SELF HELP RESOURCES
		Some advice and recources for those who want to try doing it yourself.
		General Observations
		It is not enough to show your product and say that you want to sell it. Chances are it is already there and sold by at least 3 competitors. You must have a compelling selling proposition, a powerful reason why what they want to buy (or sell) your product. This proposition must be part of your initial query. Try to make your initial query in Japanese. If it comes in English, it probably won't be understood and will most likely be misfiled (circular file?). You may well be able to follow up in English, but your initial pitch has to be in Japanese. If you are using a mail piece make sure it is intelligible to a Japanese reader: it is perhaps OK to use an English piece but only if it uses simple terms and has a lot of self-explanatory graphics. Good test: cover the words on the paper and just look at the pictures and prices. Do you understand what your piece is saying? Consider buying lists of Japanese businesses in your industry and be prepared to pay a top penny. For example, the industry directory for the mail order industry is published only in Japanese and costs $800. A few English language lists are available (see Useful Links)
		If you are using the Internet
		Register yourself with Japanese search engines using Japanese key words (ask FED to do it) Add Japanese introductory page(s) to your site so that visitors with poor English can understand what you are trying to do (ask FED to do it) Remember that if you are using an English search engine to look for partners, you are probably fishing in the wrong pond (See Japanese search engines for a list of leading Japanese search engines). Consider signing up with an online directory aimed at Japanese business users (see Useful Links).
		Recommended reading Useful Links (under construction) Mail order market in Japan Special report About Japanese search engines
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