MARKETING

Does Your Product Fulfill Your Customer’s Need?

It’s not a Yes or No question. It’s a process whereby you ascertain your position in the market; whether you’re here to deepen customer’s confusion or to spare it and create real value.

It is easy to get stuck in the culture of shiny labels and manipulation. But you need to understand that people have spotted the marketing tricks that encourage them to purchase things that don’t respond to their actual needs. Thereby, many industries have lost people’s trust. Even when your company is worthy of it, unless you truly connect with people, you will be looked at like another misleading advert.

You connect with people based on the value you create with your offer. I mean, it’s all about what’s in it for your customers and why they should trust you. If they do trust you and make the first purchase, what would bring them back?

A simple answer to that is your CVP (customer value proposition). The elaborative one is the following.  

Brand Story (Who are you?)

Before you bring yourself out to the market, you need to clearly identify the identity of your brand and what you stand for. 

Essentially, your brand story starts when you recognize a certain need in the market. You then realize that you have the skill and resources to create a solution that can fit into a product or a service. After your market research, you find out that there are people who are willing to pay for it. 

Still, what kind of personality would you like to project? One side of the answer belongs to you: 

If you want to go about it strategically (much recommended), there are a bunch of methods you can use to find your IKIGAI (the Japanese concept of having a purpose in life and fulfillment). Miguel Serrano, one of our guest speakers at the second edition of the FoodeShow, suggested a strategy that adheres to this concept.

You need to find what you love deep within yourself (passion) and what you’re good at (profession) and see how can that project itself on your mission. Only then, your business will allow you to live your true purpose. 

And the other side of it belongs to your customer.

Customer is the keyword

Things get frustrating but also exciting when it is time to classify the type of customer you’re targeting. It is frustrating because we realize we can’t be the all-in-one brand, at least not yet. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but once you do, you will see that having a focused vision on the relevant customer will benefit you massively and the people you’re here to serve. Instead of attracting people who will not buy from you eventually no matter how appealing your value proposition is, focus on those who will always walk down the aisle looking for you.

When you have a clear image of who your ideal customer is, and you profoundly understand their need, it will be easy for you to craft an offer that is relevant, appealing, and will establish a genuine connection with people. 

What is your offer (CVP)?

Customer Value Proposition (CVP)

What is the value that is going to be delivered and communicated and that customers can expect if they buy into your offer? – Miguel Serrano

A value proposition is the offer and promises you make to the customers. Not a glossy claim on a billboard, it’s rather a clear description of product quality.

Value propositions that set us apart in the business world. And mainly, there are two of them:

  • Deceptive statements: labels that speak of magical results while the real product quality is trash.
  • Real business: clear product stories and brands that adopt a customer-based approach to their value propositions. 

A successful CVP comes from a clear product story. Landing one is not a random task. You either request the help of specialists in the field that use a scientific-based approach to identify the CVP and the hierarchy of elements within it. If you can’t afford that, or you want to know other alternatives available, our guest speaker Miguel Serrano was very generous at breaking down his strategy into clear steps any brand can follow to settle on a precise CVP. 

Coming next on our blog, stay tuned for that!

Multicultural branding for global brands

Whenever you enter a fast-food chain restaurant anywhere in the world, the first impression you get is a strong presence of the host country’s culture. These global brands have marketing and promotions departments working around the clock to cater to multicultural markets’ needs. They always focus on multicultural branding. These strategies can take the form of local menu items or more authentic interior design. This type of branding is all about creating a shared value system with the nations where multinational companies operate. This article looks into the different techniques of Multicultural branding and its impacts.

Local Festivals

The best way to go about is to keep bringing up the local festivals. McDonald’s example will remain persistent throughout this article. McDonald’s UK has exclusive deals and offers when Christmas is around, or when the football season is in the air. The happy meal toys, local menus, and even the uniform of staff change according to festivals.

