Expanding your business to a new country is a big decision that must be done with foresight and careful execution. One of the most important elements to consider is your marketing strategy, requiring a team that understands the implications of the local market and its most demanding characteristics. Many companies make the mistake of relying on their existing team or hiring from their own home base to handle marketing in a new country.
A more pragmatic approach is to work with people that are based out of the country that you wish to do business. A local marketing team has valuable insights and knowledge that can make a significant difference in the path to success. Below, we’ll explore why working with a team close to your target market is essential for starting new business relationships in a foreign country.
Understanding the Domestic Market
A team that is familiar with the region’s culture has a deep understanding of consumer behavior and trends that are particular to that area. These valuable insights will allow you to tailor your marketing strategies and increase your products or service’s success. Additionally, they can identify any cultural sensitivities and adapt your messaging accordingly so as to be in line with the values and beliefs of the people.
Building Local Relationships
Establishing relationships with domestic businesses, media outlets, and community organizations is crucial for the initial growth and longevity of your business. A team with established connections to key players in a particular market can help you gain visibility and credibility, both of which are valued by the consumer and will give you a leg up when you are entering a new market. Moreover, they can help you navigate local regulations, laws, and customs, which can be troublesome and complex for a foreign business.
Localization of Marketing Content
Customizing your marketing content can give your company a native reputation. A team that understands the country’s language, idioms, and cultural nuances can help you produce content that resonates with the target audience and avoids any cultural faux pas. They can also help you optimize your website, social media, and other collateral for local search engines and social media platforms.
Agility and Responsiveness
A locally based team can provide you with agility and responsiveness that is hard to achieve with a team that is foreign to the region. Their accessibility and insider network will allow them to react quickly to any changes in the market or business environment, providing you with the necessary flexibility to adapt your marketing strategies. Alongside expediency, their knowledge of the regional economy can also provide you with real-time feedback and insights to make the most informed decisions.
Caveats to Keep in Mind
Consider partnering with a reputable and experienced team that has a deep understanding of the market and knows how to leverage that information to your benefit. Avoid working with teams that have a one-size-fits-all approach and don’t take into account your company’s unique identity and goal. Keep in mind that even if the team has your best interest, things can get lost in translation in new work relationships, so make sure you have clear communication channels and a system in place for measuring results and ROI.
Reach Out
Don’t wait to get to a country to find out that you don’t have the right team there to support you. Make a choice for your long term best interest and start working with a localized firm early on. At Your B2B Marketing we work with foreign companies of all sizes and from a variety of industries. I personally handled the US division of marketing for a European company for years. We offer our global clients a practical approach to marketing, creating a plan scaled to their pace. If you’re interested, contact us info@yourb2bmarketing.co
About Us
Your B2B Marketing offers customized solutions to marketing for your Business to Business company. Our team has 30+ years of experience, staffed with people from a variety of international backgrounds. We offer a marketing plan that gives you what you need and nothing that you don’t.
