Global vs Local Business

[mirohristov]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm glad to be here.

I have this dilemma:

I want to start a new web design website that offers a service but I can't decide whether I should make it strictly local business or try to go directly for global (world).

It's a big issue for me because I'm new to SEO and Web Marketing
(I've spent my time designing and developing)

On one side if I keep it local my domain name will contain the town name and that will somewhat limit my global opportunities.

On the other side if I present myself as a global company, the local folks will be less likely to do business with me.

I've thought of doing 2 clone websites (2 domains) and just brand them differently but I hear google doesn't like that... nor will I be able to market two, quite as well, as just one.

I've also taught of going with a global one and adding "We are located..."

But my biggest concern is SEO and Marketing.
If I SEO for local folks : ex. (Savannah Web Design) I believe I'll have better chance of getting higher in the SERPs and thus more client.

If I optimize a global one ex (Affordable web design) then I may not be able to get anything since there are a lot more companies, globally as compared to locally.

Also, I don't want to get stuck in this town. I want to move out pretty soon.

Any advice/suggestion is welcome

Thanks.

[mirohristov]

Thank you Rachael.

[kju385]

I don't believe "vs" is necessary in the title. The two are not mutually exclusive. Local base would be a decent beginning, then after the business takes off natural expansion would force you to go global. On the other hand, if you go global from the beginning, building personal relations with locals along the way (offer them your services, doesn't matter you're a "global" company) and focusing on international partners, you stand to earn more money in the long run. I'd say go global and use the local base as a safety net. Serps and seo stuff can't replace a good portfolio.

[Sprinkler Buddy]

With the competition you face in this field, I would say go global. Folks looking for a local company will most likely find you regardless. I tend to look for things close to home and reach out if I can't find what I'm looking for.

Welcome and Good luck in your new venture.

[mirohristov]

That's exactly what I wanted to hear.
Thank you very much for your time

[Sprinkler Buddy]

Anytime! Keep in mind, I'm NO Expert, that's just my thoughts.

[videotrafficacademy]

Originally Posted by kju385

I don't believe "vs" is necessary in the title. The two are not mutually exclusive. Local base would be a decent beginning, then after the business takes off natural expansion would force you to go global. On the other hand, if you go global from the beginning, building personal relations with locals along the way (offer them your services, doesn't matter you're a "global" company) and focusing on international partners, you stand to earn more money in the long run. I'd say go global and use the local base as a safety net. Serps and seo stuff can't replace a good portfolio.

I agree again with kju385, go globally and you can just create a separate page on your website that are exclusively for your local market.

[mirohristov]

Thank you for opinion
Much appreciated.

[Patra01]

Hi Junior Member,

I am totally agree with v7n Mentor, however you need to identify the location of your prospective clients, and then need to target them by offering your best services. If most of your prospective customers are coming from locally then you need to target them first and then focus on global and vice versa....

Have a great day !

[dowjoetod]

If you are asking in general, I would suggest going global! This way your potential customers would be from all over the world and the growth potential is greater...

[ivedtara]

Start off with local and then if it generates revenue as you expect, use that to expand to global. When it comes to global, there are two major factors that come into play - language and culture. You have to integrate these two somehow in your business. It is more work and can become extensive. So, it is better to focus on local and gradually global.

[joejoe]

Why not make it both

You could have a .com domain and the same site with a local extention, work face to face with your local market and target the things you could do solely online with your global site.

[Anton Zaleski]

Well, everything actually depends on the type of business you have..and the keywords you've chosen. ROI, frequency, competition, etc-etc-etc of the SEO stuff.
But.
I remember listening to some great a-book, "Marketing Wars" or something, and there was an idea that a small business can successfully hold market shares (that does not necessarily mean "be profitable", thus) only in case it is local, for in other case it will be anyway immediately destroyed by much more powerful competitors. Gettin' too much is not good, then.
"Too much" here means "gettin' a share large enough to begin bother larger competitors by this action". D'you see the point?
So I'd say you have to decide if you might bother larger competitors, and then decide on local or global character of your business.

[SolidShellSecurity]

Locally will always be easier and work better. If you can't hit locally, you can't hit globally.

[Sokun]

Well, I also think that it depends on the types of your business. Some can do internationally, while some don't make sense at all. So, you decide.

However, as a general rule of thumbs, we'd better work from small and develop to big over time.

Why small? Small is easy to manage, control, analyze, keep record, keep tracks, and so one. One top of that, if we fail, it's easier for us to bounce back.

[piano chris]

Local ends to eventually become global. A .com website can viewed globally but target your locality first.

[mediadeveloped]

I would say start local, and than once you get too "big" for your local market or want to need to expand than start targeting global consumers.

[elitebag]

It just depends on your product.Some products are good to do global business,but first your need know the international market.

[PromoDirect]

Go for a global service.. you will start learning a lot of new things. It is not very difficult you just have to make sure you communicate with your clients frequently, understand their requirements, represent yourself with good leadership qualities and with confidence. All The Best!

[ProxyDB]

the best thing is to work in the day time for your local business, half of the night time for your global. that's the way it works.