A Truly Global Education Experience

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One of the leading business schools in Europe, INSEAD (French origin), has taken another step forward in the globalization process by opening a new branch in New York where it will compete against Harvard and Columbia.

Read the interview conducted by Universia-Knowledge@Wharton with Frank Brown, dean of INSEAD:  Making Business Schools a Truly Global Experience

Frank Brown says:  " ... the big advantage European institutions have is that their programs are not dominated by one single culture. They are more open to foreign students who come from other continents." 

The earlier the global education experience, the more likely a student will develop a global mindset and a multicultural perspective on the world. 

India Places 60th out of 148 Economies in The Global Competitiveness Report (2013)

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Is global competitiveness important?  Many believe a country's global competitiveness is a fundamental determinant of its productivity and economic growth.  Improving India's competitiveness, for example, would strengthen investments in the country, encourage a more employment-friendly environment and foster innovation.

The World Economic Forum released The Global Competitiveness Report, 2013-14, which includes, inter alia, a global competitiveness index (GCI) computed as a weighted average of components grouped into various factors (pillars) characterising competitiveness. These pillars include institutional, efficiency and innovation factors.

Where does India stand within the index?

India's GCI score places it 60th out of 148 economies, with its ranking slipping by 10 positions over 2008-2013.

Read the entire article:  Doing Business in India:  Take Up the Slack on Global Competitiveness

Staying Connected Worldwide on Daily Life

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Are you a big fan of social media?  Many people use social media for making connections and sharing just about anything, including insider tips on their holiday trips.

What's changing on social media?  For one, Chinese people are using platforms (i.e., Weibo, Wechat, Instagram and TripColor) more and more to plan and make international trips. They normally make a decision on where to go by reading travel stories and looking at pictures through their social networks. Secondly, which isn't surprising, they "trust recommendations from friends more than the stories published in magazines or aired on TV."

Check this out: 

... "social media comprises a stronger component of travel than ever before, 44 percent of Americans said that photos or posts viewed through such networks drive them to their destinations; another 29 percent added that they receive contentment from reading comments left on their holiday posts."

When it comes to China, that sentiment is no different.  Asians use social media platforms to inform leisure travel decisions. According to Seeing the World Via Social Media, "Online travel reviews had the greatest impact on Chinese people when making initial decisions on travel destinations with roughly 70 percent of them searching online for such write-ups." 

Free WiFi spots are a way of the future.  That is, at least for global travel.

Read more here.

How to Become a Great Global City

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The Brookings Institution, which along with JP Morgan Chase & Company created the Global Cities Institute, implores metropolitan regions to look outward to seize new opportunities and become truly global.

Some of the traits you need to become a great global city?

• Local leadership with a worldview.
• A legacy of global interaction that includes a “first-mover advantage.”
• Distinct economic specializations that attract investment.
• The ability to adapt to each new cycle of global change without losing progress.
• A culture of knowledge and innovation that encourages local thinkers and entrepreneurs to “generate new ideas, methods, products and technologies” here.

And the Initiative’s chairman is a former big-city mayor who got things done -- Chicago’s Richard M. Daley!

Read the entire article:  Going Global Requires Regional Effort

A Natural Born Global Entrepreneur

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Let's congratulate Dale Wishewan, president and chief executive of Booster Juice, an international quick-service smoothie chain, who is the 2013 Prairies EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner.

Award officials said Wishewan is a natural leader and born entrepreneur. With no franchise, food or beverage experience, he grew Booster Juice to 50 locations in just two years — a Canadian franchising record.

Read the entire article:  Booster Juice CEO name entrepreneur of the year

Taking a Page Out of the Japanese Global Playbook

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Should you expand into emerging markets?  For small businesses, it's a stretch because you need human capital, rich resources and hefty financial support, which can oftentimes be scarce when you are small.  But for established global companies, they are rushing to penetrate BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China).  The next question becomes:  What should the BRICs do in response - stay home,  go head to head against the global companies or focus on emerging opportunities?  Or all of the above? 

