| |
| Making the decision to export |
1. What does ‘exporting’ services mean?
2. Why should my service firm export?
3. What are the advantages to be gained from exporting my services?
4. What challenges do I face in exporting my services?
5. How do I reduce the risks associated with exporting services?
6. How do I find out whether my service will be competitive abroad?
7. What do I need in order to export successfully?
8. How do i decide when the time is right to start exporting?
9. What are the most common mistakes made by service exporters?
10. How do I assess my firm’s potential for export success?
|
| |
| Preparing to export |
11. What are the typical steps in developing an export strategy for services?
12. Why do I need an export strategy?
13. How can I build credibility abroad as a service provider?
14. How can I obtain export-related experience?
15. How do I contact firms that are successful exporters?
16. How long must I wait before I can expect to see a profit?
17. How can my firm best finance its export market development?
18. How do I use the Internet to assist my export initiative?
19. How should my firm plan its transition to e-trade?
20. How should my firm prepare to export?
21. What domestic market development strategies will also work abroad?
22. Who in my firm needs to support the export plan?
|
| Choosing your market |
23. What makes an export market attractive for my service?
24. Which type of market should I consider?
25. How will I know if my service will sell in a particular market?
26. How can my firm get the most from market research interviews?
27. Where can I find market information?
28. How do I obtain information on a particular market?
29. Where do I find information on market entry restrictions?
30. Where do I find information on industry standards and regulations for my service industry in a particular market?
31. How do I find out who my competitors are and what they are offering?
|
| |
| Finding your customers |
32. How do I develop a reputation within a specific foreign market?
33. How do I find out which trade events would be best for me to attend?
34. How do I prepare for an international trade event?
35. Should I join an industry or trade association in my target market?
36. How do I identify possible customers?
37. How do I get potential customers to notice my new service?
38. What should I do first if I want to bid on government contracts?
39. Where can I find out about international bidding opportunities?
40. How do I find out about the telecommunications infrastructure in my target markets?
|
| |
| Choosing a strategy for exporting services |
41. What is the best way to enter a foreign market?
42. How do I enter a market virtually?
43. How can I maximize my profitability?
44. How can I use existing customers to develop export markets?
45. How can I use my country’s national export strategy to assist my export efforts?
46. When should I work with a local partner?
47. How should I choose a local partner?
48. What are the common problems that arise when working with local partners?
49. How can I make sure that my local partnership will be effective?
|
| |
| Cultural considerations |
50. Why do cultural differences matter in exporting my service?
51. How do cultures differ?
52. What are the main differences in business practices from country to country?
53. Where can I find information on business practices and etiquette in particular markets?
54. What are the implications of culture for the design of my service delivery?
55. How do I customize my services for a particular market?
56. Does gender make a difference in doing business abroad?
57. What can I do as a businesswoman to overcome prejudices?
58. In what language should I deliver my service?
59. Will I need an interpreter?
60. How can I work best with an interpreter?
61. What are the main cultural errors committed in the provision of services abroad?
|
| |
| Promotional materials |
62. What kinds of promotional materials will I need?
63. What should my promotional materials contain?
64. What are the characteristics of a user-friendly website?
65. What information do I need on my business card?
66. Are my promotional materials of an appropriate quality?
67. Do I need to have my promotional materials translated?
|
| |
| Quality assurance |
68. What quality factors matter to customers abroad?
69. What quality standards are relevant to services exporting?
70. What is ‘quality’ in services?
71. Will a small and medium-sized firm be able to implement ISO 9001:2000?
72. What is ISO 9000:2000?
73. What is an environmental management system and what is ISO 14000?
74. How do I decide whether I should be registered to ISO 9001?
75. How does one get registered to ISO 9000?
76. Where can I find more information on quality standards relevant to my industry?
77. What are the benefits of registration to ISO 9000?
78. What are the costs of ISO 9000 certification?
|
| |
| Pricing your service |
79. How do I set a price for my service in a foreign market?
80. What are the most common pricing mistakes?
81. What should you do about an online request for bids?
82. How important a variable is price in the customer’s purchase decision?
83. How do I find out what my competitors are charging their services?
84. How do I negotiate a price for my service?
|
| |
| Financing and getting paid |
85. What terms should be specified in my contract to make sure I get paid?
86. What terms of payment should I insist on?
87. How do I arrange for a wire transfer or direct deposit?
88. How do I encourage my bank to be supportive of my business?
89. What type of insurance should I consider for my business?
90. How do I manage foreign exchange risk?
91. How do I assess my customer’s ability to pay?
92. What should I do if my customer fails to pay?
|
| |
| Temporary market entry |
93. Under what conditions can I travel freely to other markets?
94. How do I find out about restrictions on foreign travel to specific markets?
95. How do I make my border crossings as easy as possible?
96. How do I find out about public holidays in my target market?
97. What safety precautions should I take when travelling abroad?
|
| |
| WTO and GATS |
98. What is the World Trade Organization?
99. What is the General Agreement on Trade in Services?
100. How does GATS and the WTO Agreement as a whole help me as an exporter of services?
101. Where can I get information on liberalization commitments in my service sector?
102. What should I do if I think that my exports of services are being unfairly blocked in foreign markets?
|
| |