7 Steps to Export Your Products Successfully

Exporting your products can be a great way to expand your market, increase your sales, and diversify your income. But how do you start exporting? What are the best practices and tips to follow? In this article, we will show you how to export products in 7 easy steps, from researching your target market to delivering your goods.

Step 1: Research Your Target Market

Before you start exporting, you need to know who your potential customers are, what their needs and preferences are, and how they buy products. You also need to know the legal, cultural, and logistical aspects of doing business in your target market. Some of the questions you should ask are:

What is the size and growth potential of the market?
What are the main competitors and how do they operate?
What are the customer segments and what are their buying behaviors?
What are the product standards, regulations, and certifications required?
What are the tariffs, taxes, and duties applicable?
What are the cultural norms, values, and etiquette of the market?
What are the best distribution channels and methods of payment?

You can find answers to these questions by doing online research, contacting trade associations, consulting export experts, or visiting trade shows and exhibitions.

Step 2: Develop Your Export Plan

Once you have a clear idea of your target market, you need to develop a detailed export plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and actions. Your export plan should include:

A market analysis that summarizes your research findings and identifies your opportunities and challenges
A product analysis that evaluates your product’s suitability, competitiveness, and differentiation in the target market
A pricing strategy that considers your costs, margins, exchange rates, and market conditions
A marketing strategy that defines your value proposition, positioning, branding, promotion, and customer service
A distribution strategy that selects your preferred channel partners, such as agents, distributors, wholesalers, or retailers
A logistics strategy that determines your shipping methods, packaging, labeling, documentation, insurance, and customs clearance
A financial plan that forecasts your sales, expenses, cash flow, and profitability
A risk management plan that identifies and mitigates your potential risks, such as currency fluctuations, political instability, or legal disputes

Your export plan should be realistic, measurable, and flexible. You should review and update it regularly as you learn from your experience and feedback.

Step 3: Find Your Buyers

The next step is to find and contact potential buyers in your target market. You can use various methods to generate leads, such as:

Networking with existing contacts or referrals
Participating in trade missions or delegations
Attending trade fairs or exhibitions
Advertising online or offline
Creating a website or social media presence
Sending email or direct mail campaigns
Cold calling or telemarketing

When you reach out to potential buyers, you should have a clear value proposition that highlights how your product can solve their problems or meet their needs. You should also have a sales pitch that demonstrates your product’s features, benefits, and advantages over competitors. You should be prepared to answer any questions or objections that buyers may have.

Step 4: Negotiate Your Terms

After you have identified some interested buyers, you need to negotiate the terms of the sale. This includes:

The price of the product
The quantity and quality of the product
The delivery time and location of the product
The payment method and terms of the product
The warranty and after-sales service of the product
The dispute resolution mechanism of the product

You should aim to reach a win-win agreement that satisfies both parties. You should also put everything in writing in a formal contract that specifies all the details and conditions of the sale.

Step 5: Fulfill Your Order

Once you have a signed contract with a buyer, you need to fulfill your order according to the agreed terms. This involves:

Producing or sourcing your product
Packing and labeling your product according to the destination country’s requirements
Preparing all the necessary documents for exportation, such as invoices, packing lists,
certificates of origin, bills of lading, etc.
Arranging for transportation and delivery of your product through a reliable freight forwarder or carrier
Obtaining insurance for your product against loss or damage during transit
Clearing customs at both the origin and destination countries
Tracking and confirming the receipt of your product by the buyer

You should communicate regularly with your buyer throughout the process and keep them updated on the status of their order. You should also follow up with them after delivery to ensure their satisfaction and resolve any issues.

Step 6: Get Paid

Getting paid is one of the most important aspects of exporting. You need to choose a payment method that is secure,
convenient, and cost-effective for both you and your buyer. Some of the common payment methods are:

Cash in advance: The buyer pays you before you ship the product. This is the safest method for you, but the riskiest for the buyer.
Letter of credit: The buyer’s bank guarantees to pay you upon presentation of certain documents, such as a bill of lading or a certificate of origin. This is a secure method for both parties, but it can be expensive and complicated.
Documentary collection: The buyer’s bank collects the payment from the buyer upon delivery of the product and then transfers it to you. This is a less costly and simpler method than a letter of credit, but it still involves some risk for you.
Open account: The buyer pays you after you ship the product, usually within 30 to 90 days. This is the most convenient and cheapest method for the buyer, but the riskiest for you.

