Every entrepreneur depends on reliable and lasting business contacts that can be used in future partnerships. But although you can have great contacts on the domestic market, making first contacts on the international market is a kind of starting with an empty basket. If running your own business, you certainly know how important it is to find this first strategic customer. So how do you start? Where to look for valuable international contacts?
Participate in conferences
Or on fairs or other kind of industry events! It’s a great way to expand your network of contacts. Many of them are attended by companies operating on the international market. It is worth paying attention to the International Business Contact Forum. You surly familiar with many conferences strictly covering your industry and you participate in them. Maybe similar events take place abroad and it is worth going on such a business trip? In case of such events, it is worth reaching out for the list of guests, speakers or exhibitors. Why? You will be able to find out if there are people and companies valuable to you.
Take advantage of the power of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a very good tool for finding business partners and many entrepreneurs have established excellent collaborations in this way. Nothing stands in the way of establishing also international contacts through similar method. Depending on your industry branch and its needs, do search for suitable distributors, partners, investors or contractors operating on the international market and try to establish a business relationship. Think about the goals you want to achieve, what you have to offer and act!
Use friends
Each of us know the importance of contacts in the business world. Maybe your current client or business partner has the appropriate contacts on the international market and can enable you to establish new collaboration? It is always worth taking advantage of such an opportunity!
Establishing the first foreign business contacts may turn out to be a bit more difficult than just searching for them in your home country, however it is quite similar to the process of reaching out to potential business partners. You just have to look at everything from a larger perspective.
However, keep in mind that regardless of whether you are reaching out to contacts on the domestic or on the international market, you must have a good portfolio, interesting website and something good to offer, in order for the counterparty to be willing to cooperate with you. And if you pursue a fruitful relationship with a specific entrepreneur, it’s worth spending some time getting the information you need about him/her. Get to know each other well at the very beginning of your relationship!