Nothing says business growth quite like going global. Focusing on your local market can still lead to success, but expanding into other countries demonstrates that your business has achieved more than you originally set out to do. It means there’s real demand for what you offer, and people from different parts of the world are taking notice.It’s a big move, no doubt! And it can come with its fair share of challenges. But with the right tools, systems, platforms, and partners in place, going global doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be a smooth and strategic step toward even greater things.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through why global expansion might be your next best move and the steps you’ll need to take to do it right.
Opportunities to expand internationally don’t come around every day, and when they do, many businesses are quick to take them. In fact, 56% of U.S. businesses are actively considering expansion across borders. Sure, there are challenges involved, but the potential benefits are often too good to pass up.
Let’s take a look:
One of the primary reasons to expand internationally is that you can reach a larger audience and sell to a broader market.
Think about it: a potential customer finds your eCommerce store, adds your product to their cart, and gets ready to check out, only to discover that you don’t ship to their country. Just like that, you’ve lost a sale and the chance to build a loyal customer relationship.
Expanding your reach means turning those missed opportunities into real growth.
Selling internationally sends a strong message about your business. It shows that you’re legitimate, trustworthy, and capable of operating on a global scale. And because international expansion often involves added costs and complex logistics, it also suggests that your business is stable and built for long-term success.
On top of that, expanding into other countries means more people get the chance to discover your brand. And when you pair that reach with excellent customer service, you don’t just make sales but build long-term brand champions who are excited to share their experience with others. And as we all know, organic word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful (and cost-effective) ways to grow your business.
With how unpredictable the world can be, relying on just one country for all your sales is a considerable risk!
When your entire business depends on a single market, you’re at the mercy of its economic shifts, regulations, and demand. But when you diversify and expand into other markets, you spread out that risk. It gives your business more stability and helps you stay strong, even when one market hits a rough patch.
Expanding internationally gives you the chance to enter less crowded markets. This gives your product or service an opportunity to stand out. You may even find your business as one of the first or few options available, giving you a real head start.
These markets can serve as a blank slate, offering the opportunity to establish your brand early and become the preferred choice before any competition shows up.
Each market has its own currency value and shopping habits, and if you plan carefully, these differences can work in your favor. For instance, in some countries, the exchange rate might be more favorable, which means you could earn more from each sale.
Shopping seasons also vary around the world. By adjusting your strategies to match local habits, take advantage of peak times, and increase your sales, especially when experiencing slower periods in your home market.
Last but not least, every business wants to grow in a way that lasts. Expanding internationally is a strong step in that direction. It allows your business to reach beyond borders, adapt to different markets, and continue finding new customers along the way.
By building a presence in multiple countries, you’re setting your business up for long-term success, no matter how the market changes.
Amazon makes it easier to sell your products in other countries. Follow these steps to get started and reach customers around the world.
Where do you want to sell? What market are you aiming to reach? Narrowing this down helps you take a clear step forward instead of making an unplanned leap.
Planning is essential for any business move, and choosing the right starting point for your international expansion can help set the tone for future success.
Here’s a quick tip: consider starting with a marketplace that has strong demand but less competition. It’s often smarter than entering regions where you already have some reach.
To start selling globally on Amazon, you’ll need to have an active seller account. Once that’s set up, you can register for the specific region you want to sell in.
One great thing about the platform is that it also gives you the option to link your accounts across different regions, so you can manage everything in one place, making it easier to stay organized as you expand.
Every country has its own rules and regulations around what you can sell and how you can sell it. However, taking the time to learn and understand these requirements can save you from a lot of headaches later on.
Did you know that the average cost of non-compliance is a staggering $14.82 million? It’s a costly mistake, not just financially, but also in terms of your reputation. Failing to meet local regulations can damage the brand you’ve worked so hard to build, and recovering from that isn’t always easy.
Since every country has its own local regulations, it only makes sense that you’ll also need to localize your product listings.
You can’t just copy and paste your existing descriptions and expect them to work everywhere! To truly connect with local customers, your listings need to sound convincing, natural, and aligned with what they’re actually looking for.
Shipping and delivery are another crucial part of expanding internationally. It plays a significant role in how customers see your brand.
Was the package delivered on time? Was it trackable? What condition was the item in when it arrived? All these details affect the overall customer experience and how likely they are to buy from you again.
When selling through Amazon, you have three main options for handling fulfillment:
When entering a new market, it’s essential to adjust your prices to fit the local landscape. Here’s what you need to factor in when setting your local pricing on Amazon:
Your customers might not always be right, but how they feel about your brand is what really counts.
More than 50% of people won’t think twice about leaving after one bad experience. So, whether you’re supporting buyers at home or abroad, make sure your service is quick, helpful, and friendly. That’s how you turn first-time shoppers into loyal fans.
Once everything’s in place, it’s time to spread the word about your products!
You can use Amazon ads, offer special deals, and explore other marketing strategies that work well in the region you’re targeting. This helps boost your visibility, attract those first few customers, and build momentum for long-term growth.
Shipping orders to customers across borders gets much easier when you keep the following in mind:
There are different ways to send orders to customers in other countries. You can use Amazon FBA, which means Amazon takes care of storing and shipping your products. You can also work with another company (called a third-party logistics provider) to do this for you. Or, you can do everything yourself.
When choosing how to ship your orders, think about how much money you can spend, how much control you want, and how fast you need the orders to arrive. Choosing the wrong setup could lead to slow shipping or high costs.
How you ship your products is important. Most customers don’t like waiting too long for their orders, but faster shipping usually costs more. That’s why it’s crucial to find the right balance between speed, price, and how reliable the service is.
It also helps to give your customers a few shipping options. When they can choose how they want to receive their items, it helps them understand the process better.
Sometimes, customers from other countries might want to return a product they bought from your store. Maybe it didn’t fit, it wasn’t what they expected, or there was something wrong with it. Regardless of the reason, you must be prepared to handle returns from outside your country. If returning something is confusing or too costly, people may be less likely to buy from you again.
It’s important to find the right balance when managing your inventory. You don’t want to run out of items in one country or have too many just sitting in storage somewhere else. Why? Because both situations can cost your business more money.
If you sell more items than you actually have in stock, customers will have to wait longer to receive their orders. On the other hand, having too much stock in one place means you’re paying extra to store products you’re not selling yet.
The good news is, thanks to technology, it’s much easier now to keep an eye on your inventory. You can track your stock levels at any time, from anywhere. This helps you stay organized, avoid problems, and keep your customers satisfied.
Selling your products in other countries can help your business grow. You can reach more people, make more sales, and grow your brand over time. But to do this well, you need more than just putting your products online. You must plan carefully and ensure that everything runs smoothly. That’s where MyFBAPrep can help.
At MyFBAPrep, we help brands manage the logistics of international expansion and more. With deep experience in Amazon-focused fulfillment and as a trusted global 3PL network, we make it easier to launch in new marketplaces, ship faster, and manage inventory across borders.
Get the support you need to expand globally! Connect with our team today!