International selling is not a new concept in India. But a decade back, it seemed possible only for the large corporations. With the growth of eCommerce in recent years, the scope of selling products at a global level has increased even for the small scale local sellers.
As per a Statista report, retail eCommerce sales amounted to 4.9 trillion US dollars globally in 2021. This number is projected to increase by 50% till 2025.
This opens huge opportunities for businesses of all sizes to expand their market reach beyond the national boundaries.
So if you are thinking about how to sell internationally from India, you should first answer a few critical questions.
- How to start selling internationally?
- What is the appropriate technology required for running the international selling sites?
- How can you promote products internationally?
- What is the procedure to ship products across national boundaries?
If you do not have a clear answer to all of these questions, it’s better to hold your expansion plans and learn about scaling strategies.
Step-by-step Guide to Sell Internationally
Before you open your business to international customers, be well-prepared to handle any situation that may arise with business expansion. Follow the steps below to successfully sell globally.
Step 1—Conduct a thorough market research
Market research is the preliminary step whether you are opening a new business or expanding an existing one.
Start by understanding the demography of the potential customers such as age, gender, location, problems etc. Then narrow down your research to the audience who would be interested in your product.
Step 2—Learn the rules and regulations
Different markets have different sets of legal requirements. Understand the rules and regulations you have to follow while you sell internationally.
For instance, there could be different duties and taxes that may affect the final price of your products. You must also be aware of the customs implications that you have to fulfill. Complete knowledge of such tariffs is a must before you embark on your international journey.
Step 3—Upgrade your website
When you are figuring out how to sell internationally from India, upgrading your website is one of the most important factors you need to consider.
When enhancing your UI and UX, one critical point that you cannot afford to miss is the language people use in your targeted international market. If people prefer any native language, you can use English for your website’s content and provide a translation option in the local language.
Step 5—Overcome currency and payment barriers
Choose a payment provider which your customers find reliable.
While you are considering how to sell internationally from India, you also need to think about the currency used in that geographical location. Your payment provider must be equipped to either accept payments in the customers’ preferred currency or provide a currency conversion calculator, so that your customers are aware of what they are paying.
Step 6—Establish shipping expectations
International shipping can take longer than expected as the package has to cross multiple local areas to reach the destination.
Set your customers’ expectations about the delivery timeline and keep them informed of the order journey. Also, share a clear return policy so that there is no confusion while exchange or return of products.
5 Ways to Successfully Sell Internationally
Let us now look at the various ways through which you can take your eCommerce business to international customers and sell globally.
1. Sell on current website
The fastest way to start selling internationally is to sell through your current website. If you are just testing the waters in the international market, creating an entire new website might not be a cost-effective decision for your business.
As discussed in the above steps, upgrade your current website and make sure it is technologically up-to-date to be accessible to the international customers.
2. Sell on an international marketplace
Besides the local eCommerce platforms, you must consider international eCommerce marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Alibaba etc. in order to reach more customers and generate more revenue.
One thing you must keep in mind before you list your products on these international selling sites is to comply with the rules of these marketplaces. For instance, you may be required to register your business in that location before you associate with such a marketplace.
3. Partner with a third-party shipping service
You can collaborate with a third-party logistics service that can help you sell globally without dealing with the hurdles of international markets.
There are multiple third-party service providers that handle your international shipping—this includes dealing with all the complexities of customs, duty, and regulations. A third-party service provider usually consolidates the orders by country and ships them together to the end customers resulting in reduced shipping costs.
4. Collaborate with a fulfillment partner
Establish relationships with logistics companies in the international market that have a good network of fulfillment centers, and ship them your products in bulk. Use a well-renowned logistics & supply chain management partner who can provide warehousing and shipping services at cost-effective prices.
5. Offer local customer service
When you are planning how to sell internationally from India, having good customer support should be one of your top priorities. Hire a local customer service team to interact with your customers in the new market.
This will help you eliminate language barriers and assist customers with higher efficiency. It is fundamental to identify which markets need this support. Your support team should understand your business completely and offer quick assistance with queries related to product quality, shipping costs, customs regulations etc.
How to Market Your Products in the Global Market?
Promoting your eCommerce business internationally is not an easy task. Therefore, it is important to educate your new audience about your brand and products. Your primary focus should be to establish your brand and make it visible to everyone.
Let us find out how this can be done:
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Optimize your website per the best SEO practices. This will help your website rank high on the search engine results and increase your visibility amongst your potential customers.
Social media engagement
Whether you are selling locally or intend to sell internationally, social media plays a significant role in deciding the course of your business.
Target your audience by utilizing the reach of popular social media channels such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. depending on the nature of your products/services.
Paid promotions
Digital advertisements are among the most successful ways to interact with your customers. Advertising on platforms that have a wide reach such as Google and Facebook can make your customers aware about your brand.
You can also do affiliate marketing to get more reach.
Conclusion
As a local eCommerce retailer, it is a dream come true to get upgraded as an established international eCommerce business.
To start with your international selling journey, you must focus on identifying your target market, understanding the rules and regulations, deciding a budget, collaborating with local partners and then choosing the most lucrative options that work for your business. Your prime objective should be to sell more products internationally and gain higher profits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. Is it a good idea to sell internationally?
Selling internationally sounds exciting to all eCommerce business owners. But you should be sure whether your product can make an impact in the international market. If it is not in high demand locally, it may not be a success internationally.
On the other hand, it may generate great revenues in other countries even if it is not much demanded in your own country. The best way is to start with small-scale promotions in the international market and see if you are getting any orders or not. This can help you decide your future plan.
Q.2 Which international market is best for my business?
This depends entirely on the type of products or services you offer. Based on factors such as customer demography, preferences etc. you can decide your target market.
Q.3. What are some of the vital international legislations in eCommerce?
There are pre-contractual details, post-contractual details, withdrawal period, cookies, and data protection features that may vary from country to country.
Q.4. Which are some of the international eCommerce barriers?
The most common international eCommerce barriers are language barriers, culture interpretation, internet speed, courier services, customer support, and payment preferences.
