How You Can Conduct Business Even if Your Clients Are International

If you’ve been limiting which clients you are willing to reach out to because of distance, then you might want to reconsider whether or not you should consider some other options. The truth is that you can work with a number of types of customers from all over the world, and that sometimes it can be what takes your business from good to great.

However, it can take making some changes to your business for you to take it from only a brick and mortar store to an international, ecommerce one.

Think about your marketing

If you’ve been marketing only for a small audience based in a certain location, you might have to think outside the box a little bit more and think about who your ideal client is. One of the great things about taking a business online and internationally is that you aren’t limited to the clients that live near you. You’ll want to take a deep look at who your buyer is, and how you can reach him or her in a new way. This means that your marketing campaigns and plans for the future are likely going to have to change.

Have ways to communicate

When you have begun to bring in clients from other locations, communication can be extremely important. You’ll want to be sure that you can talk to them on a regular basis and that customers can get a hold of you if they have any questions or concerns. The best way to do that is to have customer service that is available online, a contract management system that allows you to sign documents even if you can’t meet face to face, and active social media pages so clients know what is going on. These modes of communication can make all the difference when you can’t meet in an office space.

“Meet” often

Even if your customers are on the other side of the world, you still want them to feel as though you are involved in their experiences. It’s worth it to schedule a few “meetings” over Skype or some other video conferencing technology in order to make sure you are on the same page. This can be incredibly important if you are working in a B2B capacity and you need to be in touch with other businesses. Even a call can bridge the gap between both parties being confused and both having a clear plan of where to go.

Be active on social media

When you own an international company, one way to make sure that you are promoting a global message is to look to social media and how it can work for you. As it continues to grow and different platforms hold a number of ways that businesses can advertise, social media has become an important gauge of whether your company is reaching the right people. It can also be accessed from almost anywhere in the world, making it the perfect way to promote the values of your business and your brand.

It can be a challenge running a global company, but as our world changes (and how we choose to conduct business), you’re more likely to find success by thinking bigger and reaching clients on an international level.