How to Export: The Beginner's 4-Step Path to Success

Exporting your goods can be a terrific way to grow your business and your revenues. But, before you jump into exporting wholeheartedly, we wanted to give you some tips on how to export by keeping you focused on the right things.

1. Don't Be Intimidated

Thousands and thousands of small businesses around the country export goods. In fact, more than 97 percent of all U.S. exporters are small- and medium-sized businesses employing less than 500 people. Two-thirds of those employ less than 20 people. So, you’re in great company.

2. Be Adequately Prepared

While exporting isn’t overly complicated, you should be prepared for dealing with new cultures, government regulations, completing export documents accurately, and trade barriers that may be in your way.

Here are four of our articles that you should find helpful if you’re just starting out.

• 7 Tips for New Exporters
• Communicating Effectively with Your International Clients
• How to Prepare for an International Trade Show
• Using Your Business Card Overseas

3. Learn from Others' Mistakes

Since we have been involved in the export industry for many years, we’ve made and seen others make their share of exporting mistakes. We want to make sure you can benefit from all of this experience, and we have written extensively on topics that should help you find your way in the exciting world of exporting. So, feel free to use our international trade blog as a resource!

4. Use the Right Tools

If you’ve ever tried hammering a nail with the back of a screwdriver or tried to strip wire with some nail clippers, you already know that using the wrong tools can make even the simplest task complicated. By contrast, when you use the right tool, suddenly things just seem to work smoothly. That’s certainly true with exporting.

One of the frustrating and tedious aspects of exporting is completing the necessary export documents every single time you prepare a shipment. But the good news is that there is a tool that can make the job simple.

Shipping Solutions is an export documentation software that is simple to use and helps you complete your export documents faster and more accurately than traditional methods. We’d be glad to show you how Shipping Solutions works.

With the right preparation, the right approach, and the right tools, you can have a fantastic experience with exporting your goods. Just stay on the right path and you'll get there.

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This article was first published in September 2014 and has been updated to include current information, links and formatting.