Local Culture

Similarly, all multinational companies adapt to connect with the local culture. Why would they go through all the trouble? It is because they could not afford to be alienated from the competition. The customer base needs to connect with a company to increase its sales. Global brands are always trying to invade new markets, which is made possible thanks to the multicultural branding. McDonald’s in Pakistan would change the uniform to the traditional dress of Shalwar Qameez in the Eid season. The effort to connect with the local culture pays off well for the global brands to retain the customers.

General Acceptability

The multinational brands must be accepted by the native people of a country where they operate. The multicultural branding raises the acceptability level among the masses. McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in India does not promote beef products, as it does not fit the Indian culture. Alternatively, when operating in Egypt, all doors, display areas, and packaging will be highlighted with the word Halal. It is an acceptable form of meat in the country. Global brands need to make themselves generally acceptable by the population to enhance their market share.

Care for the Community

Global brands are always working towards empowering the youth, local community, or even minorities. They usually run charities within the selected country. They also include words of the local language in their marketing campaigns. These are all efforts to show that the brand is supportive to the residents of the territory. When the global corporates engage with the community, it does not make them a foreigner anymore but a compassionate entity. McDonald’s Corporation sponsors local sports events and leagues to stand alongside the city. They also run educational charities, empowering the disabled, or endowing youth. The care for the community builds customer loyalty, which is excellent for business.

To conclude, Multinational branding is a doorway used by global companies to penetrate new markets and open new business horizons.

The importance of branding for sales

There are many ways to sell a product. The most effective way is to connect with customers’ emotions. Branding helps you build that connection. A customer is always attracted to the brands that share the same values with him or her. Those similar values, which are mutually shared by a brand and its end consumer, make a brand stand out. The emotional connection of shared interest is highlighted by branding.

Beat the Competition

Successful branding is all about creating recognition, sharing a story, forming an identity, and building loyalty. A repeat customer is a satisfied customer. You could have the best product quality, the finest articulation, or the most precise attention to details, but what makes your product stands out is branding. If a product has a better-perceived value than competitors, it sells well. When a company starts focusing on branding for sales, they try to be friends with their customers, better than the competitors are. Think of yourself as a buyer. When you are shopping for perfume, would you just pick any name out of the shelf? Would you choose the brand which is familiar to you and which has an association with you? The same goes for the major portion of end consumers, they prefer products with good branding.

Increase the Market Share

Branding is not about the logo, TV commercials, radio ads, Social Media campaigns, the tag line, or the corporate culture of the company. It is about ALL. Branding has to do with everything mentioned above to help you form a bonding with the consumer. Customer loyalty can be guided. When you start selling your products with clear branding, it provides credibility. A happy customer is a referral. The whole concept is about a vibe that a customer gets from your product. If your branding is focused on customers and not your products, you will increase the market share even in a saturated market. When out shopping, customers will remember your product in the vast aisles of supermarkets.

Softer for new products

Once the road works are completed through solid branding, you can launch new products with a lot of ease. Branding helps you in all the future endeavors of your company. Increasing product lines is crucial for the enhancement of sales. Once the branding process is effectively put in place, the newly introduced products will have to just follow the same pattern. The strategy for the move forward is laid down crystal clear. Thus, branding is vital for sales in one way or another.

Indulgent for Investors

Organizations are always in need of fresh investments to grow sales. Branding is all about creating a rapport for your enterprise. It provides you with a unique identity that is recognized by both customers, investors, and employees. The strong media presence and press appearances establish the position of a thought leader. By investing in its brand strategy, the company’s odds of securing funding go up significantly. Finally, it is not only about selecting catchy colors for your product; branding is the face of your company. It guides what people should feel about your organization and consequently increasing sales.

Differentiation factors of the product internationally

Every business dreams of a Competitive edge! 

R&D works around the clock to differentiate its product from its competitors. When you are exporting and penetrating markets worldwide, it is a different ball game. It is crucial to distinguish your product on a shelf from related merchandise. If you want to gain exponential sales, the best way to go about is to identify the differentiation factors of the product. This understanding will help you trade effectively in the international markets.

