With China's entry into WTO, the opportunities brought by the rapid development of Internet informatization and the chronic diseases of traditional foreign trade enterprises have gradually squeezed out a brand-new foreign trade SOHO family. They are tired of the nine-to-five lifestyle and look for ways to realize themselves in Sohu. However, if you rush into battle because of improper self-positioning and lack of professionalism and pioneering ability, you may face a dilemma. So what do you need to become a successful foreign trade SOHO family? The author talks about my views on years of practice!

First, psychological literacy.

This may be a roulette game. Of course, you may win the freedom, comfort and a lot of money you want. However, you may also lose badly, and you will regret your bold choice! Don't blame me for not reminding you! There is a saying you should remember: in this world, you can't get 100% return for what you pay! First of all, you should get the understanding and support of your family and friends. If you haven't "opened the paste" after one year, if you meet customers who don't keep their reputation, if you meet shoddy factories, if ... at any time, you should remember that family and friends will always be the harbor where your heart can comfort and stop. Secondly, you must overcome your inertia; Once the freshness of SOHO is gone, loneliness and loneliness will come to you together. If you are a fan, you will watch big balls and small balls all night because you are tired of leisure; If you like socializing, you will also enjoy all kinds of parties because you are bored! However, at this time, you must always tell yourself that I am the boss and I will work harder to do my job well. Nothing really matters, you should constantly enrich yourself, because you are in a competitive society. Anyway, there is a saying that "if you don't work hard today, you have to work hard tomorrow"!

Second, business literacy.

To be a successful foreign trade Sohu, professionalism is the cornerstone of your success.

1, Language Ability You should be familiar with a foreign language. Imagine a person who can't fully communicate with customers. It is hard to imagine that he can do the work well. In addition, the importance of electronic text, needless to say!

2. Professional knowledge You should be familiar with foreign trade professional knowledge and general export operation procedures. This aspect is not necessarily demanding, but basic common sense must be understood. Mainly includes: the flexible use of commonly used trade terms, the advantages and disadvantages of various settlement methods, customs declaration, commodity inspection, shipping and other basic knowledge. This is not an advertisement. Remember to visit my website often. I'm sure it will help you. The other is to have a professional understanding of the products you make. Experienced customers have a keen sense of smell, and they often judge whether to continue cooperation from their communication with you. Familiarity with product performance, specifications, parameters and other professional knowledge is related to whether customers can form a good first impression on you, which is as crucial as love at first sight.

Third, customer resources.

A fixed customer base is a necessary condition for you to start your career; Please note that I said "group", not just one or two customers. You must have at least four or five guests, and more than 80% of them are sure that they can do it in the future. What I want to remind you here is that not all the customers who have been cooperating with you before are willing to continue to cooperate with you in Sohu. You must be fully prepared for this. You should be able to understand why! When I left my job and started my trip to Sohu, I used to count on my own career. There were five or six confident customers (some of them worked together for seven or eight years, thinking that their relationship was quite iron, and some even made a promise of support! In fact, up to now, only one customer is cooperating in these old relationships, and all other customers have developed in the future.

Fourth, financial resources.

1, basic office equipment expenditure Needless to say, the importance of a computer, it is best to have a notebook for easy access to information at any time and easy to carry. Broadband access and printers for computers are essential weapons for any professional telecommuter, and scanners, digital cameras and fax machines are also indispensable at the moment.

You know, when you started placing orders for the factory, you were just a self-employed person with no unit, no official seal and no guarantee. No matter how good the friendship is, I am afraid that not paying the deposit is not in line with today's business logic. You should have at least a deposit for the first order or two. It would be best if it could be done easily.

3, insurance must be bought, the weather is unpredictable, and people have misfortune. SOHO people, pension insurance and medical insurance are necessary to prevent accidents. In some places, if an individual has difficulty in handling it, he can find a unit to call. As far as I know, in developed countries, more than 30% of people's monthly income is used to buy various insurances.

Other expenses are miscellaneous, such as hospitality, travel expenses, postage, mobile phone fees and so on. And you have to prepare some living expenses. Generally speaking, it is normal to make ends meet in the first year!

So far, are you ready to be a foreign trade SOHO family? What? Are you okay? ! Ok, then let's talk about the actual experience of foreign trade SOHO, and throw a brick to attract jade!

Actual combat article

The first step is to find a reliable foreign trade company. Pay attention to be reliable, generally find a powerful big company, so that your funds and settlement will be safe. Don't go to a small company just because you want a few small agency fees. That risk is not worth taking! Generally speaking, 1 USD requires about 0.06 yuan agency fee, plus one year's tax refund interest. Of course, you can also find your own factory with import and export rights and deduct the export tax rebate directly from the factory? Value-added tax, no tax refund interest. However, due to the limitation of business scope, it is difficult for the factory to expand its hands and feet. After finding the agent, let's start a brand-new SOHO trip!

