Strategies for International Marketing

Understanding Strategies for International Marketing

  • International marketing strategies relate to the methods businesses adopt to penetrate the global market while considering the diverse cultural, political, and economic factors.
  • Market entry strategies refer to how a business enters a foreign market. Can include export, licensing or franchising, joint ventures, and establishing a wholly owned subsidiary.
  • The standardisation versus adaptation decision concerns whether a business markets its product/service in the same way globally (standardisation) or adjusts its product/service to suit individual markets (adaptation).

Key Concepts in International Marketing Strategies

  • Exporting involves selling domestically produced products in foreign markets. It is often the first stage of international expansion and allows a business to test the viability of their product in the international market.
  • Licensing allows a business to provide the rights to its intellectual property (like patents, trademarks, technological systems) to a foreign company.
  • Franchising offers businesses the chance to rapidly expand overseas by granting entrepreneurs in foreign markets the right to use their business model and brand.
  • A joint venture involves a partnership between a domestic firm and a foreign firm, combining resources and risk. A new company is created, which both parties own and control.
  • A wholly owned subsidiary means a business has 100% ownership and control over operations in the foreign market. This means all potential profit belongs to the business, but it also entails higher risk compared to other strategies.

Marketing Mix in International Marketing

  • Product strategies can vary between the standardisation of products for all markets or adaptation to suit the different needs of global consumers.
  • Pricing strategies in international marketing can be complex due to factors such as transportation costs, import duties and taxes, exchange rates, and diverse competitor activities.
  • Place strategies relate to distribution channels, which might change in different markets due to varying infrastructure and consumer habits.
  • Promotion strategies should take into account varying cultural norms, language, and tastes. What is effective in one market may not be so in another.

Factors Influencing International Marketing Strategies

  • Cultural differences can impact consumer behaviour, negotiation styles, and communication styles, which can significantly affect marketing strategies.
  • Market attractiveness such as market size, growth rate, and competitive intensity is crucial in developing international marketing strategies.
  • Legal and political environments can greatly influence the marketing strategies due to regulations, policies, and political stability.
  • Economic factors like income levels, exchange rates, and economic stability also play an integral role in shaping international marketing strategies.