketing to other countries, you might say you can offer a fast delivery service. But, the available shipping times could mean it would take a week for your products to arrive.
Be sure to ask each department in your company if your marketing materials are accurate before launching an ad campaign.
Avoid These Common International Marketing Mistakes
Sidestepping these common international marketing mistakes can give your business expansion plans a much greater chance of success. Ensuring you understand the local culture and tailor your ads to suit the locality is essential. You should also consider the logistics when marketing to a particular country and regularly review your advertising results.
This can help you spread your company’s reach and grow your global market share.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, check out more of our business posts before you go.
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