Are You Ready for the US Market? A Self-Check Quiz for Australian Exporters

G'day Gateway
May 6
2 min read

Updated: May 12

Australian companies exporting to the US

Thinking about expanding your Australian business into the US?

The opportunity is huge - but so are the challenges. Before you book that flight to that trade show or launch a US landing page, take this quick self-check quiz to see how prepared you really are as an Australian exporter. Plenty of companies are in the same position as you, and there is a lot of uncertainties in the world today.

Let’s Find Out Where You Stand:

1. Do you have a US phone number and someone to answer it during American business hours?

A - Yes - We’re always reachable during US time zones.

B - Sort of - We use voicemail or call forwarding from Australia.

C - No - It’s all based in Australia.

Time zones are rough. In Aussie winter months, 12pm Central Standard Time in the US is 3am Australian Eastern Standard Time.

2. Are your marketing materials (website, brochures, emails) tailored for an American audience?

A - Yes - We’ve localized everything for US buyers.

B - Partially - We’ve changed a few words and prices.

C - No - We’re using our Aussie content as-is.

Translation isn’t localisation. "Australia’s #1" may not mean much to someone in Virginia. Don't forget to convert kilograms into pounds too!

3. Do you know how your product or service stacks up against US competitors?

A - Yes - We’ve done a full competitor analysis.

B - Somewhat - We’ve browsed online and made some comparisons.

C - No - We haven’t looked into it yet.

Knowing who you're up against helps you price, position, and pitch better.

4. Do you have a plan to follow up US leads within minutes, not hours or days?

A - Yes - We have someone in the US handling inbound and outbound calls.

B - We try to get to them within 24 hours.

C - No - It’s whenever we get to it in Australia.

Speed wins. In the US, if you’re not first to respond, you're usually last to close. We have seen it time and time again with Aussie business trying to crack into the US market.

5. Have you spoken to a real US customer or buyer in your target market?

A - Yes - We’ve had real conversations with potential US clients.

B - Not yet - But we’ve done online research.

C - No - We’re still testing the waters.

Nothing beats direct feedback. It can make or break your go-to-market strategy.

Your Results:

Mostly As - You’re on the runway! With a few final checks, you’re close to being market-ready.
Mostly Bs - You’ve got the ambition, now it’s time to localise and systemise.
Mostly Cs - There’s a lot of opportunity ahead, but it’s time to get serious about market fit and presence.