1. SELECTING PROSPECTIVE BUYERS

You can collect addresses of the prospective buyers of the commodity from the following sources:

1.                  Inquiries from friends and relatives or other acquaintances residing in foreign countries.

2.                  Visiting/participating in International Trade Fairs and Exhibitions in India and abroad.

3.         Contact with the Export Promotion Councils, commodity Boards and other Government Agencies.

4.                  Consulting International Yellow Pages (A Publication from New York) by Dun & Bradstreet, USA or other Yellow Pages of different Countries like Japan, Dubai etc.)

5.                  Collecting addresses from various Private Indian Publications Directories.

6.                  Collecting information from International Trade Directories/Journals/Periodicals available in the libraries of Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, IIFT, EPCs, ITPO etc.

7.                  Making contacts with Trade Representatives of Overseas Governments in India and Indian Trade and other Representatives/International Trade Development Authorities abroad.  A list of international trade development authorities abroad like Foreign Chambers of Commerce etc.

8.      Reading biweekly, fortnightly, monthly bulletins such as Indian Trade Journal, Export Service Bulletin, Bulletins and Magazines issued and published by Federation of Exporters’ Organisations, ITPO, EPCs, Commodity Boards and other allied agencies. 

9.      Visiting Embassies, Consulates etc, of other countries and taking note of addresses of importers for products proposed to be exported.

10.  Advertising in newspapers having overseas editions and other foreign newspapers and magazines etc.

11.  Consulting ITPO, IIFT, etc.

12.  Contacting authorised dealers in foreign exchange with whom exporter is maintaining bank account.

13.  Visiting popular Websites by making use of Internet Services.

Overseas importers can be contacted or informed about the products by the following methods :

1.      By Corresponding and sending brochures and product literature to prospective

overseas buyers.

2.      By undertaking trips to foreign markets and establishing personal report with overseas buyers.  The number of trips will depend on your budget and resources.  But it is essential for long-term success in international marketing to establish personal report.  Foreign trip will provide first-hand information regarding the market overseas customers, their requirement, taste, preference and better out communication of the merits of exports’ products.

3.      Participation in buyer-seller meets and meeting the members of foreign delegation invited by Export Promotion Councils concerned.

4.      Participation in international trade fairs, seminars.

5.      Advertisement and publicity in overseas reputed newspapers and magazines as well as in popular websites which people usually visit.  Facilities of free publicity can be availed from Import Development Centres.

6.      Creating Websites and making it popular on international arena.