Expanding Your Global Network with the Right Distributors

Business owners across industries can often benefit from working with distributors to help their products reach a wider market. While most business owners believe in their products, it isn’t easy to find the time or money to market products as effectively as they create them. This is where distributors come in.

Whether business owners create software, hardware, medical devices, or other technology, a wealth of distributors specialize in specific industries and can help business owners access a new market. Finding the right distributor is a must for any business owner looking to expand their market, especially when expanding to new countries or aiming to get their product distributed internationally.

It’s important to remember that getting in contact and eventually closing a deal with distributors requires more than simply finding someone who specializes in the industry. Research and outreach is required for business owners to identify the right distributor. 

This process involves:

• Conducting in-depth market research

Choosing the right distributor requires a significant time investment. Knowing where and how their product fits into the marketplace is the best way for business owners to find a distributor who suits their requirements. Different distributors have access to different networks within a market, and it’s essential to ensure that a distributor fits the business’s requirements. Additionally, getting a deeper understanding of the product’s role in a marketplace gives business owners a deeper insight into what will and won’t work for their product, which they can integrate into their general product strategy and it’s a good groundwork for describing their product to distributors.

• Narrowing down online searches

Doing a general online search for distributors may result in business owners building a long list of distributors, but very few may be relevant once narrowed down. By getting specific when conducting online searches, business owners can reduce research time and receive more relevant results. This can be achieved by adding keywords relevant to the product, product names, or even model numbers and the names of competitor brands. Once business owners have created a list of relevant distributors, the next step is to do a comparison shop, learn the average industry prices, and even get more competitive quotes.

• Connecting with others in the industry

It can also be helpful to connect with other business owners in the same industry. Business owners with more experience or connections in the industry can often be the easiest way to find distributors. This method or approach is based more on luck than anything else and shouldn’t be part of your strategy. It’s just something to tick off your checklist when you start to target distributors. Ask yourself, do you know someone who may have relevant connections and would be willing to help?

Finding the right distributor offers business owners a significant advantage when entering a new industry. Distributors have already established their own network in markets around the global and have already developed a reputation with local connections. Utilizing the advantages of distributors can offer business owners a fast-track way into new markets and locations and can significantly accelerate the expansion process. Finding them and piquing their interest, however, is not a simple task. While the above tips may help you get started, it is easier said than done. In-depth research requires more than online searches, and qualifying potential leads means calling each one with a personalized approach to find out if they’re a good fit for you while getting them interested in hearing more.

At DRolls, we pride ourselves on connecting business owners with the right distributors to meet their needs, allowing you to focus on growing your business while we fill up your calendar with meetings that generate revenue.