International Business and Technology Blog

The social media online phenomenon now has  unparalleled scale, wherein billions of netizens communicate and much, much more mullah (dollars, euros, renminbi, yen, pounds, …) is transacted. And know this, those numbers are only going one way and that is up.

Social media, that is websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking, is at least an oversized noisy teenager not to ignore or more probably a robust mid-twenties adult to engage fully with. Either way, every business must now know that you ignore social media at your peril.

Successful companies are using social media channels to engage with their target business and consumer audiences and collecting serious money. Just look at the top 100 companies in the Fortune Global ranking: 93% have Facebook pages (updated weekly), 79% have a YouTube channel (average 2 million views of their corporate content) and a Twitter profile. How is your business doing?

Many customers ask us: Why do you use ExpressionEngine? Can't you build a WordPress website for us?

WordPress is enjoying a huge popularity today, but it’s ExpressionEngine that gets web developers and designers really excited. ExpressionEngine is IBT Online’s Content Management System of preference, because it’s extremely robust, secure, easy to use, offers endless flexibility that is required to address customers’ most demanding requests, and thanks to the Transcribe add-on by EEHarbor, is great to manage multilingual content. You don’t have to limit your imagination and your requirements… be bold and give your company a tool to properly express and represent yourselves!

Finding and nurturing international distributors

Bulman Products is a 100-year old privately owned manufacturer that relies on a dense distributor network to sell its quality rolled paper cutters and dispensers. This means that getting the right distributor is key. But new distributors need to be constantly recruited to feed the group’s international expansion and all of them need marketing support. This is not easy across multiple industries and across many countries.

A global business challenge

Kasco’s challenge was how to support an international distributor network. As a recognized global supplier of pond aerators, fountains and de-icing equipment, Kasco has over 30 distributors across the world and is committed to supplying them with great marketing material as well as helping them generate new leads. In its home USA market, the company uses its website to support its domestic sales reps and to showcase its know-how. Management knew that an online solution was the best way to grow their global business cost effectively but how to do it?

Ecommerce customers – whether businesses or private consumers – want a wide choice of products, delivery times and methods, low transport costs and hassle-free returns. These three magic ingredients: choice, low transport costs and easy returns, are not always simple, especially in Europe with its 24 official languages, EU and non-EU legislation and other complexities. Ecommerce in Europe looks a whole lot harder than in the USA. Is it worth it? A growing number of companies think so, encouraged by continuing strong demand. Ecommerce in Germany, for example, topped €52 billion in 2016 and is set for more double-digit growth in 2017.

AMSOIL take control of their global online presence. AMSOIL is justifiably proud of its reputation amongst ‘gearheads’ for the quality of its synthetic motor oils, fuel additives and lubricants. As one of the few independently owned oil companies, AMSOIL recognizes the value of its brand and uses its website and social media for both B2B and B2C to manage their brand and intellectual property. Management were therefore particularly concerned with many of their export markets where they found their brand could be misrepresented.

Reviewing online options

Management at All World Machinery Supply (AWM) knew it was time to update their website. Besides being unable to showcase all their product lines, the home website wasn’t even mobile-enabled: a must in today’s multi-platform business world. The company is also growing  internationally and wanted to reflect their expanding global presence.

Check out our IBT Online brand evolution. The IBT success story began in 2002, when we were delivering first class international business development services, helping hundreds of small and medium sized companies to expand globally. Since that time, the digital disruption has transformed the traditional exporting and global business development rulebook. Today, global sustainable sales, brand and business success is impossible without a strong online component. 

At IBT Online, our focused and core strategy for tomorrow is clear: to create value for our corporate clients by deploying innovative online technologies, website localization and international online marketing services, that deliver measurable growth in global sales, brands and businesses.

The State International Development Organizations, Inc. (SIDO) is the premiere U.S. organization dedicated to supporting state international trade agencies, whose mission statement states “SIDO provides state trade promotion professionals with a forum for collaboration and sharing best practices as well as advocates for states’ international trade development issues so that U.S. companies remain globally competitive”.

SIDO recognized IBT Online with the “Champion of Trade” Award for its successful Online Global program, working directly with small to medium-sized exporters, helping them grow their sales, brands and businesses globally. The award was presented to John Worthington, IBT Online CEO, by Manny Mencia, SIDO President, (Manny is also SVP International Trade and Development at Enterprise Florida, the public-private partnership between Florida’s business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida) at the annual SIDO Best Practices and Training Forum in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Website globalization is now recommended by ExporTech. Website globalization means fully customized and localized websites that deliver sales, brand and business growth in far flung markets around the globe. ExporTech is the US national export assistance program that helps companies enter and expand in global markets. ExporTech, recognizes that the digital disruption has transformed exporting and international business.

In today’s online world it is essential to include website globalization in export strategy, alongside planning, education, training, trade fairs and other export supporting programs. US Chambers of Commerce have long recognized that Corporate America’s #1 marketing and sales tool is their online presence and nowhere more so than when going international. As part of the Exportech range of programs, website globalization will now “help participating companies go-to-market and implement their export growth plans”.