To answer these questions, we think there is a page out of the Japanese global firm’s playbook that firms from the BRICs and other emerging markets should not follow.

Read the entire article to learn more:  Going Global Is Key For Emerging Giants

Think Different to Expand Internationally

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Expanding internationally is not that difficult, it's just different.  Different from selling domestically.  Yes, you have to pay more attention to documentation, how you get paid and how to transport products from here to there.  But basically, once you master that and some cultural issues, you're well on your way to selling globally.  I'll cover all of this in my new exporting book but for now, read the five tips Elana Donio offers for going global.  Quickly, here's one of them:

Tip #2: Get the lay of the land

Understanding local laws and the business environment is important, but that’s just the beginning. Building cultural credibility is vital for attracting the initial crop of employees, clients and partners.

Tips for Going Global 

When something is different, you must develop the right mindset (attitude) to conquer it.

Design Destination of the Month: Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort in China

The Importance of a Global Brand

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Everyone knows the Apple brand, yet creating a global brand presence in one or more international markets isn't cheap or easy, especially for a small business owner. But it is worthwhile, provided you understand the reasons why. Below I spell out what a global brand is and five reasons to develop one.

Read:  Making the Case for a Global Brand

What a Treat: Chicago Hawks and Halloween!

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The official website for the world famous Chicago Blackhawks.

More on the 2013 Stanley Cup Champs here.

Malaysian Entrepreneurs Driven Towards Penetrating the Global Market

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"Twenty-five percent of the local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will have global market business networking by 2020," says SME Corporation Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim.  This will happen largely as a result of the government's establishment of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creative Centre (MaGIC) in Cyberjaya, which will increase local entrepreneurs' opportunities to penetrate the global market.

In Malaysia:

SMEs contribute 19 percent to the country's exports and 57.4 percent in job opportunities.

Read the entire article: 25 Percent to have global market business networking

International Franchising As a Way to Access New Markets

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More and more established brands in the retail, food and beverage and quick-service restaurant sectors are using franchising as a way to access new markets.  International franchising is a strategic way to reduce dependence on domestic demand and grow new, future revenue and profit centers worldwide.

Read the entire article:  Expanding into new markets through franchising

Related article:  International Franchising:  A Global Strategic Initiative

Selling Nearly 2.5 Billion People Around the Globe Online

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According to a recent study by MasterCard, people adopt personas when shopping online — an interesting consideration for ecommerce businesses.

The Digital Sharing and Trust Project shows that consumers actually shed their “real-world” identities when they go online to assume “digital personas."  To be more specific, there are five different personas parading themselves around the web today.

What does this mean for selling in the online world?  It means getting to know your customers can be tricky.

Learn more:  5 global online personas your business should take note of

Factors to Consider When Developing a Global Brand for the Audience of the 21st Century

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Flavia Barbat conducts an interview with Sandy Suffield (former art director at Apple) from the London office and Mike Abbink (co-founder of Method) from the New York office. The entire interview includes Wolff Olins and several of its global creative directors and is available in the most recent Premium Issue of Branding Magazine, entitled "Crafting the Brands of the 21st Century."

Here's an excerpt of the interview:  Meet the Global Creative Directors of the 21st Century 

And here's the first question posed to Sandy:

Overall, what do you consider to be the first thing one must take into consideration when developing a brand for the audience of the 21st century? 

How Joint Ventures Can Be a Good Global Market Entry or Expansion Method

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American Express Company recently announced plans to create a joint venture designed to accelerate the transformation of its Global Business Travel (GBT) division.

American Express is in ongoing discussions with regard to a proposed joint venture in which it would share the ownership of the joint venture with an investor group led by Certares, a firm headed by senior management with significant experience in the travel industry.  The joint venture transaction is expected to create greater investment capacity for GBT to further enhance its suite of products and services, attract new customers and grow internationally to deliver additional value to customers.

I write about joint-ventures in my new exporting book (Chapter 17) in how they can prove to be a most viable way to enter a foreign market or expand within it.  Each party usually takes an equal equity stake and this case is no different (50 percent equity stake).

