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planner without a spreadsheet? What is an exporter without an export plan? • Are your services clearly defined and in demand? • Do you understand your company’s strengths and weaknesses? • How well do you know your target market? • Is your promotional material/website world class and are you taking advantage of new electronic and media tools? • Do you have ready-made proposal templates, letters of intent, partnership proposals? • Research, analyse, strategise – and remember to write it all down!
strategies for services exporters social media marketing
The third part: Execution! Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect. • Do the most important things first! Get your team involved and engaged – entering new markets means new opportunities for them too; • Set goals, timelines, roles and responsibilities; • Schedule a certain day every week, or a certain time of day that you can devote to working on your export plan; • Use technology tools to connect with prospective clients and partners internationally – make sure you use the right mix of SMS, email, Skype and good old-fashioned face-to-face; • Get it done! Write it all down and get it done!
Why Social Media Matters
More on Export Readiness For more information on export readiness, pick up your free copy of ‘Strategies for Service Exporters Series: Are You Export Ready?’ from your local CSI.
ARE YOU READY?
“WHERE DOES YOUR COMPANY STRONG COM PETITIVE ADVA HAVE A NTAGE?”
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competitive. Evaluate your whether you streng ths and can weaknesses overseas marke offer a service which and determ might satisfy market resear t (this will be more precis a need in an ine ch - see page ely gauged after undert 13). aking • yourIscompa ny successfully market? offering servic es in the nation al • yourIscompa ny offering better value services that for money ? are of better quality or of • theDo services being offered have unique featur • Where es? does your company have Staff? Techno a strong compe logy? Netwo titive advantages rks? How in overseas can you exploi advantage? markets? t these Are You Export
Ready?: Strategi
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Despite the time and money spent on fancy magazine ads and funny television commercials, it is well known in advertising circles that word-of-mouth is the most persuasive factor in purchasing decisions. In fact, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know and 70% trust online reviews. Social media is the new world conduit for word-of-mouth marketing. 67% of online adults use social media sites. In some Caribbean countries, as many as 100% of online adults use Facebook. So, why social media marketing? • First, it’s an inexpensive alternative to the more traditional marketing campaigns such as newspaper, radio and television. (Social media, however, should not replace all other marketing activities.); • As noted above, word-of-mouth marketing conducted via social media platforms is a highly convincing form of marketing; • It has a wide, international reach; • It offers the opportunity to collect feedback from clients and to accordingly improve service offerings and delivery; • It enhances credibility; • It improves customer relations; • And lastly, a thoughtful social media presence bolsters sales. The truth is you can no longer opt out. Like it or not, your business is probably being talked about on social media platforms. Given this fact, it is better to take control of your company’s image by participating in the dialogue. Available at your local Coalition of Service Industries
Exporters Series 5
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ANNUAL PUBLICATION 2014