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Home / #7 Grow Fast, Grow Global – The Digital Sales Channels

#7 Grow Fast, Grow Global – The Digital Sales Channels

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Welcome to the seventh extract in my series from my book ‘Grow Fast, Grow Global: 6 steps to unstoppable international growth in the digital age’. Here’s an extract from chapter two unearthing the digital sales techniques and channels that could help you grow. 

The good news is I’m keeping things simple. There are, in fact, only  five widely used international digital sales channels that enable you to reach new customers around the world. To be successful,  you need to select the best combination for your own products and services and then make them visible so they are in front of all  your prospective customers.  

In this chapter, I’m going to introduce you to these five key international digital sales platforms, their main features and some of the pros and cons of each in order to help you make a decision  about the best options for your business and where to spend your  digital budget. 

But, first of all, how do you make the right choice? 

The $5,000 Question 

I’m often asked the question: “If I have a budget of $5,000 to  grow my business globally, where should I invest it?” 

Traditionally, this amount would be spent on attending an  exhibition or trade fair in another country. It is surprising how  quickly things add up once you factor in the preparation, the cost  of the stand, the travel and accommodation expenses, the cost of  follow-up, as well as the opportunity cost of being out of your  business for a week.

But what if you were to invest it in digital instead? 

Although many businesses are excited by the concept, they just  don’t know where to start. There are so many ways you could  split the $5,000 budget, and so much hype and conflicting  opinions about what is most important. Common battlegrounds  include: investing in your website, posting on social media, listing  on platforms such as Amazon, writing blogs or advertising on Facebook.  

The ultimate question you need to ask is: which one will get you  more online leads or sales?  

Well, here is the answer. 

There is a distinction between digital sales and digital marketing,  with a lot of airtime dedicated to the latter, which often leaves  the former forgotten. Having worked with literally hundreds of  businesses in different sectors, I have seen time and time again  there are two things you need to do. Your budget should ALWAYS  be spent in this order as this system is fail-safe. 

  1. You need to establish world-class digital sales platforms  to allow you to earn revenue.  
  2. You need to implement successful digital marketing  campaigns to drive traffic to those digital sales platforms.  

It may sound simple, but always get your digital sales platforms  up to scratch before investing in digital marketing. There is no  point paying for online advertising to send a lot of traffic to your  website if, quite frankly, it is not really fit for purpose.  

Digital Sales 

Digital sales platforms are online places where a customer is able  to purchase or express an interest in your products or services, 

whether you are selling to end customers or to other businesses. The needs of your business will be unique, but there are only really five popular digital sales channels to sell online to international customers that you can choose from: 

  1. Through your own website
  2. Through an e-commerce website, taking payment online
  3. Through e-markets, like Amazon and eBay
  4. Through s-commerce or social commerce, like Facebook and Instagram 
  5. Selling through local partners, such as agents, distributors, retailers or stockists online

If you’re selling products, it is no longer just about selling through  your website.  It is necessary for most companies to build more than one digital  sales platform to create a fully effective balanced international  digital strategy. This way you don’t put all your eggs in one basket and are not beholden to the algorithms of just one of the internet giants, who can alter the fortunes of your business overnight. 

If you can’t wait and want to get your copy of Grow Fast, Grow Global to read at the weekend as paperback or Kindle, then buy online now. 

To see more extracts in this series click here.

Happy reading!

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