These days, international business is not restricted to established companies with ample resources. If you have a strong website and desirable products, people from all over the world can find you and request your services. Obtaining international clients is an exciting accomplishment, but it can also present some logistical problems you may not have considered. One of the key issues international businesses face is how to communicate clearly, courteously, and cost-effectively with their clients. Here are three communication techniques you may not have previously considered.
- Messaging Apps
Texting is not a traditional medium for professional communication, but it could be appropriate in your case depending on the nature of your business. For example, if you are creating commissioned artwork for a client, then he or she may wish to receive frequent visual updates on your progress. If your client lives abroad, then you can simplify your working relationship by using texting apps. There are numerous texting apps available that use an internet connection to send messages. If you and your client have the same apps, you can quickly exchange messages and then get back to work.
- Internet Phone Calls
As useful as texts and emails are, sometimes you need to speak to clients directly. Unfortunately, video messaging services are not always reliable internationally, and it can be expensive to place international phone calls. So how can you speak to your clients without spending an arm and a leg?
Emerging technologies such as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) make it possible to place international calls using your internet connection. After paying a minor flat fee, purchasing a single device, and installing the device on your computer, you can use your regular phone to make calls. MagicJack is the leading provider of this type of service, and its offerings are growing. Under the leadership of chairman Donald Burns, MagicJack and its app have been installed and downloaded millions of times.
- Translation Technology
The more international clients you have, the more likely it is that you will encounter translation problems at some point. Even if you and your client are fluent in the same language, there is always the chance that struggles will arise just when they are least welcome. This is where translation apps can come in handy.
Some translation apps can record your phrase and play it back to your audience in their preferred language. Others can translate pictures of foreign text. There are apps available for almost every language, so you do not have to limit yourself to clients who speak languages you vaguely remember learning in high school. While it is not necessarily wise to rely on these apps exclusively, they can supplement your ongoing language acquisition while helping you and your clients overcome momentary hurdles.
Get to Work
As you can see, international business communication has become a relatively simple undertaking. The good news is, these are just a few of the ways you can connect with clients from around the world. Now that you know more about your international communication options, you may be more comfortable leading your enterprise into uncharted territories. Go forth and explore new markets, knowing there are numerous ways to communicate.
Photo: Jeshoots