Is There No Such Thing As a Simple Global Marketing Strategy?

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Today’s international frontline marketers have quickly learned that there is no such thing as a simple global marketing strategy. They know that local nuances and cultural differences can put the kibosh on—or put an end to, make less effective, insert local phrase here—even the most well-meaning of top-down strategies. At least that is what Lauren McMenemy says.

Is a global marketing strategy really necessary for your business? If you were to develop an ad campaign in the United States, do you think the same campaign would be effective in France? In this article Laurel Delaney examines why it’s important to create a global marketing strategy for your business (no matter what size it is) and what the benefits are to crafting one.

Meanwhile, you can read Lauren's entire article about how a great global marketing strategy rests on local execution.

Business Is a Global Affair to Remember

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It’s fair to say that certain countries are leading the way in terms of efficiency and productivity.  Business is truly a global affair.

Longer working hours doesn’t always equal greater productivity, it’s often about working smarter, not harder. Now that most multinational corporations now have bases all over the world, it’s becoming increasingly important to be aware of cultural business trends and increasing productivity across the workforce.

What are the top five most productive countries and how do they achieve this status?  They are as follows:

1. Luxembourg
2. Norway
3. Switzerland
4. Denmark
5. Iceland

Read the entire article to find out who is doing productivity right and discover how a business can improve productivity.

Today in Global Small Business: Export Compliance is a Global Must

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• 1,000 steps to becoming a global small business.
• Despite global uncertainty, SMEs will continue to push beyond borders for business.
• An 18-year old policy brief by OECD highlights that SMEs have local strength, global reach.
• Accept payments from anywhere in the world provided Stripe operates in the country you select.
• U.S. export compliance is a global must.
• Get out of your comfort zone in 2019.  Register for FREE wegginar® on 12/5 to help you learn how.  

Summer Collapsed Into Fall

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"And all at once summer collapsed into fall." -- Oscar Wilde

Billions of People Have Been Enriched Through Global Trade

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Michael L. Corbat, CEO of Citi, write an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, "America Has a Surplus in Services."  He says that arguments about the balance of trade often focus only on goods.  That misses half the equation.

Last year the U.S. trade surplus in services came to more than $250 billion, brining the total trade deficit down to around $550 billion.  the Economic Report of the President issued in February put it this way:  "Focusing only on the 'trade in goods along ignores the United States' comparative advantage in services, which rose as a share of U.S. exports to 33.5 percent through 2017."

Read the full Opinion piece by Mr. Corbat here.

Stop Wasting Time and Start Saving Money on Corporate Travel

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From the travel entrepreneurs who brought you KAYAK, comes a time-saving, money-saving way to manage corporate travel.  It's called lola.  And they have just formed a partnership with American Express Global Business Travel.

Learn more about lola.

What Is Globalization and How Has the Global Economy Shaped the United States?

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What is globalization and how has the global economy shaped the United States?  The Peterson Institute has all the answers with its newly launched and very first microsite, titled "What Is Globalization?" 

This interactive feature explains a term that has become toxic, especially in today's political environment. The goal is to educate the public and clarify misconceptions about globalization's impact. Understanding the relative costs and benefits can pave the way for alleviating problems while sustaining the advantages.

The Peterson Institute's new microsite covers:

• Why historical context is import.
• How trade helps each side.
• Demystifying job effects.
• Measuring the benefits vs. costs.
• The difficulties facing US-China Trade
• How to sustain globalization through policymaking.

Visit the What Is Globalization microsite.

Why Some Emerging Economies Outperform the Rest

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Emerging economies have accounted for almost two-thirds of the world’s GDP growth and more than half of new consumption over the past 15 years. Yet economic performance among individual countries varies substantially.

Why do some emerging economies outperform the rest?  What's the secret to their success?

Find out how high-growth emerging economies and the companies that propel them become outperformers.

Today in Global Small Business: A Few Things You Should Know About Disputes with Chinese Companies

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How does a small business deal with potential violence?
• Why students aspire to become entrepreneurs.
• Speaking of students ... how we can prepare students for the future of work in a global society.
• The world is more inter-connected than ever before. It's time to utilize talent from all over the world to help your business grow globally.
• Disputes with Chinese companies ... a few things you should know.
• 24 resources for importing agricultural products.
• Are you pushing boundaries for your business and yourself to do things you are uncomfortable with yet allows you to grow?  

Warm Pizza Box On Your Lap

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"There's no better feeling in the world than a warm [Pizano's] pizza box on your lap." -- Kevin James

The Missing Silver Bullet for Women Entrepreneurs

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Even where women are starting businesses at relatively high rates, their profits and growth are constrained relative to their male counterparts.  Take Asia and the Pacific.  They stand to gain 70 percent in per capita income within roughly two generations by eliminating gender disparities in employment, including in the area of entrepreneurship. Increasing women’s entrepreneurship is good for national banks and citizens’ wallets alike.

In Cambodia, for example, less than 1 percent of businesses with more than 10 employees are owned by women, and women’s entrepreneurship rates in South Asia are among the lowest in the world, with less than one in 10 SMEs owned by women. 

What explains this persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship across the region, how can it be overcome, and does it matter?

Read more about the missing silver bullet for women entrepreneurs.

Let's Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week

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Discover how to get involved in #GEW2018 this November 12-18.  What's Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)?

During one week each November, thousands of events and competitions in 170 countries inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. Powered by the Kauffman Foundation, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a network of more than 15,000 partner organizations. GEW is held November 12-18, 2018.

At the Global Small Business Blog, we practice global entrepreneurship every single day of the year.

How do you plan to celebrate?  What will you do to foster entrepreneurship -- join GEW, find an event or create one?

Read more about Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).