Suppose you're planning to expand your business to an international level. You have excellent products or services to introduce to a bigger audience. While looking into eCommerce shipping solutions, you thought about working with reliable border shipping services.
A border shipping company is an excellent option to help you manage costs, customs, and other vital points to consider once you cross borders. However, you can find the right shipping partner only after studying the essentials of international shipping first. One of these essentials is the target market. Who is your target audience? Where are they located? Can your products sell well across the borders?
If you have decided to bring your eCommerce brand to a global level, figuring out your target audience is a significant first step. Here's a guide on how to know your international target market.
A target market is a group of people you intend to sell products or services to. The world is such a vast place, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage for an eCommerce business. The advantage is that there are location options you can sell your products to. The disadvantage is that not all of them are profitable, so you must choose wisely.
There are specific factors that help you paint a specific and more precise picture of your target market. It is like answering the who, what, where, why, and how questions. However, each question needs more detailed answers. For example, the following points below answer the question "Who?"
Why are these things important? According to a study titled "2010 America," keeping up-to-date with demographics also means paying attention to your brand's future. After all, if you're unsure of whom you are marketing to, strategies are a waste. You must always be knowledgeable of your target audience's overall profile and the changes in them. That way, you can identify their needs and adjust your strategies to comply with them.
Existing store reports provide a load of information necessary to know who your audience is and what they really want. For example, which countries and cities are you getting the most traffic from? What products are best-sellers for a specific location? How long do site visitors stay in your eCommerce store, and what pages are they viewing? Find patterns from these data, and use them to build a shipping strategy.
Some tools gather an ample amount of this data. Google Analytics is a great example, but there are many options you can explore until you find what fits your needs best.
When talking about huge and popular eCommerce platforms, brands like Amazon or eBay would often come to mind. But, you might ask, "can Amazon ship my products internationally?" International shipping is one of Amazon's expertise, making them a top-tier in the competition.
List your items internationally on these platforms and observe. Global marketplaces provide further insight into what products sell in each location. In addition to this, you can see how rates are converted and what customers say about specific products or services. Use this data as a basis for deciding the locations you should focus on.
Before looking at border shipping services, ask yourself this question: Will the gates of this particular country open to ship my product? Is the product allowed for import? Research a specific country and find out their list of banned items.
Each country has its restrictions on imported products, so you have to thoroughly research them before proceeding with the rest of your plan.
For a business, it always matters to stay on top of the hottest buying trends. Trends give you an idea of what most people are interested in. You can use that information to know your target market better. In addition to this, if your product is currently in high demand, that gives you a better chance to increase sales.
Now that you have gained a more solid and more precise profile of what your global target market looks like, it's time to focus on border shipping solutions. Shipping is a critical part of your overall business costs, so you need to ensure efficient order fulfillment and profitability. Look out for these things when planning to work with a border shipping company:
There are different duties or taxes per country, and the customers will pay for that. Therefore, you and your potential shipping service should have mutual knowledge and understanding of these rates. By doing so, you can inform customers about additional costs ahead of time and have them decide if they're willing to pay for them.
Choosing the right courier service for your business includes evaluating their services. Know what modes of transportation they are using for a specific destination (including package and storage services) and find out if they also offer extra services like local warehousing.
Communication is the key to a successful partnership. The shipping company should help address all sorts of shipping issues and explain them in ways you can easily understand.
Have a clear understanding of your product's shipping needs. Pick a courier company suitable for shipping your items, including specific requirements on transport and storage. Many companies may look promising, but that doesn't mean all of them can meet your conditions.
Don't be afraid to test the waters. It's only natural to be like that at first, but at the same time, maximize your research to minimize damage to your costs. The first step to your international shipping plan is to find your target market. Ensure you're selling to the right people before thinking about how they should be delivered to their doorstep.
If you need additional information on cost-saving international shipping or Canada to US shipping, reach out to Stallion Express today for a free consultation. Note that Stallion Express neither our courier partners offer freight shipping. However, we can still accommodate your orders through individual processing through our shipping software. Don’t hesitate to call or message us if you have any inquiries.
Diana leads the growth marketing initiatives at Stallion Express. As a personal trainer turned digital marketer, Diana is obsessed with equipping eCommerce entrepreneurs with everything they need to scale their online businesses. You can catch her doing yoga or hitting the tennis courts in her spare time.
Read all posts written by Diana Zheng
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