First, you must set up an electronic website for yourself. Before the battle begins, you must build a fortress! A concise, vivid and illustrated electronic website is the beginning of your start! I suggest you apply for a international domain, lengthy second-level and third-level free domain name. Who remembers? If conditions permit, you can also get paid space, and the speed and stability are guaranteed! Anyway, I bought the meat, and I don't care about the sauce money. Am I really short of money or don't want to invest too much? I'll take you here: there are good free domain names and space. Foreigners, don't use it in vain! The most terrible thing is that the international buyers of these two websites have a high number of clicks, and the products enter their database, so just wait for the order! Put all the products you want to make on the board, and the product information must be clear. In addition, try to appear in the name of a factory, because many foreigners are reluctant to deal with foreign trade companies now, so pay attention to this!

Secondly, focus on the product promotion website, and you should promote it. You can post your information on some famous commercial websites every other week, waiting for the order to be checked. For example, Alibaba, Made in China, and EC Plaza all have good results. However, it is really tiring to log on to every website and post trading clues! You can spend some money to buy a supply and demand information release system. For example, the global business information release system, commercial express and other effects are still acceptable. Within a few minutes, your products will be posted on hundreds of international supply and demand bulletin boards, and it feels like there is only one word "cool"!

Second, correctly judge the effective inquiry. I have to say a few more words about customer inquiry. Generally speaking, if customers are familiar with the technical parameters, specifications and even the number of containers packed, you must reply to this inquiry seriously. Maybe a big fish will slip away. In addition, the sales of general products are regional, and those inquiries from your product sales area should also be taken seriously. Inquiries that know little about your products and are unintelligible will generally be ignored and ignored.

Third, without a stable and reliable production factory, it is useless to find a few stable suppliers with customers. For the convenience of work, you can consult with the foreign trade company you represent and print a business card of the company's XX department. It's purely for the convenience of work. If you cheat with it, it's none of my business Generally speaking, for the first time, the factory must ask for a deposit, so there is no way but to call. If the two sides can cooperate sincerely, there is no need to bother in the future. Maybe you can talk glibly and realize that you don't need any deposit, then I must congratulate you; If the factory insists on taking money to pick up the goods, then I can only pity you and blame yourself. Although people's SOHO is so beautiful, good luck is not for everyone.

Fourth, extensive development, multi-legged walking has become a SOHO family, which often means more freedom to arrange time. You can communicate with foreign traders in other industries as much as possible and get in touch with more manufacturers of other products. Never hang yourself from a tree. As the old saying goes, there's another village, in case it really becomes a shadow! I tell you, don't forget to visit the coolest foreign trade forum often, and you will certainly get something. Advertising again? I'm sorry!

Skill article

First, how to deal with customers depends on the factory. Here is a big method, which combines the virtual and the real.

First of all, make a pact with the factory, and don't contact customers without authorization. Generally speaking, if it is profitable, the factory will agree. If you don't feel suitable, change to another factory and ask them to prepare a box of business cards for you to deal with customers. The contact information must be yours! Don't you think it's a little too much, and there's no way to be reckless! )。

II. Registration of personal product trademarks

You can go to the industrial and commercial department to register a trademark for yourself, and all products use this trademark. This can avoid the possibility that the factory will not deal with customers directly in the future, and it is also the embodiment of its own strength.

Third, there is no need to register a company at the beginning.

If you have reliable customers and suppliers, if you register a company now, you need a lot of registered capital, the procedures will be more troublesome and the operating costs will rise. If you rush to register, it may be difficult to ride a tiger in the future. It is suggested to set up a virtual company first, contact with foreign countries and find buyers.

Four. Registered offshore company

If you have enough customers and suppliers, then you should consider fast, safe and controllable settlement. At this time, you can register an offshore company in Hong Kong (formalities: you need the passport of the registrant, the registration fee is about $65,438+0,500, and then the annual maintenance fee is $65,438+0,000). You can open a foreign currency account in a foreign bank in China, and freely operate settlement business in China. The biggest advantage of offshore companies in Hong Kong is that they can avoid taxes. Usually, you can sign an export agency contract with domestic suppliers, which can avoid the problem of tax refund. Or your company can directly sign an export agency contract with the factory, without setting up a company in Hong Kong and providing the factory with a tax refund certificate, and the factory will refund the tax. The biggest advantage of opening offshore account is duty-free and trade with third countries.