I am not going to advocate that we all try to take our small home-based businesses to an international level. I am, however, going to suggest that by thinking of ourselves as part of a world-wide or global economy, we might be better able to plan and steer our home-based businesses to success.
Gone are the days of the small cottage industry that only does business with customers within a 20-mile radius. Many of us may “look” like a traditional tiny home-based business, but our customers and clients are all over the world. We may even find that we are competing with other businesses in our market that exist in geographical places we didn’t even know existed. In order to be able to be successful in the 21st century, we need to think of ourselves and our businesses as part of that larger, global economy.
I think the first step is really to just be open to this reality. Once you open your mind to the possibility that your customers can come from anywhere, you start to view your marketing in a whole new light. Thinking globally actually allows us to figure out how to “target” our marketing better. Instead of hoping to glean customers from a whole hodge podge of neighbors and community-members, we can figure out exactly what sort of person is likely to buy our product and service and use 21st century marketing to reach out to those individuals.
Consider also the means to a global business–chances are you already have those means right at your fingertips–the internet, computer, fax machine, telephone. With these everyday business items, you can start to make contact with folks all over the world as easily as you might someone down the street.
Think globally, and watch the business possibilities virtually expand.
Also: Understanding Visibility for Your Business
Mastering the International FAX
Are You Avoiding Going High-Tech?