Many foreign trade bosses come straight to the point: Should I invest in Google Ads? Should I run Facebook ads?

But I usually pour cold water on their enthusiasm first: The first step you need to take is definitely not running ads.

Have you seriously considered what happens after a customer clicks into your website? Within 3 seconds, can they understand what you do? Can they recognize how you differ from competitors? Will they dare to send you an inquiry? The reality is, most foreign trade websites are just "product manuals"—with direct English translations, domestic logic, no case studies, no trust-building credentials, and no clear guidance. The result? Ads keep running, money keeps burning, but inquiries remain scarce.

The truly effective sequence for overseas marketing is:

First, build a multilingual website that converts, then amplify traffic through Google and social media. Ads solve "whether people come," while your website solves "whether they trust you when they arrive." Reverse this order, and results will suffer.

If you're struggling with whether to prioritize ads or website development, the core issue isn't platform choice—it's whether you have a complete, actionable overseas marketing strategy. What we do daily is integrate websites, Google, and social media into one system—avoiding detours matters more than burning extra budget. If you want effective overseas marketing, feel free to DM me.