Table of Contents

Product differentiation adds value to the business; it is the reason why your consumers will choose you over your competitors. The most acute factors that play a role while differentiating your product are listed below:

 

Unique merits

Every business needs a core competency, and similarly, all products need exclusive qualities. When you advertise your product, you ought to focus on the particular uniqueness of your merch. It could be a special ingredient, health benefit, organic nature, taste, durability, or design. If you have no unique advantage over your competitors after careful evaluation, you need to market it differently. Your service or after-sale services can play a critical role in international markets.

 

Origin

You can differentiate your business in the offshore markets by advertising the origin of the product. For example, if you are selling fruits, stressing on where they were produced, how those farms rank number one in the world, etc. People in the international marketplace love purchasing things from different origins; it gives them a sense of association. Especially if you have many immigrants in that targeted country from your home nation, they will be the first ones to buy. Everyone loves buying pasta that was made in Italy.

Price

Price is a critical differentiator factor of the product in the global markets. China plays big on this merit because they usually have economies of scale, and their production costs are economical. They always try to bid a price that is even cheaper than the locally produced merchandise of that country. Pricing below the generally accepted norm will make your product different. For that, you need to understand all the price points in place. Your research on the price trends will matter a lot when setting up your price in that demography.

 

 

Types

The most crucial differentiation factor for a product is knowing which type of differentiating you are encountering. There are three main kinds of the discussed topic. The horizontal level is when your quality and price are equal to the competition, and you need to differentiate by positioning your brand in the consumer’s mind based on their class. The other type, Vertical differentiation, is when your competitors have different prices, and you score your product with a brand name. The simple distinction, the third type, is where you have a horizontal level of rates and scope. Still, you market your products targeted on relationships or manufacturing standards. Once you fathom the types, you will know what you are going into.

Facebook Twitter Youtube

How to choose your distribution channel for export

Way to go, if you are already an exporter or aspiring to become one! Choosing the distribution channel could be a difficult decision, and it may not guarantee growth in your business. How to decide which distribution channel is the right fit for your export business is technical.

Table of Contents

There are numerous distribution channels for export business. You could be directly exporting, which means you approach your buyer viz a viz and close a deal to start your business proceedings. Many companies prefer dealing with the manufacturer or a supplier directly. Alternatively, you could choose the option of E-commerce. It is a simple way of approaching your potential buyers, and digital marketing is the best tool. If you don’t have a background in IT, freelance digital marketing experts could solve your problem. This service would help promote your product in the destined country. Alternatively, you could use the old-fashioned way of hiring an intermediary, a commission agent, who would contact the buyer and secure a deal for you. It is essential to consider all the options and come up with the best strategy. We will simplify the process for you.

 

 

Competitors

Firstly, you need to analyze the distribution channels of your competitors. People who are in the same business as you, and maybe more experienced, have a selected distribution channel. You must assess the effectiveness of that channel; evaluate the outcome and the experience. After the evaluation, you need to decide what’s best for your business and your clients. It is also important to note here that you do not blindly copy what your competitors are doing. The point we are making here is that you do your due diligence of research and analysis. The onus is on you to decide whether to go with the same channel or choose a similar one.

 

 

Cost

You need to consider the cost factor when deciding the distribution channel. If Indirect Exporting is proving expensive for you, you can always start approaching the clients with your efforts while remaining ethical. You cannot merely steal your commission agent’s client as it does not seem noble. However, if the client approaches you or you start using the Direct Export Channel, it might prove more beneficial for your business. Thus, the related costs to a distribution channel are the deciding factor.

