An International Call To Action

An International Call To Action

It is important to gain an understanding of the potential impact of your online business. If you have been considering your market share by localized or regionalized standards then your vision may be too small.

Going Global

Consider the following:

Nearly 70% of all ecommerce is from areas outside the United States.

Standard currencies allow for easy currency conversions for international sales.

Any advertising you do will go global.

Many Netreprenuers are discovering distribution links in major ecommerce countries for ease of delivery and reduced costs.

Ecommerce is maturing and the rates of growth are projected at 18.6% per year through the end of the decade.

Growing Pains

As ecommerce continues to spread on a global basis certain elements of website design and application may need to be adjusted. In many cases growing ecommerce firms are maintaining a multitude of websites with each geared specifically to a specific country or language group. The client may visit a main website. At that point they will choose which website they wish to visit. This is something like using an automated phone system that offers the opportunity to hear all prompts in a second language.

In essence, multiple international websites can be developed to grow your brand and each website is written using the vernacular or language of those you are seeking to serve.

Get it Right

Some site owners have used their existing web material and utilized language translation software to come up with a new translation for a separate language group. The difficulty is this process does not always work to your advantage. Many phrases may be Americanized English and when translated will make no sense to those attempting to read it in another language.

It is best to pay to have a qualified copyeditor in the country you are wishing to target write the new copy for you. Your website will be more readily accepted if the copy reads in an authentic manner.

Planning for International Growth

Are you prepared for international growth? Can you get ready? If your product becomes widely accepted have you taken the time to think beyond your current boundaries and sales projections? In many cases netreprenuers have had to move rapidly from a cottage industry to a production plant in order to accommodate the growing requests for their product. You need to have some idea how you will respond if a similar scenario occurs.