Take On a Global Market

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Fifteen members of Forbes Business Council shared the steps entrepreneurs must take before successfully taking on a global market.  It should be noted that contributors pay a fee for membership.

For more information on what you should or shouldn't be doing relative to taking a business global, please visit:  Exporting Guide. Laurel J. Delaney wrote the best-selling book on this topic.

Don't Ever, Ever, Ever Bribe Foreign Officials to Obtain Lucrative Business Contracts

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For bribing foreign officials to obtain lucrative business contracts, a global financial institution, namely Goldman Sachs, and its Malaysian subsidiary have agreed to pay more than $2.9 billion in criminal fines, civil penalties, and disgorgement.  This is according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release report. 

Here's the thing:  A DOJ official said this represents the largest monetary penalty ever paid to the U.S. in a corporate criminal foreign bribery resolution.

Don't ever, ever, ever bribe foreign officials to obtain lucrative business contracts.  I write about this in my book, Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably.  No ands, ifs or buts on this deal.

Learn more about the law firm who reported this case and discover other companies and countries that are involved in bribery cases.

Compete More Effectively and Succeed in the Global Marketplace

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

What is your commitment to customers? Does everybody in the company understand this commitment inside and out? Do you provide exemplary service? Friendly service? Accessible service? The service goal of online retailer Zappos is “Delivering happiness.” Define yours and carry through on it every step of the way.

Ours is:

"Everything we do is to help our customers compete more effectively and win in their marketplace.”

The customer service mentality should permeate your entire organization.  Here's how to go about it.

Exporting Basics

And when you get done viewing the video, refer to Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably.

Laurel J. Delaney: Open the Door to the World

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As Laurel J. Delaney says, "Succeeding in the digital world requires hard work, discipline, organizational skills, something remarkable to talk about and a long-term view."  She goes on to say:

To be found, you must participate and be active on as many of the top online platforms as possible. To have customers open their wallets requires developing a relationship with them, garnering their trust, and offering products they want. That causes people to take action.

What else does it take to become a digital rock star?  Read on to learn how to snag international customers using social media.

Helping Global Small Businesses (GSBs) Soar

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I've been writing about global small businesses (GSBs) here since 2004 and I started talking about their importance more than 25 years ago when I first started Global TradeSource, Ltd.

In the recent edition of my best-selling book, Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably, I wrote:

"It was 1985.  Even back then, I challenged conventional assumptions about how to compete and started to view markets outside the United States as the future of the business I had started: Global TradeSource, Ltd. I even put “global,” “trade,” and “source” in the company name, thereby shifting the buyer’s possibilities from being local

to those of the world and drawing upon the distinctive strengths of alternative, growing overseas markets as those that would offer the company’s products and services.

That kind of vision, along with a more recent facilitator called the Internet, has broken down every imaginable barrier to growth and prosperity and has transformed not just how we conduct business but the world at large. The moment you create a Web site, blog, or Facebook account, your point of contact with consumers becomes global. The Internet is the great global leveler and gives everyone a chance to make spectacular strides in exporting—by finding, acquiring, and servicing customers the world over faster than ever—which in turn drives profits and growth for businesses. The blueprint for prosperity in exports is right at your fingertips. Never has there been such attention to the Internet, interconnectedness, and exporting than now."(1)

As you can see, Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably is much more than a book about export.  It's a book about how to establish and run a global small business that becomes great, global and soars.

(1)©2016 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Freebie of the Day: An Excerpt from Laurel Delaney's Exporting Book

©2016 Apress.  All rights reserved.

How will technology affect small businesses?

For any company offering information, e-commerce, tools, or deals, mobile-friendly Web sites or blogs will be the ultimate way to communicate and interact quickly with consumers worldwide.

Find out more by reading an excerpt from Laurel Delaney's book, Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably.

Harnessing Global Mobile Business Opportunities by Laurel J. Delaney.

Note:  This book is endorsed by Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and co-author of Beyond Entrepreneurship.  He says:  "Laurel Delaney writes in a tremendous spirit of service to entrepreneurial and small business leaders navigating the opportunities of globalization. Whether leading a fresh startup, a small business, or an entrepreneurial growth company seeking greatness, the question of whether—and how—to go global must be addressed. Delaney shows yet again her passionate dedication to serving her readers with deeply practical guidance."

The Best Exporting Book on the Planet and It Is Laurel Delaney's

©2016 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

©2016 Apress.  All right reserved.

My 2nd Edition to Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably is available for purchase now.

Exporting …

• Lays out simple steps to conduct market research, find customers, open new markets, get paid, and ship goods and services.
• Takes you through the exporting process via the Internet and other means.
• Shows you how to use social media to expand your international presence.
• Provides insider tips and strategies to export efficiently and profitably.
• Explains how the U.S. government helps exporters.
• Walks readers through the export business plan.

