Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business: FREE!

Provided you have access to the Internet, now the whole world can learn the fundamentals to exporting.  I've released my book, "Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business" for 100% FREE readership over at Google Books (thank you Google!).  It took a couple of weeks to get it processed but it's finally live.

This is a perfect time to dig in and learn everything there is know about how to export since President Obama has put such a big push behind this expansion mode for SMBs.  Read our previous posts covering the National Export Initiative here and here.

I am currently working on the next level digital aspect to exporting for entrepreneurs and small businesses (e.g., how to leverage websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter to take your business global along with how best to digitally sell and collect payment from overseas customers) which will serve as a nice complement to "Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business."  Watch for that release soon but in the meantime, I highly recommend that you read "Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business" first to truly understand the basics of what it takes to go global.

Enjoy.  And if you like it, all I ask is that you write a review.  I'd welcome hearing from you especially if my book helps you take the first step toward making the world your business.  Many thanks.  Happy exporting!

Note:  "Start and Run a Profitable Exporting Business" will be featured permanently on The Global Small Business Blog in the lower right hand corner for easy access.

Posted by:  Laurel J. Delaney, The Global Small Business Blog

Start Rowing

“Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat.” ~ Jean-Paul Sartre

Enjoy your weekend.

Photo credit: Laurel J. Delaney, President, GlobeTrade.com

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Be Open to Possibilities in Our World

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo credit: Laurel J. Delaney (Chicago skyline extraordinaire -- current weather here)

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Truth or Dare to Be Innovatively Global?

My latest contribution (via Small Business Trends) over at the American Express OPEN Forum.

6 Ways to Be iNNOVATIVELY Global

Foreign market entry does not always require a major investment. If you follow these six tips, overseas business will be at your doorstep in no time at all.

Read the entire article here. If you like it, chirp a bit or (re)Tweet it.

Photo credit: Madonna, the queen of global pop is shown in her movie "Truth or Dare."

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

What High Achievers Do: Go Global

We are delighted to reconnect with one of our favorite entrepreneurs/journalists/editors, Rieva Lesonsky, over at GrowBizMedia on a fantastic article she wrote for Success Magazine June 2010 (front cover as shown above):

Taking Your Business Global
A world of opportunities awaits business owners seeking to sell or source products overseas.

Many thanks to Rieva and her brilliant team for including us in this article and for getting the message across on how important going global is to small businesses.

As Rieva says:

... proof that even the smallest business can take advantage of expanding opportunities in global trade.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Go Global Or Your Business Will Die

Why do I feel like the whole world is catching up to us on the importance of entrepreneurs and small businesses taking their business global?

Take this special report on America's economy entitled, "Export or Die," published by The Economist (3/31/10). It drives home the point that with demand dwindling or in some instances totally disappearing on a local level, American firms are looking abroad to grow their business.

A quick snippet from the report:

More American companies will have to look abroad. They are the least likely to export out of 15 big economies, according to the National Association of Manufacturers, a trade group. Matthew Slaughter of Dartmouth College notes that only 4% of all American firms and 15% of American manufacturers do any exporting at all. And 80% of America’s total trade is conducted by just 1% of firms that export or import. This does not mean there is something wrong with American firms.

Let me take you back in time (2004), when I wrote a manifesto for ChangeThis.com -- that has been read more than 16,000 times by folks interested in international trade -- called "Global Guru: Shaking Things Up. Making Things Happen." One of my key quotes within it was:

"In the future, there will be two kinds of enterprises: those that go global and those that die." ~ Laurel Delaney

And then we went on to be interviewed May, 2006 for a feature in Business Strategies Magazine called, "Go Global or Die: Propelling Your Business into the Global Marketplace." This was an exciting moment because that particular edition had a smiling Thomas Friedman on the front cover (the most happening guy on the planet at the time due to his book "The World is Flat"). We were honored to be in such good company!

Once again I pose this question to everyone: Think we're on to something when it comes to taking a business global?

Anyway, let's get back to what we started with, The Economist's fresh, new piece: "Export or Die." Have a look.

It seems that going global is no longer an option but a necessity in our new world of business. Think we're wrong?

We feel so impassioned about this that we are launching a new online gift accessory store which will educate and empower small businesses to expand internationally. Watch for more news shortly but if you want to take a peek (work in progress): The Global Small Business Depot.

Chart credits: ISI Group and Economist Intelligence Unit

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Invent the Future Through Innovation

Disruptive innovators are everywhere. Are you one of them?

It takes technology to spread good ideas and make innovating easy. For ideas on how to get started, take a look at my latest contribution over at the American Express OPEN Forum, "Make a Date to Innovate."

If you want to be a fast innovator, don’t wait for it to happen, make it happen by making a date with innovation. That way, you can drive growth within your organization and continue inventing the future.

TechTip2U Powered by: Verio

1,000 Posts at The Global Small Business Blog

Since July 20, 2004, we have posted more than 1,000 times at The Global Small Business Blog (http://borderbuster.blogpost.com). We hope you will follow us for another 1,000 posts! Many thanks.

And here's an article indicating global data continues to reinforce the idea that the world business cycle has bottomed and that growth is starting to advance.

Illustration source: here.

Happy Chinese New Year of the Tiger

May the Year of the Tiger bring you good health, much happiness and great prosperity.

Posted by: Laurel Delaney, The Global Small Business Blog

Learn Global Business Etiquette

If you are in the process of expanding abroad, avoid cultural gaffes by learning local business etiquette in the country you are about to do business.

This article offers some good tips by business owners and experts in the trenches on how to immerse yourself in a country's culture to better understand the people, respect their ways and be sensitive about never offending.

Expanding Abroad? Avoid Cultural Gaffes

You might also check out our 8 Global Marketing Gaffes.

Practice a Little Spontaneous Innovation

Maybe some of these ideas will help spur you on to more spontaneous innovation day-to-day within your global small business.

My latest post for American Express OPEN Forum:

2010: The Year of Spontaneous InNoVaTiOn

You like it? Hit the Tweet button at the top. You really, really like, hit the thumbs up button at the bottom of page.

Posted by: Laurel J. Delaney, The Global Small Business Blog

China: What Wall?

Interesting post by Elison Elliott for the Foreign Policy "Global Markets" Blog Network (launched February, 2009):

Don't Bet Against China

It's running in line with our predictions No. 4 and 5 here. Elison and I have been in touch via email. I hope to interview him soon on this topic at The Global Small Business Blog.

Also make note of prediction No. 4 in our report talking about China "borrowing our ideas ..." Looks like Google has a short fuse on this. Read more here.

Fascinating. Another interesting piece here.

The Four R's: Repair, Rebuild, Return and Rejoice

No matter how tough the global economic environment, it is a time to repair (from what's been harmed), rebuild (from what's been weakened), return (to what matters) and rejoice (to what's yet to come) for a brand new year and decade.

Looking forward to it!

Photo credit: Laurel J. Delaney, Pratt Beach, Rogers Park, Illinois, The Global Small Business Blog

Make the Holidays Your Own

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick -- even when you're home." ~ Carol Nelson

Photo credit: Laurel J. Delaney (12/26/09), The Global Small Business Blog