Read the news on the joint-venture here to see what other value the two companies will get out of forming a joint venture.

Feel With Your Heart

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

For Irish Entrepreneurs, Small Is Beautiful

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Ireland has the Small Firms Association (SFA), considered the "Voice of Small Business" with over 8000 member companies.

SFA assists you in managing your business, as well as allowing you to interact with fellow members through their member's directory listing.

In addition, SFA provides full details of upcoming events and management training, along with featuring their most recent news updates and outline of lobbying policy submissions and press statements issued to represent your interests. 

Give it look here:  Small Firms Association

The Little Import Business That Could

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When it comes to importing, everyone starts small.  It goes like this:  You think of a brilliant product idea, find a supplier, import the product and start selling away. 

In the article below, Kelly Spors outlines what it takes, especially on the compliance side of things, to open a small import business.

Opening a Small Import Business

Related article(s):  How to Start and Run a Profitable Import/Export Business and How to Comply with Import Regulations

Only 1 in 5 UK SMEs Export

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Is it surprising that according to UK-based CBI, only one in five UK SMEs exports? 

This is especially surprising if you add the additional statistic that businesses are 11% more likely to survive if they do so. Then, when you mix in research from the government's UK Trade & Investment body which states that exporting SMEs are 34% more productive in their first year than those SMEs who do not, you wonder why UK businesses remain so internationally reticent.

Read the entire article:  Mapping the small business export market

Filipino Franchises Go Global

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Filipino concepts are gaining wider acceptance globally, the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI) reports.  Many members already have franchisees abroad:  Aquabest (healthy water), Figaro, Potato Corner and Eat Bulaga, for example, where these brands have a presence in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Middle East, South Africa and the United States.

Read the entire article:  15 Pinoy franchise businesses going global in 2 years

Related article:  Open a New International Path:  Franchise

Hello Planet Entrepreneur

Photo courtesy:  Wiley

Say hello to a new book, Planet Entrepreneur, written by members of the World Entrepreneurship Forum, the first global think tank fully dedicated to entrepreneurship.  Members who contributed are as follows:   Steven D. Strauss, Tugrul Atamer, Inderjit Singh, Nikhil Agarwal, Colin Jones, Thais Corral, Tony Meloto, Jeannie Javelosa, Jack Sim, David Drake, Baybars Altuntas, Fadi N. Sabbagha, Anna-Lena Johannsen, Nicolas Shea and Laurel Delaney!

For a look at the table of contents, more information on the co-writers of Planet Entrepreneur and an excerpt from the book, visit here.

Each chapter focuses on different aspects of the challenges and opportunities currently being encountered and solved by entrepreneurs worldwide, including:

• Using technology to solve real-world problems
• Empowering women and minority entrepreneurs
• The global rise of the self-employed entrepreneur
• Making the marriage of business and the environment work for all
• Social media as a launching pad for your ideas
• Taking your business global in the digital age (my chapter contribution!)

Planet Entrepreneur explains how the world's best entrepreneurs are making a profit or meeting a pressing social need, and how you can too.

Buy the book now: Planet Entrepreneur

(Full disclosure:  I am a pioneer member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum)

Think BIG in the Global Marketplace

©2013 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I like thinking big.  If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big." - Donald Trump

Photo:  Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/donald_trump.html#TKBxcbZW7BGeUwgp.99

I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/donald_trump.html#TKBxcbZW7BGeUwgp.99

I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/donald_trump.html#TKBxcbZW7BGeUwgp.99

Lessons From Burberry On Going Global

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Iconic British luxury fashion brand Burberry, established in 1856, offers a great case study on how to do a global launch via all media channels, including social media.  Here's what they did:

... pushing its spring women’s show in London out across 11 social networks, its own digital flagship and through 13 live-streams on outdoor screens set up in locales from New York’s Times Square to Hong Kong’s Worldwide House. 

