The Internet has connected China to the rest of the world in ways we wouldn’t have dreamed of ten years ago.  While India was quick to recognize the potential of the outsourcing trends in the West, China is beginning to make inroads into India’s existing markets, while developing new markets in numerous countries.  Though large companies began the trend, China’s smaller companies, and even individuals, can now participate in the many billions of dollars in outsourced business.

One of the most effective ways to market yourself and your products or services is in a business social network.  They are business networks, but the word social can be inserted because they are made up of individuals, each placing their profile, personal and business information on the network.  People do business with people, even if they are employees of companies.  Getting information about you and your business out there on the Internet is a proven way to begin to make the contacts and connections that will bring you future business.

Let’s look at some of the information that is common to almost all business and social online networks.  We want to develop an effective profile that will showcase our talents and value to prospective employers and outsourcing departments.

• All of your contact information, email address for easy access with questions
• Your education, specialty training and where you received it
• Self-taught skills
• Certifications and designations received that indicate special knowledge and skills
• An employment history, including self-employment or special situations going back as far as necessary to show what you’ve done that is pertinent to your current business
• Examples of your products or services, including files that can be downloaded, or even video or presentations
• References for work you’ve done, including contact information with their permission

For most of your future global outsourcing customers, the very first contact they will have with you or your information is one of these profiles.  Be certain that it is complete and that it presents your qualifications as solutions for their requirements.

Global business is conducted between large corporations, small business, and individuals in a sole proprietor status.  However, even at the huge corporation level, business is done person-to-person.  Someone in the purchasing department of a large company is tasked to outsource the company’s IT (Information Technology) functions.  They do not get on the phone with or email a large department in another company.  Even if their email is directed to that department, it is received and read by an individual.

How might a mid-level employee in an American corporation go about locating a programmer to do some code for their e-commerce site?  There has been a rapid evolution in the tasks of locating business talent and resources, verifying their qualifications, negotiating and contracting their services.  In the past, they may have contacted a company, getting some of the information, and then been introduced to a staffer who could do the work.  With today’s networking resources, the process is much more direct, and the ability to work as an individual contractor is simply a matter of getting a profile up on a business networking site.

The programmer located in China can present their skills and business practices on a business network where they are readily accessible to the company’s employee tasked with getting the work done.  By creating a comprehensive profile that showcases their skills, presents examples, and provides references, the programmer can be located with a simple keyword search on the networking site.  A direct person-to-person discussion can result quickly.

Another feature of business networks is allowing one member to “recommend” another.  If you’ve done work for someone, and they’re happy with it, they can recommend you specifically for that type of work.  This allows the hiring person to verify that you have the knowledge and skills they require, and that they have been purchased by other satisfied employers.  More than ever before, individual entrepreneurs can present a business presence for location by potential employers.  Contact is made from person to person, which is how most business gets done.

Of course, learning English will be necessary to communicate with American business people via email.  When we’re communicating with someone on the other side of the globe, being clear and concise is important.  The large volume of email, both in and out, that the average business person must deal with daily creates an appreciation for “getting to the point.”  However, this doesn’t mean that we should sacrifice courtesy for brevity.

Though a few may disagree, most business people do appreciate a greeting, rather than a launch right into the business content.  A simple “Hi John” or other salutation is courteous and only takes a second or two to type.  Early in your relationship, a little more formality may be in order, such as “Hello Mr. Smith.”  On the other end of the email, a closing, such as “Thanks for your consideration” or “I appreciate your time” or simply “Thank you” followed by your name is an easy thing to do, and usually appreciated.

Let the other party set the tone if you begin to do a lot of email.   When discussing doing business, or sending details back and forth, there could be many emails in rapid succession.  If the other party stops using a greeting at the beginning, then you might do so as well.  Let them decide what is acceptable.

Generally, the pace of doing business will make concise communications appreciated.  Again, you can amend your email tone and content to adapt to what you’re receiving from the other party.  However, getting to the point is usually appreciated.

If you’re describing a business process, you might use bullet points to direct the reader through it in the proper order.  If they can receive attachments, you may want to attach more detailed documents, rather than sending a very long email.  This allows for nicer formatting than some email systems will allow.

With approximately 8000 miles between China and the United States, one might think that doing business would be difficult.  The Internet has changed so many things, and the globalization of business is having an impact on people’s lives.  With the ability to video-conference and share project planning with online whiteboards, distance is no longer a factor.

Over at Outsourcing.com, a special site segment was created, and the potential for China to benefit from outsourcing trends was clearly stated:  “What India did by creating this trend, China will be credited for taking it to a level never before imagined. China emerging onto the scene will truly impact everything in this marketplace.” Local China businesses are going global, and yours can as well.  Connections that previously required an intercontinental flight, meeting and handshake, now can be cemented with an inexpensive videocam and online collaboration software.