 

Strategy

Once you are in the process of choosing which distribution channel is the go-to for your export business, it is best to create a strategic road map first. Here you will line out everything from start to end of the trading process. You could also judge from different options of E-commerce or direct/indirect selling, and rank the selections accordingly. Plan your progress with the help of advance-planning. You could also hire the services of an export consultant to rate your different plans. Still, the efficient way is to run a virtual analysis either by you or by an expert.

 

 

Change the channel

If your current network is not working out well for you, choose another. It is essential to keep assessing your business strategies and evolving with time. If your selected distribution channel for exports is not cost-effective or the results are not satisfactory, you could add another distribution-channel. Online marketing, for instance, could be added to your current choice. Alternatively, you could change the export channel altogether. After all, this is your business. You will always need to choose what’s looking best for your profits and customers.

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Three actions to maintain your position in international markets

A research conducted by Sandhya Keelery suggests that Indian Agribusiness has seen a burgeoning rise in recent years and foresaw a 350 billion USD business in 2022. Gone are the days when only farming was considered the Agricultural industry. In today’s world, Chemicals, Crop distribution, Machinery, Seeding, Retail sales and many more domains are all part of international exchanges.  

Do you wish to expand your consumer base?  You need to execute an efficient global strategy to achieve a higher amount of business and, consequently, maximizing your profit ratio. We have listed what international strategy to adopt for your business below:

Table of Contents

International Events

Seminars and Exhibitions take place throughout the year. Therefore, companies have to participate in it to maintain their visibility, contact with potential clients and their knowledge of the market. These dealings are crucial for establishing connections and build relations. The relationship you create with vendors, buyers, even competitors in those meetings, will scale up your business in the international market. The conferences also provide you with a chance to display your products as well. Seeds distribution, for example, is promoted with a display counter showcasing your products in the symposia. You get to attend sessions with consultants and enrol in training workshops as well. The atmosphere broadens your horizons and makes you think out of the box. The build-up to your company’s profile can play a significant role in your quest.

After-Sale Services:

You could have all the technological advancements in your pocket, the best organic techniques in your resume, but it could all go wasted. You need to retain your customers! Your buyers need to keep coming back for your products, and the best way to ensure the retention of your clients is After-Sale Services. The problem with selling internationally is that you are mostly dealing through online communication means, and the handling of customer complaints is not efficient. You could set up and offshore call center, or invest in a local presence, be it through the office or a service center. If you are dealing with Agri-Machinery, and your client faces a mechanical hazard, your prompt service will ensure the customer will find you again.

Data:

Information is the secret ingredient. Developed countries’ individuals need transparency and access to information. When you are marketing your product or selling it, you need to provide all the required information. If your business is food-related, you need to let out the info about calories, vitamins, minerals, expiration, and origin, etc. Furthermore, you must maintain data of your current clients or potential customers. You can do this by creating an Email Subscription list,  Telesales, and Memberships. Your record should contain the contact information, customer profile, purchase history with you. Harness the data and use it for introducing a new product or upselling your real commodity.

All in all, keeping your foot on Data, Services, and showcasing through the professional channel will make all your dreams come to life.

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Export marketing strategies for a developing country

Table of Contents

According to WTO, there are more than 150 developing countries on the world’s map. It means, in no way, those nations are not talented. If you look closely, most of these countries are full of natural resources, and a few have less corruption too. What makes an excellent Export marketing strategy for emerging nation-states. One needs to distribute the products of a rising state, to the countries with the most celebrated purchasing power. If your country can mark itself in the big-game, the sky will be the limit. Many republics have their go at Exports but fail miserably. We have come up with strategies with proven track records that can mushroom the trade channels. Imagine the employment and prosperity it could bring if served right.

 

Positioning

Consider your country as a brand, what position does it have in the minds of other countries, and how could you make it trustworthy? These are the questions you need first to ask yourself. People have stereotypes and glass ceilings for particular countries, and it is harmful to the export business. If we can rectify the positioning in the minds of consumers, it will be a win-win situation. Kenya, for example, branded itself as a Tea Growing country and promised the best quality of Tea out there. They saw their potential in the Tea industry and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. This leap of faith has turned into a billion-dollar industry for the Kenyan Republic.

