Asia is the fastest-growing economic region in the world as it encompasses top economy countries such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Indonesia. According to research, China is expected to become the world largest consumer of goods in 2020, overtaking the USA. Today, multinationals realize Asia’s growth as they are targeting consumers in the most sophisticated way. Nevertheless, it can be harsh for western companies to stand out in a hyper-competitive sales market.
One of the smoothest methods is to hire a partner that is familiar with the Asian region. Having a deep understanding of the local market, a sales representative can help you sell your products or services in the targeted country.
Below are some reasons why you need a sales representative:
- Culture shock is always to be expected, whether you want to admit it or not. You would need to quickly adapt to a market that possesses very unique traditions, characteristics, and politics.
- Hire a person that is highly proficient in English and a local language; whether it’s Mandarin/Cantonese if you are targeting China, or Bahasa if you are implementing your business in Indonesia. You need a superstar that is comfortable with the Occidental and the Asian culture while understanding the subtleties of the languages.
- Bear in mind that the sales process will be slightly different than in Europe. Asians are very relationship-based. Cultivating strong relationships and mutual trust are the most important parts to be developed. Additionally, expect your attendance to more local/unique events such as karaoke, dinner banquets, Japanese bars, and more.
- We have encountered people that do not take verbal and non-verbal communication seriously, which can endanger their business development strategy. Rule number one is to never make an Asian lose its face. This can be avoided by not asking open-ended questions where the answer could be no, by not treating someone as underlining when his official status in the organization is high, or by not pointing your index finger on them. These are only a few examples… But in terms of intercultural communication, there are many rules to follow!
- Learn how to sell, distribute products through a variety of channels. Not only TV, radio, print, Internet, but also events, mobile messaging, digital campaigns and display ads.
To solve these problems, a solid sales representative can build a bridge between Asian and Western cultures. Choose a reliable partner that can sale your brand according to Asia’s business, media, and consumer culture.
How can Yin Yang Marketing help you make your business more successful? Our edge is a deep understanding of both European cultures and languages as well as the Chinese audience. Our team comes from different cultures with different language skills. Like the Chinese meaning of yinyang, we can combine two considerably different cultures, languages, communication styles, and business models into a suitable digital marketing strategy for reaching our client’s success. Whether you are targeting China, Korea or Southeast Asia, reach us directly for more information. We are looking forward to making your business grow!