And it can't hurt that they partnered with Apple:

Apple approached Burberry to exclusively use the iPhone 5S to capture images and video before, during and after the show, and Twitter’s real-time reach resulted in tens of millions of impressions for content relating to the event.

A first on numerous fronts and thus far, it appears to have worked.

Read the entire article:  Burberry's Spring Show Goes Global

Key insight:  Don't just use the United States social media platforms to launch your brand globally.  Use other country's popular platforms such as Japan’s Sumally and China’s Sina Weibo, Douban and Youku.  I talk about this in my new book, "Exporting:  The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably" (chapter 6).

The Global Website Is Alive and Well

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With the advent of social media platforms, there is much talk worldwide about whether we really need a website anymore.  You do.  The website is alive and well but has changed and is far more global.  It has adapted to accommodate social media feeds and videos, for example, to be far more interactive.

In the article below, the author talks about four key points on localization challenges and best practices.  One being, "the global website is alive and well, but it has changed."

Read:  Driving Marketing Localization Success:  Four Takeaways From Brand2Global

How to Be Like Apple

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So you're a small business owner but want to grow up to be like Apple, Google or Coca Cola?  It's not as hard as you think.  First, change your mindset.  Next, to help you make a big impact when it comes to branding, practice these four lessons from Interbrand's 2013 Best Global Brands list.

No. 1: Be consistent.
No. 2: Be nimble.
No. 3: Concentrate on service.
No. 4: Use digital to your advantage.

Read:  Four Small-Business Lessons from 2013's Top Global Brands

Are You Playing in the $2.2 Trillion Export Market?

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My friend and respected colleague, Anita Campbell, who runs the wildly popular Small Business Trends, writes a great article for the OPEN Forum at American Express on the benefits to exporting.

More small businesses are exporting their goods and services. Don't miss out on this revenue-boosting opportunity.

Read the entire article:  The $2.2 Trillion Market You Could Be Missing Out On

Not sure on how to get started and play in the export market?  We've got you covered.  Go here.

Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably

Book cover courtesy Apress

A sneak peak at my NEW book on exporting! Please sign up below to be notified of publication date (December 18, 2013) and to pre-order book at a guaranteed price!  Can't wait for you to read!

Exporting: The Definitive Guide to Selling Abroad Profitably

Pretty Pittsburgh!

©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

I had the great honor of giving a presentation on "Go Global!" to Seton Hill University's E-Magnify's women business center on September 26th.  What a magnificent city Pittsburgh is.  I took this photo en route from the airport to the university.  I'll definitely be returning soon.  It's a gem of a place.

Meanwhile, watch for the announcement of my new exporting book on Monday, September 30th!  And don't forget to sign up for tips (email address) and pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Apress!  Thanks!

Have a good weekend!

Hiring Freelancers to Expand Internationally

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It is a fact:  Small businesses are hiring freelancers to fill skill gaps around the globe (source:  Global Online Employment Report from Elance).

Part of the data shows:

• 45% of businesses look to freelancers to expand into new markets

Read the entire article here.  Related article: "Working with Others ..."

News:  Related to hiring freelancers to take your business global, get ready for the biggest launch of the year ... my new exporting book coming soon, which will allow all small businesses and entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level of growth through exports. Watch for more information so you can sign up for tips related to exporting and pre-order with a price guarantee to secure your copy!  I devote an entire chapter to "The Human Side of an Export Enterprise," which includes finding the best places to outsource work.

Places to Avoid When Exporting?

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During the 50th National Small Business Week earlier in the year, many topics were discussed during the “Growing and Going Global” panels, such as, how can you take your business to the next level by selling overseas? What do you need to be successful in exporting? What resources are available to help your small business export endeavors?

Find out what was suggested during the discussions here: Small Business Exporting

One of the excellent points made was:

"Another way you can gain insight about where there may be success – or where you should maybe avoid exporting – is by checking out industry association meetings ..."

Note:  Coming soon ... my new Exporting book, which will equip you with the knowledge you need to market, sell, and fulfill orders internationally, taking full advantage of the Internet and the opportunities it creates. Watch for news shortly!

