Globig provides a lot of advice on best practices and step-by-step guidance on what to do in a market but we wanted to share some tips and advice from entrepreneurs like you who’ve been doing business internationally for years and have made mistakes along the way. Welcome to our ‘Global What Not To Do’ series – aka #WNTD.
#WNTD tips from Tom Virden, Founder and CEO Nymbl Science, Angel Investor, Startup Mentor
1. Don’t discuss business during lunch (or dinner) in France, until the dessert or coffee courses (unless they start the discussion). Food is to be enjoyed and not mixed with business.
2. Belgians and Dutch are very different cultures – a single Benelux office is bound to have problems. Lumping people together from different countries can be seen as insulting.
3. Don’t assume Brits, because they speak English like Americans (kind of), think and act the same as Americans. The two cultures are significantly different. Be very aware of the use of irony and sarcasm by the Brits, they are very skilled in these areas. Take them literally at your own risk.
#WNTD tips from Jenny Tannenbaum, Digital Marketing Manager, Lingo Live
4. Be careful when sending pricing quotes or invoicing in a client’s local currency if you have costs in your own currency. You never know how quickly the exchange rate can change.
5. Brazilians prefer in person meetings to phone calls whenever possible.
#WNTD tips from Anke Corbin, Founder and CEO of Globig, Startup Mentor
6. When marketing in Germany, don’t assume your prospects use social media for business. Unless you have a PHD or are a renown expert in a field, Germans will question influencer marketing, are resistant to sharing their opinions in public via social media, and social media is typically reserved for personal use.
7. Your local bank is often not the best place for currency exchanges and to pay international vendors. You’ll pay much more in hidden exchange fees.
8. When opening an office in the EU, make sure you have a pool of skilled people to hire from in that area because most people won’t move away from their home town and family. You won’t be able to recruit from neighboring countries and cities the way you can in the US.
Do you have a story or tip to share on what you’ve learned while taking your business into global markets? Send your Global #WNTD to editor@globig.co and share these tips on social media.
