How to start selling abroad? Practical tips for e-commerce

Do you run an online shop and are thinking about selling abroad? Getting new customers abroad can be a challenge, but it's not impossible. Read this article for practical tips to help you start selling on the international e-commerce market. Also find out how InPost will take care of shipping!

Why bet on cross-border sales?

Cross-border sales represent a huge opportunity for any e-commerce business. Above all, it allows the brand to expand into new markets. If products from an online shop can be ordered not only in Poland, but also in more countries, it automatically increases the pool of potential customers .

Through foreign sales, you can reach Poles living in other countries as well as foreigners. This is a good way to increase the company's visibility and build a trustworthy image. All this is best achieved in conjunction with a well-thought-out marketing strategy .

Selling goods abroad is a method for stand out from the competition which in e-commerce is one of the key developments for brands. In Poland, there are still many shops that do not offer shipping abroad, which causes them to lose many customers who are interested in the offer, but who live in another country.

Opening up sales to new markets means additional sources of revenue . These translate into higher overall profits, allowing for intensive brand development. International sales allow for seasonal optimisation. Due to weather or holidays in particular countries, demand for specific products in one country sometimes makes up for lower sales in other areas.

In addition, domestic and international sales make it possible to take full advantage of the the potential of online marketing . Through the Internet, you can simultaneously promote your brand both in Poland and in other countries. For example, video content, which has been popular recently, can easily reach audiences in different countries.

Selling goods abroad - what to bear in mind?

If you want to introduce deliveries abroad, you must adapt your website to your foreign customers . Ensure that new versions of the website are available in each language and that prices are quoted in the currency of the relevant country.

Changing content should address all aspects - from the site menu to product descriptions to the purchase form. Adapt payment methods to the preferences of consumers in each market.

Provide new customers access to all information and services in languages which they use. It will also be necessary to thoroughly analysis of the market and demand for specific goods in the areas concerned. Take a look at the activities of your competitors and see what advertising or product mechanisms they use in their strategies. Every market has its own rules.

Building confidence in foreign markets

Beginning to sell online abroad can be challenging, but it takes time to build trust with new consumers. Some brands that have already an established position on the Polish market It is easier to acclimatise to a new situation. Poles living in the country are more likely to reach for products they know from their home country, and this augurs well for the initial phase of expansion.

In order to build confidence in foreign markets, it is necessary to clearly introduce new customers to the principles of the shop and present all products in detail. A marketing strategy is of great importance in creating an image and credibility. It is worth taking care, for example, of social media profiles, preferably in individual languages, as well as added descriptions so that all interested parties can familiarise themselves with them.

In order to effectively implement marketing activities, you will need to identify your target audience and the objectives you want to achieve in the different markets. Find out which advertising tools work well in individual countries . You have a choice, including influencer marketing, Google Ads campaigns or original social media promotion.

Provide customers with high quality service - answer their questions, solve their problems. Above all, however, offer tried and tested, reliable and compliant items that won't let shoppers down. Referrals from real consumers are very powerful, so encourage them to share their shopping reviews, for example on Google or directly on your website. You can, for example, ask them to give their opinion via email.

Logistics and cross-border shipping

If you run an online shop, there are times when selling overseas at a certain stage is a natural step in brand development. When you feel it is time to enter new markets, you need to take care of logistical processes . That's where we come in! At InPost, we offer B2B cooperation to handle cross-border shipments. .

We offer parcel transport within the integrated InPost Group network from Poland to 7 countries :

• Italy;
• Spain;
• Portugal;
• France;
• Belgi;
• The Netherlands;
• Luksemburga.

We propose to give to Paczkomat® devices and collection points in these countries . There are now tens of thousands of machines, and we are growing all the time. So you don't have to worry about logistics.

In addition, by using our services, you can count on attractive prices for overseas shipments, as well as the option to track each shipment at all stages of delivery.

Online shop with overseas shipping - which countries to consider?

Luksemburg is one of the European markets you can consider when planning international shipping. The possibility to ship from Poland to Luxembourg creates opportunities for Polish online shops.

You are also considering delivery to France or Netherlands ? Thanks to services such as overseas shipping with InPost, Polish shops can easily reach customers in these countries, expanding their sales opportunities in foreign markets.

Other courses we offer, such as Italy , Spain , Portugalia or Belgium are huge markets with gigantic potential.

It is also worth noting that a large number of these countries are a frequent choice among Poles for holidays and longer trips, e.g. on work holidays. When tourists are abroad and need to do their shopping online, they like to reach for a range of well-known brands . Of course, the demand for such services depends largely on the product range on offer, but it can be one indicator in choosing the countries into which to expand.

Selling abroad - InPost will take care of delivery

If you run an online shop, selling abroad may be on your agenda. You don't have to worry about a complicated delivery process because at InPost we will take over the logistics and provide you with easy integration via API . You will generate labels and track orders in real time. Recipients will receive all necessary notifications in the language of their country of residence.