Here’s what’s new in the 2nd edition, and available for purchase now (https://www.amazon.com/Exporting-Definitive-Selling-Abroad-Profitably/dp/1484221923/):

• Data and citation updates.
• Updates on actual and prospective trade agreements (especially TPP, TTIP, and Brexit developments), new CFR and EAR rules, and export controls.
• Updates and two new contributions from specialist interviewees in Chapter 30.
• Substantive enhancements adapted from articles that I have written in the past several years.
• The population of hyperlinks is updated and augmented with new sites that have appeared since the book’s initial publication.

Best news of all? “Good to Great” author Jim Collins has endorsed my book!  Here's what he said:

“Laurel Delaney writes in a tremendous spirit of service to entrepreneurial and small business leaders navigating the opportunities of globalization. Whether leading a fresh start-up, a small business, or an entrepreneurial growth company seeking greatness, the question of whether – and how – to go global must be addressed. Delaney shows yet again her passionate dedication to serving her readers with deeply practical guidance.” -- Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and co-author of Beyond Entrepreneurship

I can’t wait for everyone to read this 2nd edition.  If you like my book, please write a favorable review on Amazon.  Thanks so much in advance!  Happy exporting!

Oh, and if you want to be kept up-to-date on exporting, come visit over at the Exporting Guide and sign up for the newsletter.

Today in Global Small Business: The Almighty Exporting Book is Getting An Update

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

• How Hannover Messe offers manufacturers an entry into global markets (great resources mentioned here that are offered by the U.S. Commercial Service).
• Why small businesses win with LNG exports provision.
• Why a global slowdown won't stop U.S. businesses.
• Discover how the Global Entrepreneurs in Residence (GEIR) Program brings a trifecta of international entrepreneurial expertise to the University of Colorado Boulder.
• How to stop customers from returning products online.
• How the almighty book "Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably" is being updated by Laurel Delaney.

The Key to Accessing Global Markets

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What if all small businesses could access global markets?  What if the challenges and uncertainties to conducting business internationally could vanish before your very eyes?  What if we could break down barriers to America's growth by working together to boost exports?

Yes we can all counts!

Expanding global access for small biz.  Solution:  Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably (99.9 percent of the battle to exporting lies in learning the mechanics of how to do it so this book spells it out in a way that is both empowering and useful).

How to Juice Up Exports

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The Obama administration promised to double exports in five years - from 2009-2014.  But we are far short of that goal.  Still, some products including fossil fuels have surged despite policy barriers at the border.

Read:  Obama Looks to Jump-Start Export Push
Note:  If every small business owner had the opportunity to read Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably, we would have a better chance at doubling exports in the NEXT five years.

Hot Summer, Cool Reading

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We are delighted to learn that "Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably," made Melinda Emerson's 2014 summer reading picks over at The Huffington Post.  Thank you!

10 Sizzling Summer Reading Picks to Grow Your Small Business

Eriksen Translations Helps Women-Owned Businesses Build For Global Growth

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We are honored and excited to be collaborating with Eriksen Translations. They are supporting women-owned businesses by providing complimentary copies of Laurel's new book, "Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably," to attendees at the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) 17th Annual Conference.

Delaney quotes Vigdis Eriksen, the founder and CEO of Eriksen Translations, in Chapter 15, "Web Design with the World in Mind," where she provides strategies for conveying cultural, linguistic, and business information to target audiences in a world that is becoming increasingly multicultural and multilingual. Vigdis Eriksen said, "To reach out to the world for business, your website should be flexible enough to adapt to other languages in the future. Build for global growth."

Read more about it:  Eriksen Translations Helps Women Business Owners Reach Their Audiences in the Global Marketplace

Both Laurel and Vigdis will be attending the conference in New Orleans (4/22-25) so look for them!  If you are not attending the conference, following them on Twitter is easy:  @LaurelDelaney @EriksenTrans and #WPOConf2014

Selling Goods Overseas Is Easier But Still Challenging For Small Businesses

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While selling goods overseas is easier due to the Internet and the vast amount of information available on the subject (including this blog), it's still hard for small businesses to get paid on exports.  This is the #1 challenge for small businesses.  (Here is an article worth reading and re-reading:  An Insider's Guide to Making Payments and Getting Paid on Overseas Transactions).

Read the entire article:  Small Business:  The Cost of Expanding Overseas (WSJ.com)

Note:  Laurel is mentioned in the WSJ article along with new her new book!