Opting for Halal on a Global Basis

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Look out organic (Whole Foods listen up) for halal is making its way mainstream, even global.  Much like quinoa, which I eat about every other day, halal is taking off as the new better-for-you food.  According to About.com, "halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines (refer here to what cannot be consumed).

This week an estimated 20,000 Haloodies will congregate in east London at the Halal Food Festival, the world's first gastronomic celebration of halal produce. All of the UK's major supermarket chains are sending scouts to help them find ways to exploit the trend. Attendees can browse food stalls offering anything from hot dogs and sushi to French and Moroccan dishes without worrying how the meat was killed or even transported.

Think it's a trend? Find out more here.

Do You Need to Hire a Customs Broker on Your Import?

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I get asked time and time again by readers - do I need to hire a customs broker or what documentation is required to ensure a smooth and seamless importation on products?

In the article below, I address what is required in the import entry process, who can make the entry, what documentation is required and what happens if no person files for entry of goods (you'd be surprised at how often this happens).

Major takeaway: Importing goods without researching entry requirements in advance can be a costly experience. Take a look at what's important.

Read the entire article:  Importing:  Entry of Goods

Smallness Makes Success More Exciting on the World Stage

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Charles Fishman weaves an amazing story (all true) about Marlin Steel for Fast Company (below).  There are so many lessons in it for a small business owner - from thinking of your product not as it is but rather, what it could be - to how to sell to customers who are price insensitive!  You must read this article - every word.  And even more amazing and exciting is that Marlin Steel will be in my new exporting book (chapter 30 on real life accounts of successful export businesses).

Read the entire article:  The Road to Resilience:  How Unscientific Innovation Saved Marlin Steel

Moral of the story?  Do something new!  Reinvent your company from both the products you sell and how you create them!  Stretch your capabilities and good things will follow.

A Tribute to Chicago Firefighters

©2013 Laurel Delaney. All rights reserved.

My hometown city of Chicago has a public art installation featuring oversized replicas of Chicago's iconic standard fire hydrants designed, painted, decorated and/or dressed by noted artists. It is a tribute to the work and heroism of our beloved Chicago Firefighters.

To learn more visit:  Great Chicago Fire Hydrants

Learn How to Sell in Foreign Markets

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Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Madison International Trade Association are co-sponsoring a program aimed at helping local companies expand their customer base in foreign markets, with examples of companies of different types and sizes that successfully have exploited those markets.

Challenges involved in exporting also will be covered, such as the need to understand the market, culture and regulatory climate while establishing personal relationships abroad ...

The first program begins September 25th from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.  To learn more and to register go here (members free/nonmembers $20).

Learn more: Going Global Program to help local companies sell more products in foreign markets

News: Related to entering foreign markets, get ready for the biggest launch of the year ... my new exporting book coming soon, which will allow all small businesses and entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level of growth through exports. Watch for more information so you can sign up for tips related to the book and pre-order with a price guarantee to secure your copy!

Global Online Content

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When you develop content for online marketing purposes, be sure to keep it fresh and consider a global reach.  After all, people from all over the world have access to your material provided they have a digital device that connects to the Internet.  In the article below, the author offers six ways to make content marketing sustainable.

As the article says:

Content marketing works well when it’s done consistently, but without a long-term strategy and a commitment to producing content, many brands simply get frustrated and give up. Just look at the staggering number of corporate blogs that contain a handful blog posts and haven’t been updated in months!

Read the entire article:  6 Ways to Make Content Marketing Sustainable

Boost the Value of Your Business Through Exports

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For a small business owner who plans to sell their business at some point, exporting can only be a value-booster because it diversifies your customer and geographic market base.

Take Quebec, Montreal-based Toony Boom Animation:

Exporting raised the profile of tiny Quebec company Toon Boom Animation Inc. enough that in 2011, HSBC awarded it an International Business of the Year for Small Enterprise prize. In 2012, the exporter of software for creating animation caught the attention of Corus Entertainment Inc., and it was acquired.

