Five reasons 2015 is the year for exporting to the U.S.A
With a brand new year fast approaching, you are probably thinking about where your company is heading. This is especially true for UK companies looking for export growth opportunities in the face of a stagnant European economy. The U.S. economy is on the up1 and a fast-expanding digital landscape is helping to create an environment ripe for growth, particularly for tech-savvy operations that can now access B2B and B2C markets virtually. If you’ve been considering a jump into the U.S. marketplace, the time is right. Here are five reasons to expand to the U.S. in 2015:
Digital Advertising Pulls Greater Results
Digital advertising budgets have increased significantly in the past few years, and 31% of marketers surveyed by ThinkFine feel digital advertising budgets will exceed traditional advertising. This increase is indicative of how effective digital advertising has been for brands — budgets don’t increase for platforms that don’t perform. And, because interaction and click-through rates in the U.S. are 20% higher than those in the UK, digital advertising in the U.S. offers brands the best opportunity to find the winning combination of dynamically tested messaging, optimized conversions, and the best sense of ROI by tactic, message, and creative. It’s simply one of the best ways for brands to identify potential customers and achieve success.
Mobile and Online Sales Soar in the States
Advertising is a great way to get eyeballs on your company, but the ultimate goal is to close the sale. Depending on your product or service, you can enter the U.S. market with little or no sales team by selling online. According to a 2014-2015 independent study by the Centre for Retail Research, the U.S. is a prime market for online and mobile retail, with online sales in the U.S. expected to reach $306.0 bn (€224.0 bn) in 2014—vastly exceeding the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, and Spain’s expected combined total of £111.2 bn (€155.3 bn or $212.8 bn) for the same period! Additionally, mobile shopping is expected to represent 19.9% of online retail in the U.S. With this heightened appetite for online sales, the U.S. serves as a great market to enter without requiring the commitment and associated costs of a physical footprint.
Availability of Data Diminishes Distance
Whether it’s researching prospective customers, pricing, market size, or the competition, there’s a lot of information that is required to make the leap to launching or advancing a company in a new market. Big data is getting bigger. Never before have we had so much information readily available to us at our fingertips. With a prevalence of data and studies available immediately online, companies can quickly and effectively answer key questions about the market ecosystem without having to physically interview people or conduct studies. This data is instantly available not only to reference, but also to test and validate against your particular company’s offerings. With platforms like Google Adwords, you can easily identify the best consumer for your product or service.
Social Media Drives U.S. Market
Social media now matters more than ever, and that’s great news for companies who want to expand virtually. With Americans spending more time on social networks than any other activity, and 93% of businesses and marketers using social media, brands now have the ability to reach out to customers directly through these channels to stay at the top of their field.5,6 It is no longer a question of “if” social media can help boost a brand’s visibility and ROI, but now, “what hashtag will generate the most engagement?” and “how long will it take to get verified?”
U.S. Financial Growth Strong and Steady
The U.S. economy is on the rise—still! It’s expected to maintain a steady growth rate in 2015—up to 3.1%, over 2.2% in 2014—due in part to solid increases across all key areas of private domestic demand: homebuilding, consumption, and investment. (The UK, on the other hand, is expected to see 2.8% growth—down from 3% for 2014.) Because of this sustained growth, and the confidence behind a strong U.S. dollar that’s expected to get even stronger in the New Year, consumers are buying more—which makes 2015 the best year to introduce your goods and services to the U.S.
2015 will bring some great export opportunities in digital technology that will make it much easier for UK businesses to export to the USA and beyond globally. The increasing popularity of mobile tech, social media, and e-commerce marketing represents a shift in how all businesses reach customers and make sales. Combine that accessibility with a U.S. economy full of people ready to spend their money in pursuit of the latest-and-greatest products and services, and you’ve got the makings for a prosperous new year in the ‘Land of Opportunity.’