An Invaluable Guide to Navigating the Often-Challenging Waters of Exporting

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We are so happy to learn that Small Biz Daily likes Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably.  Here's what Small Biz Daily founder Rieva Lesonsky says:

Whether you are a small business owner considering exporting for the first time, or an entrepreneur who is already exporting but wants to expand your reach even further, Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably is an invaluable guide to navigating the often-challenging waters of exporting. Global small business expert Laurel Delaney has decades of experiences helping small business owners successfully export their products and/or services, and in this comprehensive, practical guide, she draws on real-life experience and insider knowledge.

All we have to say is  thank you to all the folks at Small Biz Daily.  We've been a huge fan of Rieva and her talented team (Valdez Haubrich and Karen Axelton) for years.  We so admire and respect their work.

Read:  Book Review:  Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably

About Small Biz Daily

SmallBizDaily is powered by three people with a passion for entrepreneurship: Rieva Lesonsky, Maria Valdez Haubrich and Karen Axelton. We met at EntrepreneurMagazine nearly 25 years ago, when Rieva hired the rest of us as editors. We’ve been a great team ever since, so when Rieva decided it was time for her to stop talking about entrepreneurship and start living it, she naturally turned to us to be her business partners.

Go Global For Business Growth

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One of our favorite Small Business Influencer Champions, Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, talks with Laurel Delaney about her new book.  Laurel also offers general guidance for entrepreneurs who may be considering overseas sales and expansion.

Here's a clip from the interview:

Kerrigan:  What are the first steps a business owner should take in selecting a market, or markets, for exporting?

Delaney: There are a variety of methods to locate the best–meaning the right–potential foreign markets for your product or service. There is a wide range of efficient methods to research export markets and get export-market data and intelligence. I outline those resources in chapter 12 of my book. But make no mistake, there is no getting around the fact that market research is not a tidy, linear process, so you have to get yourself organized first.

In deciding to concentrate your sales efforts, choose a market that intrigues you, presents a competitive advantage or offers ...

Read the entire interview:  Business Success Strategies Q&A with Laurel Delaney:  Going Global for Business Growth

A big thank you to Karen for promoting and supporting our global trade work all these years.  She is called America’s “entrepreneurial envoy” and “small business ambassador” for her extensive work overseas.  Karen adds at the end of the interview (and we endorse her statement):

"SBE Council has endorsed legislation in the House and Senate to give President Obama Trade Promotion Authority.  It is critical that the United States regain the leadership mantle on supporting and advancing trade agreements with countries and regions across the globe.  Global trade has a profoundly positive impact on the U.S. economy, job growth and international competitiveness." 

Anyone Looking to Export?

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Our favorite small business researchers give Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably a thumbs up.

The book provides practical, easy to implement advice on how to start exporting or grow an existing export business. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to export. - Steve King and Carolyn Ockels, Small Business Labs

Read Book Review:  Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably

A big thank you to Steve and Carolyn!

Where Do Small Businesses Get Export Help?

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You will be surprised to learn where and how small businesses get their export help.

About half of businesses that don’t export surveyed by the National Small Business Association last year said the biggest impediment was not knowing where to start. Republican lawmakers have pushed legislation that would streamline federal programs to promote foreign trade. The SBA’s Office of Advocacy has argued that better access to working capital loans would fuel exports.

Read the entire article:  Why Don't More Small Businesses Get SBA Help Selling Abroad?

(Shhhhhhh ... best kept secret to getting started in exports?  Click here.)

How to Succeed at Exporting

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Founder of Global by Design, John Yunker, interviews Laurel Delaney on what it takes to succeed at exporting.  

Read the entire interview:  How to succeed at exporting:  A Q&A with Laurel Delaney

Not Your Father's Exporting Business

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Oh how I love that line, "Not Your Father's Exporting Business," in Anita Campbell's phenomenal review on my new exporting book.  Anita is no ordinary blogger.  She is the founder of THE most popular small business blog on the planet:  Small Biz Trends.  She says this about Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably:

______________________________

"Not Your Father’s Exporting Business

When you think of an exporting business, what pops into your mind?  Perhaps it is a vision of heavy, old-style manufactured goods being piled on container ships to slowly sail to another country.

But as Exporting outlines, going global today may be about exporting software.  Or it may be a purely service-based exporting business, such as consulting or design services.  It may be about selling on eBay or some other e-commerce platform, and shipping crafts or artwork through the mail or a delivery company.

That’s one of the things I like about this book.  It breaks all stereotypes of traditional exporting, and examines the way entrepreneurs are doing business in today’s world."

______________________________

Anita ends her review with:

"If you intend to grow your business beyond the U.S. border, Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably is a great place to start." - Anita Campbell, founder of Small Business Trends

Read the entire review:  An Exporting Business for the 21st Century

And a big personal public thank you to Anita!