Learn more here, including three tips from entrepreneurs who have succeeded in exporting.

News:  I've been working the entire year on a new book on exporting to be published December 2013 by Apress.  Watch for more news coming soon on where you can sign up to be notified when the book is published!  I'm on chapter 29 out of 32 chapters!  It will be the best exporting book ever and I can't wait for you to read it.    

Conducting Global Market Research

Fuse/Thinkstock

Let's say you've just discussed with your team members that you want the firm to export but don't know where to begin.  How do you get started and learn everything there is to know about a market, including how to ship internationally? It's easier than you think.

In the following article, I provide six places to visit that will give you more information than you'll probably ever need when researching for your export. The best news: It's absolutely no cost to you.

I suggest you visit all of the resources mentioned to compare facts for accuracy, learn as much as you can and ensure you are on the right path with your overseas market destination of choice.

Six Places to Look for Country-specific Information

Related article:  Three Competitive Global Business Intelligence Tools

Is Going Global a Marketing Requirement?

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Has going global as a brand become a marketing requirement?   I think it has provided you have the production capabilities to produce enough product to satisfy world demand and globally-savvy people on board to execute on your strategy. What you can't do is market globally and then not deliver on consumer's hunger (pardon the pun) for a product worldwide.

In the following article, Doritos, a Frito-Lay brand, opens up its consumer-generated Super Bowl ad contest to the world. Consumers will pick two winning spots — via online voting — from videos created from any of the 46 countries where Doritos are sold.

Doritos Going Global With Super Bowl Ad Promo

Even then, there will be some boundaries, since the Super Bowl game itself will be broadcast to some 1 billion viewers in 230 countries. That's 184 countries that don't qualify for contest entries. "Our hope is that consumers that might not be eligible this year could have a chance in the future," says Ram Krishnan, vice president of marketing at Frito-Lay, who notes the ad must be in English.

It's a good case study on what is involved in taking a product marketing message global in a big, expensive way.  It would be even more educational to find out why the message must be in English.

America the Beautiful

©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth." - Abraham Lincoln

Using Technology To Go Global

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Technology - the Internet, social media platforms, digital devices, for example - allows small businesses to crack open new markets at a much faster speed.  Doing your homework is still key though because you must know what you are doing before you take action.

Fact (as noted in article below/source unknown):

In July, US businesses generated $189.4 billion in consumer and capital goods exports. Services sold internationally brought in another $56.7 billion in services, a record setting number.

In the following article, it talks about how technology is making it easier than ever to do business internationally.

SMBs Expand Global Reach With Technology

Related articles:

•  Technology Helps Businesses Go Global

•  Go Global Now! (where Rieva Lesonsky first wrote about the Couch Guitar Straps going global in June 2010)

•  Factors to Consider When Choosing a Payment Method

•  Pitney Bowes Global Ecommerce Solutions (blog posts on shipping internationally)

•  The Knowledge Center (American Express) - 3-part series on International Expansion

Go Global Webinars!

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Are you just getting started in exporting and trying to understand the rules and regulations?  Then you might want to consider the Go Global Webinar series put on by Export.gov - and the best part?  It's free.  The series provides the tools and resources you need to expand into new markets. 

The next one scheduled is September 24th:  Understanding Export Regulations - Export Administration Regulations

Description: An essential part of exporting is determining which U.S. export regulation applies to you. While a freight forwarder or delivery service can point you in the right direction, you are ultimately responsible. This is your opportunity to learn directly from the experts.

Note:  All webinars start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard time and last an hour.

Go here (http://www.census.gov/mso/www/training/) to register.  Successful exporting to you!

Is It Possible to Oppose Exports?

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Here's the story. Cliffs Natural Resources and Caterpillar are in a battle.

Cliffs is opposed to a proposal for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im) to provide $650 million in long-term financing for Australia’s Roy Hill iron ore mine to purchase mining trucks, bulldozers, and shovels made by Caterpillar at its plants in Illinois and Wisconsin. Cliffs says the loan threatens U.S. mining jobs, and it is seeking support for its views in Congress.

