Launching a business in your own country is a challenge in its own right. Expanding your business internationally faces many more challenges, language barriers, cultural, financial, and legal considerations are all important, but overcoming the language barrier is the most difficult challenge encountered by everyone involved. Lack of communication with your international affiliates will negatively affect your chances of communicating successfully. That is why it is crucial to break down these language barriers.
Here are my best methods to get you started:
1. Narrow Your Market
Before you begin recruiting new affiliates narrow down your market/search. It will benefit you to tackle select markets and not every market – don’t spread yourself to far.
2. Know Which Language Is Spoken
Do your research – find out which languages are spoken in your market before you can even attempt an effective marketing campaign. This will immediately be in your favor, showing respect for local language by doing your homework to learn and understand the local customs and language.
3. Translate Marketing Tools
Translating key SFI marketing tools, i.e. pamphlets, brochures, fliers etc. into the native language of your new affiliates is crucial. Make sure these are proof read for language and grammar errors, you may need the help of an interpreter to assist as this is a costly outlay so get it done right before going to print.
4. Hire an Interpreter
If you are not comfortable nor fluent in the local language, your best approach would be to hire an interpreter who can present to your potential market/affiliates in their local language avoiding any miscommunication.
5. Advantages of Modern Technology
SFI offers a translation platform which you can make us of, but from experience Google Translate ranks amongst your best option currently, but for difficult languages like Russian, Afrikaans, a local translator platform designed for that specific language will be more effective and accurate. Simplify and translate short concise points/facts as opposed to lengthy long sentences, this is proven to be more effective.
6. Avoid Idioms, Jargon, And Slang Words
When communicating in English with international affiliates who may have some grasp of the English language, avoid idioms, jargon, and slang words – these will only confuse - use more formal English to ensure easier understanding. Speaking slowly and clearly.
7. Visual Communication
Visual communication methods, i.e. emailing or personally presenting your presentation onto a screen, slideshows, handouts, brochures, pamphlets are an extremely powerful communication tool. Remember, affiliates are visual learners. If you can, avoid too much text, you want to use pictures and visual aid to communicate better.
8. Learn The Basics
Learn the basics of your affiliates language - greetings and common phrases. By learning these basics, it creates a team that will coexist, succeed and communicate, this applies to you too!
9. Clarification
Never assume that your affiliates understood what was presented and explained initially. Encourage questions and feedback, comment cards are handy to give you feedback on the level of understanding.
International commuincation is a challenge for every marketer to overcome, don’t be shy you may have just learned a couple of phrases and are a bit embarrassed about not being fluent in the affiliates language. Get over that, you’re trying and only time and practice will improve this. The more you learn the local language, the better your marketing success will become.
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