Detailed business plans and product or service descriptions can be instantly transmitted to multiple recipients in different countries via email.  Documents can be securely shared among multiple people, with each able to add their comments or changes in real time for final agreement online before the document is finalized.  In some cases, electronic signatures are also acceptable, with an entire negotiation and signed contract accomplished among participants on opposite sides of the globe.

This isn’t all about large corporations, as the individual or very small business can benefit from these technologies as well.  Whether you’re providing products or services, a computer and access to the Internet can open up worldwide markets for you.  Technology and global outsourcing are changing lives around the world, and China is at the forefront of opportunity.  Learn English, particularly as it relates to doing business, and seize the opportunity to change your life.

China is poised for amazing growth in serving the world’s business outsourcing needs.  The Internet is creating a global business community, and China is stepping up to claim an ever-growing share of this world business.  India built an early niche in serving the outsourcing needs of Western business.  However, China has already begun to make inroads into India’s established markets.

Not only is China penetrating India’s existing markets, world business is now looking to China as a cost-effective alternative solution.  Globalization allows business in every country to look outside their borders for efficiency.  High on their efficiency checklist are billing and payment solutions.  Of course, learning English, particularly business English, will allow you to invoice your Western clients properly.  Many of your customers will require specific invoice wording, as well as accounting codes, in order to route your invoice to the proper department or person for payment.

We can help you with business English, and we can smooth your billing and payment processes when you utilize our Oursourcing Portal.  We will work with different billing and payment solution providers.  At this time, PayPal is the leading global resource for online sales, invoicing and payment processing.  Whether a large corporation, or an individual service provider, you can implement custom invoicing for your customers, bill them in their currency, and collect in yours.

In working with English For China online portals for Education and Outsourcing, you increase your skills in business English communications, and you build an online presence for your business.  You learn to communicate effectively with business people in other countries, marketing in ways that gain their trust.  Then we help you through the processes to present your products or services, create business agreements, deliver, invoice and receive payment.

You can transact business with the world, no matter the size of any individual transaction.  We’re here to help.  You can truly “learn fast and go global.”

Outsourcing business is the goal.  Doing work for foreign companies is the business you are trying to build.  For this to be a successful enterprise, it is important to know the motivations of these companies, what they want, and why they want it.  Not only why they want it, but why they want it from outside their company and even their country.

The obvious answer is cost, and this is usually the primary reason.  However, there are speed issues.  If outsourcing gets the job done faster, that could be a very important criteria.  Sometimes it is a test.  They are testing other resources to see how they compare to their in-house resources.  If the test shows that outsourcing gets the job done faster, better and/or cheaper, then they may make a major decision to dissolve their in-house efforts and outsource permanently.

No matter what the basic reason, there are a number of factors that will determine whether a Chinese company or individual will be hired for outsourced work.  And, these factors will also determine if the outsourcing will continue into the future.  Satisfying the needs of the employing company will get the work and keep it.  So, what are those needs and desires?

• Outsourcing gets the job done at a lower cost
• Quality is at least equal to an in-house or in-country solution
• Outsourcing provides a more flexible solution, with products or services delivered as needed

Generally, large corporations answer to their stockholders.  The board of directors attempts to advise and guide the company in how it does business.  However, there is a great deal of pressure for profits on a regular basis.  And, especially in American corporations, there is an expectation of profit growth from quarter to quarter.  The pressure is intense, with bonuses and jobs dependent on performance.  Understanding that your continued business will depend on these profit motives will help you to understand the reason for the demands placed on you.

Global Business Networking

As English has become a standard for business in the global economy, learning business English is important to the individual if they wish to market their skills globally.  And, it is quite possible for an individual in China to be providing services for a buyer in America or anywhere else.  The opportunity is limitless, as the Internet has made it possible for a single individual to network with others instantly no matter where they are located.

Let’s look at one Internet network that shouldn’t be called a “social network” because it is focused on business.  LinkedIn.com is a business focused network with more than 23 million members, and it is growing rapidly.  By placing a profile of yourself, your knowledge, skills and business offerings on this site, you are presenting yourself to business people worldwide who may have a need for your product or services.  There has never been more opportunity for an individual to generate business in their own neighborhood, much less in a country on the other side of the world.

You open a free account and build a profile that presents you and your expertise to those who view the profile online.  It is available in searches to anyone, whether they are a LinkedIn member or not.  However, members can see a more detailed version.  It is your resume online, a marketing presentation for your skills.  Those who may have a need or desire to hire you are doing searches in the network on keywords and phrases related to your business, products or services.

Opportunity to display your knowledge lies in the ability to answer questions.  Members place questions, and you can answer them.  Questions in your areas of knowledge present an opportunity to show what you know to potential customers.  Your begin to gain credibility for your business and services.  Never before has there been a global business network on this scale available to any individual.

