Market expansion plan is the technique of delivering a product on a larger scale in an existing market or making it available in a new market. Its approach begins with an examination of current and future distribution channels and concludes with the implementation of activities to increase reach and sales in targeted locations.
Why is market expansion important?
The Benefits of Market Expansion:
Aside from the apparent benefit of more customers equaling more money, new market expansion has several direct and indirect advantages. These are some of them:
New team members
The ability to hire newly qualified team members is one of the most significant advantages of expanding. A clear benefit of the expansion is the ability to build a team of new and skilled employees. People are typically regarded as a company’s most valuable asset. These individuals will infuse your company with new ideas, streamline processes, and foster a sense of community.
Increasing the number of customers
As a result of your company’s growth, your products and services may be exposed to a larger audience. You’ll be able to convert more leads and earn more money if you expand your client base. As a result of this, profits rise. Customers, like team members, are crucial to the success of your business.
Opportunities for funding
Expanding your firm successfully can put it in a better position to obtain the money it needs. This cash might be a lifeline for your company during the expansion process, and you can use it again once the expansion is complete. A company with a strong financial position and a growing market share is more likely to be approved for financing.
Relocation possibilities
Expansion may allow you to shift your company to a different neighborhood, across the state, or even abroad. Consider the benefits of relocating if it is a viable option. You may have better access to clients, which is an important consideration when migrating.
Market expansion strategy
Both domestic and international markets provide growth potential. When existing markets reach their saturation point, new markets must be identified. As a result, market expansion should increase the company’s customer base. A variety of growth strategies can be used to expand the market:
Adding a new service or product to the portfolio
If the feedback from clients or users is positive, the current offer can be broadened to capture additional income from existing and possibly new audiences. Adding related or value-added products or services might be a good way to expand your business.
Taking existing products or services to a global audience
If a product or service is widely used in current markets, it means that its quality, utility, and need have been established. As a result, expanding the product or service into new markets around the world might be a sound growth strategy.
Adapting existing products or services to make them more broadly available
It’s a sign that increasing the market reach with new features and capabilities is a smart idea if the client or user feedback leads to demands for specific features, functionality, integrations, or added value. Product and service growth can also be aided by identifying new demographic segments or use cases.
How To Get Ready For Market Expansion?
Research
Research is the first step in expanding a market. Based on client or partner input, there may already be indicators for expansion in new markets. This can be quite useful in restricting the focus of your investigation. If you don’t have any input yet, general market research, such as surveys, focus groups, or narrow launch testing, are good places to start.
The study looks at prospective new industries as well as geographic or economic regions that might be interested in the product or service. This assessment of positive aspects and prospective cross-sector applications of the product or service will provide a clear picture of the most significant growth potential.
SWOT Analysis
A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of competitors in the new markets of interest would also be included in the analysis. This research aids in the identification of risk-benefit ratios for investment and logistical planning.
An analysis of existing markets can be used as a benchmark when selecting which markets are suitable for expansion. This would provide insight into why and how existing market peaks or near peaks were reached. Businesses can use these data to take steps to guarantee that their current customer base grows sustainably and successfully.
Calculate The Cost
Cost-benefit, risk-benefit, and growth projection should all be done with the findings of studying existing and possible new markets. These final calculations, as well as the simulation of various outcomes, provide an overview of the size of investment required for the selected market expansion.
If market expansion can be achieved by branching out into various geographic locations, or if the portfolio needs to be extended or altered, the outcomes should be evident. With this knowledge, a market expansion strategy may be developed, and a decision to proceed (or not) can be taken. Market expansion planning: tactical aspects
Following the investigation of new markets, the analysis of existing markets, and the selection of an appropriate market growth strategy, a thorough examination of the tactical needs for the projected expansion is required.
The Final Step
Before implementing the plan, consider the following questions to assist you to identify risk areas, growth curves, and dates to consider:
- Is the company well-known in the current market?
- Is there any interest in additional markets or industries that you could serve?
- Is it necessary to take on debt to fund the planned expansion?
- What are the most significant dangers of failing in this new market?
- Has there been a steady and consistent increase in the number of current products and services?
- Are you ready for a slower growth curve with more predictable revenue?
- Which existing collaborations could be able to help you with your expansion plans?
- For the market in question, what legal frameworks and commercial practices should be considered?
- Is it necessary to hire fresh people?
- What is the cost-benefit ratio in the long run?
- When these tactical questions are resolved, a thorough plan for entering a new market is generated.
Finally, Measuring the market expansion’s success – a business case
Regular examination of sales, conversion, revenue, and support data will assist measure the performance of the growth strategy after implementing the expansion strategy and launching in a new market or expanding in an existing market.
Specific metrics to be measured at regular intervals should be carefully chosen to develop a clear and trustworthy business case. These can be monetary, take into account marketing or sales goals, create overall performance ratios, and so on. Quality trumps quantity in this case. Identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) with the best forecasting and dependability potential serves as a standard for future expansion plans.
