Eliminate Excuses in 2012: Go Global

Stop making excuses and get ready to go global in 2012!

Top 10 Excuses for Not Going Global

Reasons why you should go global.

Exporting: Got a Marketing Plan?

If you are considering exporting, better get organized on the marketing front. This article might help.

Keep the research summary to one page, and break it into four manageable parts (refer to article below). The purpose of this exercise is to establish a broad scope on your research market analysis but not so broad that you overwhelm yourself. Try to begin with the end in mind: Where do you want to go and how will you know that you have arrived?

How to Develop an Export Marketing Plan

Hello World: Go Live Your Dream Today

©Laurel J. Delaney, 2011

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Photo credit:  ©Laurel J. Delaney 2011, "Rogers Park, Illinois Lakefront"

Proof That a Shipment Is In Good Condition

When you place an order with a supplier located thousands of miles away, how do you protect yourself on the quality of the merchandise before it is released?

Request an inspection certificate.  Make it a condition (required document) within your payment arrangement.  Learn more here and here.

Giving Thanks to You Dear Readers Round the World!

Thank you for your readership and comments from time to time. Without you, this blog would not be nearly as lively or as much fun.   Have a Happy Thanksgiving (celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada)!

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "World's Largest Pumpkin"

Posted by The Global Small Business Blog

How to Rev Up American Exports

The Wall Street Journal's David Wessel moderates a discussion on the U.S. trade gap and how to fire up the export engines. Read the edited excerpts of the conversation below.

Building a U.S. export economy start with a new mind-set for companies

Here's one comment:

Only 1% of U.S. firms today are exporters. In a sense, U.S. firms have never had the export muscle—or to the extent that they had it, that muscle has atrophied over time.

And one of four recommendations:

1. GLOBALIZE ATTITUDES OF U.S. BUSINESS

To ensure growth, U.S. businesses should recognize the importance of developing foreign markets, including locally based products and services. They should set targets and goals for increasing participation in foreign markets and encourage more U.S. nationals to live abroad for a period. Government can help by providing support and education to smaller and medium-size businesses to increase their exports.

Related article:

Leading with a Global Mindset (1998) by Laurel Delaney

An Import/Export Business Is Born

See how Mary Smith and Tom Jackson got started in the import and export business.

Technology Helps Business Go Global

by Laurel Delaney, About.com Import & Export Guide

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Smile to the World

"Start every day with a smile and get it over with." W.C. Fields

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Skokie Art Center" 

Wherever You Are: Is Your Head in the Clouds?

©Laurel Delaney 2011

"It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are ... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Clouds, Chicago lakefront."

How We Learn Worldly Wisdom

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011

By three methods we may learn wisdom:  First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. ~ Confucius

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Loyola University Chicago Lake Shore Library, Reflection"

Never Sell Globally on Open Account; Here's Why

What is open account? 

Open account means you ship goods or sell services globally without any guarantee of collecting payment on a transaction.

Read more to find out why you should never sell on open account -- no ands, ifs or buts.

Blogs on Entrepreneurs | Crain's Chicago Business

Collecting Payment When Your Customer is 12,000 Miles Away

by Laurel Delaney

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

LIVE From Singapore: The World Entrepreneurship Forum 2011

The 2011 edition of the World Entrepreneurship Forum takes place in Singapore from November 2-5, 2011 at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore -- where 150 members from 70 countries, mainly entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs -- will gather for three days to suggest recommendations on "Entrepreneurship -- a Driver For Innovation and Technology."

• Opening session takes place Singapore time on November 2nd at 6.00 p.m.
• "Entrepreneur for the World" Gala Ceremony on November 3rd in the evening
• Closing lunch on November 5th at 12:30 noon

WorldEntrepreneurshipForum2011Presentation.pdf (Download PDF: 2.17 MB)

Watch LIVE here (look at left sidebar where it says DIRECT Access)

Illustration credit:  World Entrepreneurship Forum

Related posts:  World Entrepreneurship Forum

Full disclosure:  Laurel Delaney is a member of the World Entrepreneurship Forum

Quietly Building New Structures In Our World

 

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Loyola University Chicago North Shore Campus"

"Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures." ~ John F. Kennedy 

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011

Creative Ways to Partner With Your Overseas Customer

Export this.  Import that.  But how do you partner with your overseas customer (or supplier) in such a way that they feel totally committed to you?

Have I got the ideas!

Read:

Become Your Customer's Partner

5 Inspiring Ways to Partner with Your Overseas Customer to Grow the Relationship

Make a Sale, Research Your Market and Satisfy Your Customer: Here's How

My recent column for Ann Dwyer's entrepreneur blog over at Crain's Chicago Business.

To make a sale, research your market and satisfy your customer

If you've missed my previous Crain's Chicago global business columns, they can be found on the right sidebar of this blog.

Related articles:

Five Ways to Satisfy Your Overseas Customer

Market Research:  Dreaded Chore, a Powerful Tool

How Delivering on Your Promises Matters in the World Marketplace

My thoughts on the importance of delivering on your promises in the world of commerce.  It boils down to integrity, being true to your word.

Read:  Deliver on Your Promises | About.com Import and Export | by Laurel Delaney

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

The World Pays Tribute

Photo credit:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Apple Store, Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

The tributes keep coming in from all over the world on the passing away of Steve Jobs.

I visited the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Saturday, October 8, 2011 to give my farewell to Steve and condolences to Apple folks and as I stood in front of the store for half an hour, I was moved by the outpouring of emotion from people everywhere.  Some individuals prayed and set down a memento; many wrote messages on post-it-notes and affixed them to the front of the store window (as shown above; what you see is the left side of the store, the right was completely covered with post-it-notes too ... look closely at the messages and some of the items posted) and still others photographed or videod the experience.  You knew something larger than life had happened and it would never be the same again for many.

Steve was admired and respected around the globe.

Here's an interesting UK perspective:

Steve jobs:  the world pays tribute

Photo courtesy:  ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Apple Store, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., 10.8.11"

Best Bloopers in the Global Marketplace

When you conduct business internationally, you absolutely must develop cultural awareness!  There's no easy way to tackle this sensitive issue but there is a way as noted below to have some fun learning about it.

Expanding internationally is a goal for most growing small businesses, yet the misuse of simple words can sabotage even your best border-crossing efforts. Just as one size doesn't fit all in importing and exporting, one word doesn't fit for all cultures, either. In fact, if used erroneously, it can cripple the most promising of international deals.

Read:  Adventures in Mistranslations from Around the World

Photo credit:  Stephen Hart

The Tale of Cheescakes Exported Nearly On Open Account

Our latest contribution for the American Express OPEN Forum via Small Business Trends.

Making Tough Decisions in the Global Marketplace
by Laurel Delaney

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

World: To Be Creative, Hide Your (Re)Sources

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” ~ Albert Einstein

Photo credit ©Laurel Delaney 2011, "Horse Flower Power"