International Business and Technology Blog

China has one of the most unique online environments in the world.  Think of China as an enclosed and isolated island in the internet world, and this is due to their gradually tightened firewall.  

Platforms you will be familiar with such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn are all blocked in China. To succeed in this unique market you will need to adapt to their local equivalents such as Baidu, Weibo, WeChat, Youku, Tencent etc., and build a bespoke digital strategy before entering.  

In this blog we’ll be focusing on how you can leverage this unique and fascinating digital landscape to your advantage, as well as the main challenges faced by exporters when growing your business in China.

With a young, digitally savvy population, a stable political system, a commitment to sustainable growth, and a very strong manufacturing sector, it's no surprise that Vietnam has become a key target market for U.S. Exporters! 

With more mobile connections than people, Vietnam is an exciting, highly mobile market! So, how can exporters ensure they are found, understood, and easy to do business with in such a busy and ever-moving marketplace? Get online and launch your localized websites! 

Use online tools to your advantage to be found, understood, and boost your business in Vietnam. 

February 9, 2022

IBT ONLINE LLC RECEIVES North Carolina Governor's Export Service Provider Award

IBT Online is proud to announce that we have been presented with the North Carolina Governor's Export Service Provider Award for 2021. 

We can all agree that having a strong online presence is key if you wish to be successful in today’s competitive international marketplace. But what factors should you consider when deciding which URL structure to use, to facilitate a strong online presence for your business? 

Multiple languages, multiple countries, and sometimes multiple languages within the same country can make international Search Engine Optimization (SEO) a daunting process. But don’t worry, in this blog we’ll review different options regarding URL structure, discuss their advantages (and disadvantages), and important considerations when taking your website internationally.

Germany is the largest economy in Europe, the fourth largest in the world, and among the top 3 exporters of the world. It is also a massive importer. The powerhouse of Europe, Germany is a priority destination for many exporters. German consumers and businesses are wary of the internet but are nonetheless ardent users, with 90% internet take-up. Ready to do business with US companies, Germans look to the internet for information before buying. Make sure your business is credible to your German prospects: get online, get localized websites! 

Use online tools to your advantage to be found, understood, and transact your business in Germany. 

October 21, 2020 (update November 5, 2021)

IBT ONLINE LLC RECEIVES PRESIDENTIAL "E" AWARD FOR EXPORT SERVICE

HubSpot’s INBOUND2021 was yet again a great opportunity to learn, connect and sit back and think about how the world (digital and not) is changing.

As a marketer, one of the main takeaways from a number of the sessions I had the pleasure to attend and engage with was the accelerated changes in B2B marketing trends.

Historically, B2B marketing has always been perceived as, literally, “Business to Business” hence pushing messages heavily focused on hard metrics like ROI, profitability, and sales.

Well, the way businesses thrive has not changed and these metrics continue to be what drives the bottom line, but what has become more apparent is that the way we convey our messages must change.

The unique Japanese online environment is difficult to enter but can be extremely rewarding when you are equipped with a localized website and best-practice marketing strategy.

Japan is well known by US Exporters for its large, strong economy – 3^rd largest in the world, and a powerhouse for both import and export. But it is also well known for how difficult it can be to enter!

A less known fact perhaps is how plugged in Japan is, with over 92% of their 127 million population using the internet on regular basis. 

IBT Online has a proven track record of supporting US Exporters to leverage their #1 business development tool - (no, not your sales team) – your website, to be found, be understood, and become easy to do business with in Japan.

With one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world, Japan is very connected and extremely mobile. To ensure your business can not only be found, but that your content can be easily understood by your prospects, you need a localized website.

Taking the title of 'largest country in the World', Russia has a rather minute population at only about 144 million. But don't let this fool you - Russia is a powerhouse and represents the 11th most powerful economy in the world, which makes it a very interesting market for U.S. Exporters! 

But how can you enter this vast, yet condensed market? 

Use online tools to your advantage to be found, understood, and grow your exports in Russia!

Having an optimally localized online presence is key, but don’t stop there! Understanding how your prospects, customers, and why not competitors behave on your website will give you the edge you need to continue growing your exports, sales, brand, and business globally.

Google Analytics is a free, yet fantastic analytics tool that gives you an extremely in-depth look into your Online Global websites' performance and how to leverage it.

Google Analytics is essential for your website as it will allow you to understand whom you are reaching, how they find you, and how they behave and navigate your pages. Having this information at hand will allow you to make strategic decisions for the future and therefore get better results from your website performance.

Having an optimally localized website for each target market helps you be found and be understood but having a clear understanding of the websites’ performance will give you the edge over your competitors.