Book It

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Five global business books you need to read.  (If link does not work, try this one.)

And if you just want to admire books, visit here: The most exploitive (and breathtaking) pictures of libraries ever gawked at.

Go global with eBay

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If you plan to go global one unit, one customer and one country at a time, eBay is it. Find out why here.

However, if you plan to go global in a BIG way -- selling lots of products to lots of customers in lots of countries, test drive these other sophisticated trading places:

• Alibaba
• Global Sources

Web Site Branding: Go Global or Stay Local?

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You decide.

What Can Brown Do For You in China?

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Everything. If you are serious about doing business in China, download this report now. It offers the inside scoop on what Chinese people really want.

Jump to PDF file here.  More can be found here.

And remember, you saw it here first! In China, no excuses ... just results.

LISA: The 2006 Global Business Practice Survey Report

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Meeting the critical need to provide comparative data on how companies create and implement successful strategies for global business imperatives at the local level, the Localization Industry Standard Association (LISA) announces the 2006 Global Business Practices Report.

Responding to what it really takes to successfully support customers worldwide, the report provides a clearer picture of the globalization landscape by enabling readers to:

• Confirm where companies are placing their global priorities
• Better understand the international business issues affecting organizations worldwide
• Learn who is paying for what services, and how much they are paying
• Determine the exact skills required by their teams to succeed globally in the future

Learn more about it here. You can also download -- at no charge -- a detailed table of contents and a short excerpt from the 52-page report.

Note:  Since the date of this post, LISA has shut down.

Going Global, Part I

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Small businesses are joining their larger counterparts in the international arena. The first of a two-part series published by BusinessWeek online looks at key issues and challenges. I don't see anything new here other than the same old, same old.

But go ahead and read it yourself.

Want a shortcut to exporting? Try this online guide. It covers everything you wanted to know about exporting but were afraid to ask.

The picture is merely a reflection of my mood and to make the posting a little more interesting.

Note:  Since the date of this post, BusinessWeek may have removed its content.  Try here for a similar article.  And for more on exporting, go here.

The Collapse of the Doha Round of Trade Talks

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There was something unseemly about the way Europe and the U.S. blamed each other for the collapse of global trade talks. Like two bullies standing amid the wreckage of their brawl, they looked a little ridiculous, especially when their squabbling turned so quickly to who was responsible for the breakdown. Almost five years after the launch of the World Trade Organization's Doha round, which set out to boost the developing world's share of global trade, poor countries don't really care which rich country is to blame for the breakdown.

What do they care about? Read the article here to find out for yourself.

Note:  Since the date of this post, the article noted has been moved or taken off the site. We apologize for the inconvenience.  As a courtesy, we have added Quotes of the Day on the same topic and by the same source back in 2006.

Taking Your Online Business Global

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The lure of selling internationally and right from your couch is undeniable. What easier way to expand your marketplace than to move beyond the United States? The numbers speak for themselves - a market of billions rather than millions. As the late but oft-quoted business guru Peter Drucker said: “E-commerce does not merely master distance, it eliminates it.”

What should you consider before you start cross-border selling? Find out here.

Note: The article referenced may have been removed since 2006 or, as in this case, been taken over by another company. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The 12 Best Global Websites for Exporters

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As Reported In National Business Association ...

Filtering through the millions of websites throughout the world to find the few helpful sites is a daunting task. There are a handful of truly great websites that can be an excellent sales and market information tool for exporting your products or services. Highlighted throughout this article are 12 of the best global websites categorized by geographic location.  (Note:  Requires membership to review. As an alternative, visit the right sidebar of The Global Small Business Blog for Laurel's Top 10 list.)

12 Best Global Websites for Exporters

And here's one they inadvertently left out.