 

Friendly Laws

Traders and Investors are afraid to develop business relations with particular countries due to their rigid laws. If you want your developing country to see it to the other side of rainbows of trade business, your Rules & Regulations should be as friendly as possible. Your state could flourish if the investors feel safe and have a comfortable working environment. If we take Bangladesh’s example, a few years ago, their lawmakers made it a business-friendly country. Other countries’ nationals from all walks of life, bet on that and shifted their units to Bangladeshi cities. It has become the South-Asian tiger in terms of economic growth. Would you believe if I told you, Bangladesh is to be more abundant than India by 2030?

 

Quality Assurance

If your country as a whole can ensure the product’s quality, it is destined to blossom! Take Chile’s example; they did not compromise on their condition. Slowly and steadily, their products positioned as the best quality when it came to their fruits. They were out and about and came back with a bang. Thus, their food exports marked 25% of its overall exports, and the country saw a blissful future in it.

 

The point we tried to make is, every developed nation was once under-developed. If you can focus on the right strategies, your country can top the next list to be published by an international institution. India has applied diverse yet impeccable strategies to its export industry. Indian exporters rank number one in the export niche of Mangoes. Their Services exports are enormous and bringing impressive foreign income to the country. The world is at your arm’s length; you just need to make the right start.

 

Sources:

Facebook Twitter Youtube

How digital marketing can help food brands to expand internationally

Sure, there are ways you try to start with extensive marketing campaigns to expand your food brands internationally. And yeah, the advertisements on international TV channels, food magazines, and billboards are great for your brand. But is it enough?

 

There are 3 billion social media users in today’s world, and 60% of the population [reference] has turned digital. The rich have a particular selection of brands, which is not changed easily. The poor have a scarcity of resources to purchase efficiently. Hence the most favorable segment to promote your products is to focus on the middle class and the keywords that they use. The middle class is rapidly expanding around the globe. Since the inflation rate is not coming down, the riches are limited, and the poor have evolved to the middle-class. A person who searches on the web for food brands, cooking channels or eat-outs, will always receive notification about the related food brands.

Table of Contents

Imagine the data, which is stored as cookies to interpret the individual mindset, and how it could be used to market one’s products online. You would know before promoting your product that you are getting the right audience. This is a universe of digital marketing, based on keywords and the trends. Some people call it internet marketing too. Digital marketing is widely known as the marketing type that uses computers, cell phones, and other electronic platforms. Search engines and other channels store customer’s preferences and online behavior, a digital marketer, will focus on those individual trends and promote the product accordingly.

 

There are several methods of how Digital Marketing can help your food brand to expand internationally. You should use all of those methods, preferably to brand your product digitally in an effective manner. Below, a brief explanation of how digital marketing can ring true for food brands going global.

 

 

 

A blog for your food brand:

A food product needs to be seen out there in the digital world, and blogging about your brand is the best way about it. Blogs generally attract organic traffic fed into your website and ensure the digital success of your food brand. You could write about spreading awareness, particular minerals used in your product, the health merits of your products, etc. The blogging technique is extremely efficient for expanding your food brand on an international scale.

 

 

Online Ads:

You should also use Facebook ads or google ads to bring relevant traffic to your blog posts. You ought to have focus keywords for each blog to attract organic visitors. You could create a short ad, and Google Adsense or Facebook marketing will help display that to the target audience. Also, promote your events on social media. You can run those online ads yourself, or the freelancing websites have a plethora of options for you.

 

 

Influencer Marketing:

YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook have popular food influencers, you can use them to promote your food products at quite cheaper rates than TV Celebrity ads. These techniques are how you use digital marketing to promote your food brand worldwide.

Facebook Twitter Youtube
Scroll to top
×

How can we help you?

if you have any questions please don't hesitate to text us.

×