Happy Lunar New Year! As I reflect on helping numerous international brands enter new markets, I want to share five essential focus areas that can make or break your 90-day launch strategy. These insights come from my experience as the founder of HY Marketing, where we specialize in helping international brands succeed in South Korea, Japan, and English-speaking markets through strategic localization and online marketing.
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1. Needle-Focused Target Audience
When entering a new market with zero internet presence, broad targeting through TV commercials or general meta advertising won’t cut it unless you have millions or billions of budget to support. You need a needle-focused target audience that congregates in specific groups or channels.
Think about this: if your product is exclusively available in Costco, you should target Costco members specifically. Find out where they hang out – whether it’s search engine platforms, social media channels, Facebook groups, or WhatsApp communities.
- Their conversation patterns
- Who they follow
- How they interact
- Peak activity times
- Regional specifics beyond country-level data
This detailed understanding will inform your content marketing strategy and influencer selection.
2. Multiple Unique Selling Points (USP)
In today’s competitive landscape, one USP isn’t enough – you need at least two. Let me share a successful case study from one of our clients, an Australian skincare brand:
- They leveraged their Australian origin (highly trusted in Asian markets)
- Highlighted their specific certifications (i.e., Australian Made & Owned)
- Emphasized their natural ingredients
- Positioned themselves as premium quality at competitive prices
This combination of USPs created a distinctive brand voice that resonated strongly in their new market.
3. Create Your Core Brand Message
Your brand tone might need adjustment for different markets. Read the room and understand how your target audience interacts locally. Let me give you an example: if your body cream is suitable for both adults and kids, don’t just say “it’s for everyone’s use.” Instead, position it as “perfect for family use – mothers can buy one for themselves and one for their family.”
Your design elements should align with your core message too. If you’re positioning your brand for family use, all elements should convey coziness, homeliness, and warmth. This helps customers feel “we are with you, not against you” and makes them comfortable purchasing your product. This consistency across all content is crucial – without it, your brand image can quickly dissolve and become difficult to maintain.
4. Build Quick Credibility Through Influencer Marketing
With a typical 90-day project budget of $30-50K covering content marketing, influencer collaborations, and landing page creation, influencer marketing offers the fastest path to credibility. But choose carefully:
- Research thoroughly to avoid scams
- Verify authentic engagement
- Focus on influencers trusted by your target group
- Monitor performance metrics
The right influencer partnerships can significantly impact your initial sales success.
5. Foster Audience Relationships
While spreading awareness is crucial, don’t forget to build genuine connections. If you’ve succeeded in other markets, leverage that story: “We’re a top-selling product in Japan and Taiwan, now bringing our success to your market.”
- Engage with potential customers daily
- Like and comment on relevant posts
- Respond to questions promptly
- Share warm, authentic messages
Remember the Rule of 8: people typically need to see your product eight times before making a purchase decision. Combine consistent social media presence with strategic influencer partnerships to create a snowball effect that builds credibility across all platforms.
Final Thoughts
Success in a new market requires laser focus on these five areas. While 90 days might seem short, our proven strategy has consistently delivered remarkable results for international brands entering Korea, Japan, and English-speaking markets:
- Generated 1,000+ sales and find the crystal clear market fit
- Created viral content (1 Influencer collab + organic social) reaching 1.3M views
- Achieved high-score organic reviews above 4.7
- Delivered 3.5K search engine performance results
Concentrating on your needle-focused target, strong USPs, clear brand message, strategic influencer partnerships, and genuine relationship building creates not just initial success, but a strong foundation for long-term growth.
Ready to launch your product or service in a new market? Let’s create your strategic entry plan. We’ve helped international brands from startups to 9-figure businesses successfully enter Korea, Japan and English-speaking markets with proven results.
Hyein
At HY MARKETING, we help international brands succeed in South Korea, Japan, and English-speaking markets by specializing in tailored social media strategies and Facebook ads. Feel free to follow us on other social platforms or connect with us for more tailored guidance.
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