marketing strategy for international trade
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 8:33 am
What is international trade?
In short, we can define international trade as the activity of buying and selling goods or services in countries other than our own. It is a process that, at a business level, requires professionals with training in different disciplines and languages, without which companies will find it difficult to achieve results in highly competitive and mature markets.
But the field of international trade is not limited exclusively to companies that buy or sell in different countries. It is also made up of professionals, organisations and companies that provide different services without which the commercial activity of international buying and selling could not be developed. Thus, for example, there are logistics companies, insurance companies, banks, international legal services, translation or interpretation services, commercial intermediaries, commercial representation companies, certification or approval companies or customs management companies that carry out part or all of their activity oriented towards international trade. Even technology-based activities such as online marketing or the development of digital content or electronic management programmes are increasingly oriented towards clients from other countries.
Although trade between countries is an activity as old as the history of mankind, the development landline number list of new technologies in the last decade has accelerated international commercial activity, not only for large or multinational companies but also for smaller companies with limited resources. The relocation of Western factories to developing countries has caused economic changes worldwide, increasing global business opportunities on the one hand, but making any market, including the domestic one, increasingly complex and competitive on the other. However, international trade has become an increasingly common option even for entrepreneurs or startups that have the international market as one of their growth vectors.
Given this situation, anyone who wants to direct their professional career towards this sector is making a safe bet. The sector has a very high employment potential. In addition to being a sector that increases its activity every year, the growing complexity of markets and marketing formulas makes it essential to hire personnel with specific training or experience in certain activities.
How to train in international trade
Currently, there are no specific university courses on international trade in Spain within the general system, although there are universities that have created their own degrees in this field or related fields such as international relations and business. In non-university studies, there is a second-level vocational training degree in international trade and in training for employment we can find the professional certificate in international marketing and sales . Additionally, many universities, business schools and institutions such as the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) or different Chambers of Commerce have developed training programs in international trade.
Therefore, if you want to direct your professional activity towards this field, I would advise you to first take an international trade course in which the fundamentals and basic elements of the field are explained, and then, taking into account your work experience, tastes or additional training or carrying out an analysis of the job demands present on social networks or employment portals, take specific courses or studies on a specific service, activity or international market.
Working in the international trade sector also requires knowledge of languages : Currently, having a professional level of English is considered absolutely essential, since commercial presentations and negotiations with businessmen or professionals from non-Spanish speaking countries are generally carried out in English, as is the issuance of legal, administrative and commercial documents, which are usually issued and managed in this language.
It should also not be forgotten that many companies require professionals with experience in a specific market or activity who can provide them with sales or business opportunities in a short time. Although it is a limiting aspect, having specific training in a demanded area (such as the value chain or big data management) and efficiently managing the information that can be found on social networks or the Internet can help to get a job in a specific position.
Finally, as a way of improving your employability options in the international trade sector, I recommend that once you have completed your training, you do not limit yourself to evaluating job demands on specialized portals or social networks such as Linkedin, but rather you should contact companies that buy or sell in other countries or that provide services in the field of international trade. To do this, you can use lists of exhibitors at international fairs (freely accessible via the Internet) or, for example, of participants in actions and programs of organizations that support international trade such as ICEX, Chambers of Commerce or business associations.
In short, we can define international trade as the activity of buying and selling goods or services in countries other than our own. It is a process that, at a business level, requires professionals with training in different disciplines and languages, without which companies will find it difficult to achieve results in highly competitive and mature markets.
But the field of international trade is not limited exclusively to companies that buy or sell in different countries. It is also made up of professionals, organisations and companies that provide different services without which the commercial activity of international buying and selling could not be developed. Thus, for example, there are logistics companies, insurance companies, banks, international legal services, translation or interpretation services, commercial intermediaries, commercial representation companies, certification or approval companies or customs management companies that carry out part or all of their activity oriented towards international trade. Even technology-based activities such as online marketing or the development of digital content or electronic management programmes are increasingly oriented towards clients from other countries.
Although trade between countries is an activity as old as the history of mankind, the development landline number list of new technologies in the last decade has accelerated international commercial activity, not only for large or multinational companies but also for smaller companies with limited resources. The relocation of Western factories to developing countries has caused economic changes worldwide, increasing global business opportunities on the one hand, but making any market, including the domestic one, increasingly complex and competitive on the other. However, international trade has become an increasingly common option even for entrepreneurs or startups that have the international market as one of their growth vectors.
Given this situation, anyone who wants to direct their professional career towards this sector is making a safe bet. The sector has a very high employment potential. In addition to being a sector that increases its activity every year, the growing complexity of markets and marketing formulas makes it essential to hire personnel with specific training or experience in certain activities.
How to train in international trade
Currently, there are no specific university courses on international trade in Spain within the general system, although there are universities that have created their own degrees in this field or related fields such as international relations and business. In non-university studies, there is a second-level vocational training degree in international trade and in training for employment we can find the professional certificate in international marketing and sales . Additionally, many universities, business schools and institutions such as the Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) or different Chambers of Commerce have developed training programs in international trade.
Therefore, if you want to direct your professional activity towards this field, I would advise you to first take an international trade course in which the fundamentals and basic elements of the field are explained, and then, taking into account your work experience, tastes or additional training or carrying out an analysis of the job demands present on social networks or employment portals, take specific courses or studies on a specific service, activity or international market.
Working in the international trade sector also requires knowledge of languages : Currently, having a professional level of English is considered absolutely essential, since commercial presentations and negotiations with businessmen or professionals from non-Spanish speaking countries are generally carried out in English, as is the issuance of legal, administrative and commercial documents, which are usually issued and managed in this language.
It should also not be forgotten that many companies require professionals with experience in a specific market or activity who can provide them with sales or business opportunities in a short time. Although it is a limiting aspect, having specific training in a demanded area (such as the value chain or big data management) and efficiently managing the information that can be found on social networks or the Internet can help to get a job in a specific position.
Finally, as a way of improving your employability options in the international trade sector, I recommend that once you have completed your training, you do not limit yourself to evaluating job demands on specialized portals or social networks such as Linkedin, but rather you should contact companies that buy or sell in other countries or that provide services in the field of international trade. To do this, you can use lists of exhibitors at international fairs (freely accessible via the Internet) or, for example, of participants in actions and programs of organizations that support international trade such as ICEX, Chambers of Commerce or business associations.