Business has become global. No longer are you constrained by the borders of your country, Thanks to technology, you can have business partners and stakeholders all across the world, all taking on different roles and responsibilities in the business.
There are various reasons why a business may want to work with an overseas partner, but how do you go about looking for one? Let’s take a look.
Is it attractive to them?
How do you make what you are offering attractive to clients in another country? Although less complex than before, there are more challenges involved when working across different cultures and time zones and language barriers, so you need to ensure that what you are offering is something different to what they can get domestically.
First of all, make sure that you have a website that is accessible and understandable to everyone, not just clients in your country of residence. You also need to be really clear on what it is you are offering and why it is beneficial to them. Is it financial, innovation, expertise or reputation, or something else?
Prepare testimonials and case studies of people who have previously used your service. You need to be able to show the intrinsic value of your business to an overseas client. Case studies or testimonials contribute positively to your proposition. You also need to have assurances in place as to managing any challenges - payments, for example. Fortunately, it is safe and easy to transfer money to Malaysia or any other country these days.
Use existing contacts
Look at what kind of contacts you have in your current country. Are there existing clients that have their own overseas connections that you could take advantage of? Are there any international companies in your country that you could pitch a proposal to? They may not be your clients today, but they may be an introduction for overseas contacts.
Use trade events
Look at using trade events as an avenue into meeting potential clients from overseas. If nothing else, it is a great way to network and make new contacts. There are two ways of approaching it: go as a visitor and look for potential international clients and partners, as well as your competition. You can also go as an exhibitor, and market and advertise your services. Both can be valuable in their own ways.
Ask for help from trade associations
Trade associations and government entities can be very useful both in your own country and abroad. They could be a valuable source of ideas and contacts, as well as giving you advice on legalities and regulations that you must abide by.
Harness the power of social media
Platforms such as LinkedIn are incredibly valuable when searching for overseas contacts. These sites allow you to look at the references of potential business partners as well as their resumes and career experience. A good tip if you are contemplating using social networks to find a business partner is to talk to their references. A professional background is required to build confidence between the two, especially when it comes to building a business that is hundreds or thousands of miles apart.