You should consider the creditworthiness, reputation, and relationship of your buyer when choosing a payment method. You should also agree on the currency, exchange rate, and fees involved in the transaction.

Step 7: Evaluate Your Performance

The final step is to evaluate your export performance and learn from your experience. You should:

Measure your results against your goals and objectives
Analyze your strengths and weaknesses
Identify your opportunities and threats
Solicit feedback from your buyers and partners
Review your export plan and make adjustments as needed
Celebrate your achievements and reward your team

Exporting can be a rewarding and profitable venture if you follow these 7 steps. By doing your research, planning your strategy, finding your buyers, negotiating your terms, fulfilling your order, getting paid, and evaluating your performance, you can export your products successfully and grow your business internationally.

How to Export Products: A Guide for Small Businesses

If you are a small business owner looking to expand your market and increase your profits, exporting your products might be a great option for you. Exporting can help you reduce your dependence on domestic demand, diversify your revenue streams, and reach new customers in foreign countries. However, exporting also comes with some challenges and risks, such as finding buyers, complying with regulations, and securing financing. In this article, we will provide some tips and resources on how to export products successfully.

1. Assess your export readiness

Before you start exporting, you need to make sure that your business is ready to enter the global market. You can use the Export Readiness Assessment tool from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in areas such as product development, marketing, operations, finance, and legal aspects. The tool will also provide you with a customized report and recommendations on how to improve your export potential.

2. Develop an export plan

An export plan is a document that outlines your objectives, strategies, and actions for exporting your products. It helps you define your target markets, identify your competitive advantage, determine your pricing and distribution channels, and plan your marketing and promotion activities. An export plan also helps you anticipate and mitigate potential risks and challenges, such as currency fluctuations, cultural differences, and trade barriers. You can use the My Export Plan tool from the SBA to create a comprehensive export plan for your business.

4. Find buyers and partners

One of the most important steps in exporting is finding reliable buyers and partners in your target markets. You can use various methods and resources to connect with potential customers, such as:

Participating in trade shows, trade missions, and online events organized by the SBA or other agencies
Using online platforms and directories, such as Export-U or Alibaba.com, to showcase your products and contact buyers
Joining trade associations and networks, such as the World Trade Centers Association or the International Trade Administration’s Global Network
Hiring local agents or distributors who can represent your products and handle sales and logistics
Collaborating with other exporters who can share their experience and contacts

5. Get financing and insurance

Exporting can be costly and risky, especially for small businesses. You may need financing to cover expenses such as product development, inventory, shipping, marketing, and insurance. You may also face risks such as non-payment, currency fluctuations, political instability, or natural disasters. To overcome these challenges, you can use various financing and insurance programs offered by the SBA or other agencies, such as:

Export Working Capital Program (EWCP), which provides loans up to $5 million to finance export transactions
Export Express Program (EEP), which provides loans up to $500,000 to support export development activities
International Trade Loan Program (ITLP), which provides loans up to $5 million to improve your competitiveness in the global market
Export Credit Insurance (ECI), which protects you against non-payment by foreign buyers
Trade Finance Guide (TFG), which provides practical information on various trade finance options

6. Comply with regulations and laws

Exporting involves complying with various regulations and laws in both your home country and your destination countries. You need to be aware of the requirements for documentation, labeling, packaging, customs clearance, taxes, duties, tariffs, quotas, licenses, permits, certifications, standards, quality control, intellectual property rights protection, environmental protection, and social responsibility. You can use the Access2Markets portal from the European Union or the Country Commercial Guides from the U.S. Department of Commerce to find detailed information on the regulations and laws for each country.

References:

https://doi.org/10.1108%2FJSBED-03-2017-0095

https://ameriaadvisory.am/armenias-export-of-goods-and-services/

https://eurasianet.org/armenias-economic-boom-hurts-tech-sector

https://www.trade.gov/learn-how-export

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/export-products

https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/guide-export-goods

https://www.export-u.com/

https://www.export.gov/article?id=Seven-Steps-to-Successful-Exporting

https://www.trade.gov/export-basics

https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your-business/export-products