LinkedIn allows you to place your profile in Chinese, converting it to English.  However, computer translations can be less than perfect.  You will want to review it with a working knowledge of business English.  The opportunity of this network is great, so you do not want to minimize it with a profile that does not read well to your potential customer.

Global Opportunity

It is easy to get quite excited about China’s prospects for growth in world business.  Global opportunity is smiling on China, and for good reason.  China’s population is highly educated with business skills that have been proven in their home country, and honed in doing business with Japan and other nearby countries.  All that is required now is to take advantage of existing global opportunities.  Good news is all around.

In 2004, this article predicted strong growth in software outsourcing for more than just Japan.  Predicting growth from $400 million in 2003 to $2.5 billion in 2008, it appears that they were low in their estimates.  Current estimates are for China’s software outsourcing to reach more than $8 billion by 2012.

EETimes chronicles the rise of SMIC, a rapidly growing Chinese semiconductor foundary.  Revenues are growing, capacity is being expanded, and the general belief is that the growth will continue due to the aggressive nature of their business plan and local government initiatives.

In an article titled Pharma Outsourcing on Upward Trajectory, GEN is very upbeat about China’s moves to increase their penetration of markets for pharmaceutical outsourcing.  And, cost isn’t the only factor in outsourcing decisions.  Companies also outsource to boost technology, benchmark internal programs, and to speed up the process.  Companies also outsource to boost technology, benchmark internal programs, and to speed up the process.

IT services for world markets is also growing at a rapid pace in China.  The 2008 Agenda for the China International Software & Information Service Outsourcing Summit listed these topics:

• Navigate the U.S. Outsourcing Market over the Next 12 Months
• Providing ‘Value Chain Integrating Services’ to Services Outsourcing companies through Our Professional Business Parks
• Build a World-class IT Services Outsourcing Industry in China–New Analyses and Perspectives in 2008

These success stories are just the tip of a very large iceberg of world business opportunity for China.  As no company is successful without their people resources, learning English, and the practices of Western business will assure success for many in the future.

When learning English for business, there is definitely a requirement for reaching your reader with material and text with which they can identify.  If you’re speaking to engineers, there is a “best practices” way of writing or conversing that does well.  If your audience or business partner is in a creative business, such as advertising, your words and the way that you build a presentation could be very different.

In order to take advantage of the worldwide trend to outsource business, China’s business people must learn English, particularly business English.  However, this doesn’t mean learning a lot of jargon, or some would call it “business slang.”  Every industry and business specialty has it, but it isn’t necessary to use it to demonstrate your knowledge and ability to meet their outsourcing needs.

A sound English learning course with a focus on business English will serve you well in developing the ability and confidence to present your skills and knowledge to the world’s business buyers.  And, there are many buyers out there for all types of skills that can be delivered remotely with today’s technology.  Global opportunity is reaching out to the Chinese people, and all that’s required to market your business, products and services is the ability to place them in front of a waiting market.  That’s where learning English, particularly business English is very important.

India has filled a great deal of the outsourcing demand until now.  China can gain a large share by offering a cost-effective alternative.  Business terminology is necessary, but not business slang.  Getting an English education from those who understand this and focus on teaching language for business is essential.  One area in which India has a major presence is in business writing.  Numerous freelance writing websites have a great many writers and companies from India.

This is an opportunity for the individual or very small business in China.  Joining the English for China Outsourcing Portal will allow you to solicit work from around the world.  India gets a lot of that writing business because they have a price advantage over American writers, and China can provide an even greater cost savings for billions of words written for websites.  Learn English where it is taught from with a global business focus.

The Internet is changing the way business is done in dramatic ways.  And, the global nature of today’s business and economy is creating challenges and opportunities in countries that consume outsourcing, and those in a position to provide those resources.  The nature of business is profit, and generating profit requires a competitive market position.  The requirements for profit include:

• A product or service with a demand
• Competitive pricing and features/benefits
• Efficient and consumer-friendly delivery of the product/service
• Marketing that generates customers
• Efficient operations and cost control

Markets are extremely competitive, and increasing prices isn’t possible for most businesses.  Controlling costs in marketing, management and production is required for price stability to maintain market share.  Outsourcing of functions in all of the areas of business has become increasingly important.  When costs are excessive in the business’s own country, management turns their attention to other countries for quality at a lower cost.

China is at a critical point, as opportunity to become a major outsourcing provider country will never be better than now.  In order to capitalize on the situation and demand, China and its citizens must develop skills and business conduits, learning and developing in a number of areas:

• English is the primary language of world business
• Different countries have different business practices
• Online networking for marketing and customer service
• Current opportunity markets for exploitation, as well as planning for future changing demands of world business

In this blog, we will bring you news and views on these important topics, and resources to learn the English language.  We’ll also help you to learn the way business is done in various countries, how to develop products and services that are in demand in the outsourcing markets, and how to network to develop your business, whether an individual, or a large enterprise.