The article goes on to say "boosting exports is vital to reigniting U.S. economic growth and job creation."

So, is it possible to oppose exports?  Read the entire article to understand the arguments:

Man Bites Dog:  Exports and Jobs at Stake in Ex-Im Bank Decision

9 Reasons Why Research Universities Are Going Global

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Why are research universities going global?  It's not simple.   

As part of our larger effort to generate a taxonomy of different kinds of international engagement by universities, and reflecting a recent research paper published as part of a larger project based at the University of California, Berkeley, we offer here (below) an exploration of possible institutional logics and rationales used to justify what are sometimes significant financial and institutional commitments.

Take a look at the nine reasons (logics) on why research universities are going global here.

For related article(s), visit here.

Jim Beam Making History With the World

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Premium spirits maker Beam Inc. is launching its first-ever global marketing campaign, which will be entitled "Make History" and rolled out to more than 100 markets around the world over the next nine months.  Beam Inc. produces the flapship Jim Beam Bourbon brand.

Why so long to go global with a marketing message? That's a question only Beam Inc. can answer.  Unfortunately, it's not addressed in the article below.

Beam to 'make history' with first global marketing campaign

Wonder Theatre of the World

The Chicago Theatre Lobby by Laurel Delaney

An inside look at the magnificent Chicago Theatre.

The grandeur of The Chicago Theatre often leaves its visitors breathless. The elegant lobby, majestic staircase and beautiful auditorium complete with murals above the stage and on the ceiling, are components of an amazing building called "the Wonder Theatre of the World" when it opened on October 26, 1921.

Learn more here.

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved. 

Can Startups In Emerging Markets Go Global?

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Yes, startups are going global and that holds true for new companies in India too.

By encouraging innovation through seed and angel investment, the Indian accelerator GSF is attempting to mold startups through intensity of mentorship, deep collaboration with the ecosystem and the creation of an international spring-board. So while these startups are being built up, GSF is also putting its money on taking them to international markets.

What a grandious idea.  We should all be establishing GSFs.  Why just take a look at their slogan:

"Transforming Thinkers Into Creators."

Read the entire article:  Can These 12 Indian Tech Startups Expand to International Markets?

Leading the World in Education

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The UK government has established a strategy to work closely with the entire education sector to take advantage of new opportunities around the globe.

Some of the things it aims to accomplish:

•  Build on their strengths in higher and further education.

•  Welcome more international students.

•  Support transnational education.

•  Lead the world in education technology.

Learn more and access all the available reports:

International Education Strategy:  Global Growth and Prosperity

Be sure to visit some of the sites that are referenced.  In particular,  the HEGlobal (link was not working at the site when I tested it - but it works here).

Classifying Products for Export

Global Marketing Budgets Are Cautiously Improving in 2013

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According the latest Global Marketing Index (GMI), global marketing budgets are staying strong - showing a recorded index value of 51.1.  Note:  A score above 50 indicates a generally improving environment, while a score below 50 indicates a generally declining environment.

The GMI was established in 2011 with the purpose of providing a unique monthly indicator of expenditure and business conditions for marketers worldwide.

Looking at the budget component breakdown by region, the data reveals that marketers in the Americas are still the most bullish, with a reading of 55.8.

To learn what the global marketing spend outlook is for Europe and Asia, read:  Global Marketing Budgets Staying Strong

Cross Borders For Business Growth

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Salt Lake City-based Connor Sport Court International (CSCI), makers of hardwood gym and synthetic sports floors, is the 2013 recipient of Zions Bank’s Global Pacesetter award — a distinction given annually to a Utah company demonstrating international success.   Congratulations to CSCI for having its products found in 145 countries and territories on all seven continents.

The article below goes on to share tips for expanding internationally, such as, gathering information, securing financing and understanding letters of credit.

Read the entire article:  Look Beyond U.S. Borders for Growth Opportunities