4 International Digital Marketing Strategies To Help Your Business Go Global
The past two years undoubtedly posed a huge challenge to businesses around the globe, triggering fears of an economic crisis as consumers pull back from most of their spending. But seasoned entrepreneurs are all too familiar with this scenario as this has happened a few times over the course of history, although driven by entirely different circumstances.
And many have indeed seen opportunity in the midst of the pandemic, with applications for new businesses in the US reaching more than 1.5 million in the third quarter of 2020 alone. Existing enterprises, on the other hand, quickly pivoted their operations and went digital in order to meet the new consumer demands.
This acceleration of technology as well as the digitization of both production and consumption of goods is likely to continue even after the pandemic. While this poses its own challenges, what it means for businesses is that the marketplace has now become borderless, more than ever before.
The significant growth of the global e-commerce market is solid proof of this development, with sales estimated at $5 billion in 2021. Thus, if you have long been thinking about taking your business global, now may be a good time to do so.
While this may be a daunting prospect, there are certain steps you can take to condition your business and prepare it for your international takeover. Here are 5 international digital marketing strategies to help your business go global:
1. Take Advantage of Search Engine Optimization
As a newcomer in the global marketplace, there is a high chance that your company name will be unfamiliar to the people that you are targeting in another country. This is where search engine optimization comes to play.
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a very useful tool that can help your business reach potential customers beyond your physical borders. An effective SEO campaign can drive more traffic to your website and build awareness for your brand.
When used properly, SEO will serve as the bridge that connects you with people who do now know you yet but are in need of your product or service. If you are unsure how to go about it, consult with a digital marketing agency with the skills and experience in working with global businesses so you can bank on their expertise in navigating the digital space.
2. Localize Your Digital Assets
Since the SEO will direct new people to your website, you should make your site useful and helpful to these visitors. Take an inventory of your digital assets and make sure that they will work together with your marketing campaigns, not against them.
For example, a very basic yet critical adjustment is the language. If the visitors are not able to understand what you are trying to show them, all your efforts will go down the drain. Relying on auto-translators could lead to misunderstandings and instead drive away from the customers that you are trying to attract.
Aside from this, other details in your eCommerce page may also need to be localized, such as the currency, contact information, and logistics information. The buying habits of the consumers also have to be taken into consideration, then have the website features and navigation panels adjusted accordingly.
3. Create Engaging Online Content
In this digital age, social media has become ingrained in the daily routines of most consumers, thus making this a great channel to use in communicating with them. However, this space is always flooded with tons of content in the form of photos, videos, and even plain text, making it difficult for a newcomer to grab attention.
Turn this to your advantage by investing in high-quality content for your social media pages. The type and style of content that you publish depends on the profile of your target consumers. Understand their media consumption habits and curate your own content that would cater to their preferences in order to grab their attention and keep them engaged.
4. Partner With Influencers
Influencer marketing is another strategy that can effectively connect a global business with its local customers. Because influencers have a more personal connection with their followers, they have the ability to tweak your brand’s narrative in order to bring you closer to the hearts of your target customers.
Influencers can provide valuable insights into what their audience likes, what gets them engaged, and what drives their purchase decisions. On top of this, they also have the reach that you can use to propel your business forward in the local scene.
However, you must also carefully choose the right influencer to partner with. Make sure that their profile and content are aligned with your brand’s identity, and that they are able to abide by the terms of your partnership. You would not want to end up with an influencer that would drag down your brand following an undesirable behavior or a scandal.
