In a globalised business landscape, one of the smartest things you can do is to have an international e-commerce site through which you can market your goods. This is especially effective if you’re a brand with a diverse range of products to sell.
But there are specific “optimisations” that you’ll need to carry out before you can reach out to an international audience. Here are 5 of them.
Translate Your e-Commerce Website
Translation is one of the first steps you’ll need to take part in a more extensive process called localisation. As you already know, not everybody speaks the same language, and there is no such thing as a universal language of business.
Statistics clearly tell us that the majority of international consumers prefer to buy products that are promoted in their own language. The reasons aren’t exactly clear. Maybe it’s just that they are able to trust brands more when they put in the effort to communicate in the customer’s mother tongue. Whatever the deeper reasons are, the fact is that products sell better when promoted in the local language.
Adapt to Style and Taste
Apart from translation, there are many other aspects of localisation that you need to pay attention to. In this case, style and taste. This may include changing colours to what’s preferred in your target. It is a well-known fact that different cultures attribute different meanings to colours.
You may even have to alter your fonts etc.
Alter Sizes, Measurements, and Currencies
We also know that different countries have different units of measurement and currencies. So, make sure your e-commerce site takes this into consideration. Provide the option to switch groups of measurements or currencies. For example, cm to inch or Dollar to Rupees.
This is especially true when it comes to size. A size 37 in Europe is a size 4 in the UK. Things like this need to be looked at.
Automate
Thanks to AI or Artificial Intelligence, there are many things you can automate in your e-commerce site. For instance, you can automate bulk discounts by adding scripts that adjust prices when orders go up.
You can also leverage on AI tech to study customer preferences and behaviour, which will help future product recommendation. AI-powered chatbots can make your customer support process easier and faster.
Improve Loading Speed
Internet speeds vary from place to place. So, you need to ensure that your site loads quickly even when it is accessed from a region that’s known for patchy internet connectivity. There are technologies that help with this.
For instance, you have CDNs or Content Delivery Networks, which leverage multiple servers across the globe to provide uninterrupted access.
Conclusion
E-commerce is a burgeoning sector and is only expected to grow at an exponential rate across the globe. So, now is the best time to exploit the international market. Businesses that don’t will risk losing the race.
Hopefully, with our optimisation tips, your business will be able to pick up the pace.
Tips for Creating a Global-Friendly Website
Creating a global ready website to adapt your content to amplify your international reach. Here are a few tips for you to succeed in website localisation.