Globalize Your Website
The Internet has unlocked a wide array of markets and knocked down barriers that previously prevented merchants from marketing their products on a global scale. There are a number of ways to 'globalize' a website and broaden a businesses general appeal to an international audience.
1.) Payment Options - vary from country to country, therefore offering flexible payment options are important. While PayPal might be a good option for consumer-oriented products, this service is not widely used by businesses and is only available to customers in specific countries. In order to attract global customers, businesses must provide a variety of payment options that customers, in different countries, are familiar and comfortable with.
2.) Currency Distinction - provides added convenience to a potential customer, and shows an understanding and respect for global audiences. A currency converter is a good option, especially for large companies who may be dealing with many countries. When listing prices clearly indicate the country currency, such as between US dollars and Canadian dollars. This distinction will prevent misconceptions and prevent customer dissatisfaction.
3.) Contact Information - should be given for a country code, along with the area code, when listing phone numbers. It should not be assumed that customers know the numbers to dial foreign calls. Since the standards of address formats can differ from country to country, ensure that the mailing address listed on the website is properly formatted. In this time of rapidly expanding use of numbers, if your area code changes, don't forget to change the information on your website.
4.) Delivery Options - should make sense for all customers. Ensure that they have full knowledge of shipping information to avoid delay and error. If a shipping option is not available for a specific region be sure that is clearly stated on the website. Provide estimates as to when the product will arrive to various regions, so that customers have appropriate expectations about delivery time frames.
5.) Order Forms - when creating order forms use terminology that is universal; if possible, where relevant, refer to postal codes rather than zip codes. The terminology on the order form should support the fact that the company sells to an international audience.
6.) Payment Policy - clearly state payment policies on any order pages, if purchase orders or wire transfers are not accepted from specific countries be sure that the policy is clearly stated. Prepare an explanation as to why the policies are in place. Customers understand that foreign purchase orders are not legally binding and will not feel alienated if an explanation is offered and clearly stated.
7.) Spelling - can vary, so avoid using terminology on the website that would cause confusion or look like careless spelling mistakes. Be clear and concise as many customers may be viewing your website in their second language. A website that can be viewed in different languages is all the better for communicating with foreign customers.
Ultimately the goal is to make purchasing the product or service easy for a customer. A website that respects cultural differences, as well as the nuances of language and terminology, will go a long way in attracting an international audience.
About The Author
Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a company specializing in alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at http://www.notepage.net , and http://www.notepage.net
For years now I've been looking to start my own... Read More
Dance is how you pamper your soul and satiate your... Read More
More and more businesses are recognizing the importance of content... Read More
Most people know they need a website in order to... Read More
While it may seem like a "quick and easy" task,... Read More
Like wine cars get more attractive to collectors as years... Read More
Wow, we`ve already taken a domain and chosen a web... Read More
URL rewriting are major needs for your sites that produce... Read More
Creatively marketing your corporate site takes time in the set... Read More
Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did... Read More
Fantastico is a 3rd-party cPanel add-on and can be purchased... Read More
The Internet is being used by local service business to... Read More
Many small companies choose not to invest in a professionally... Read More
80% of your Web site is Maintenance!Once your Web site... Read More
With search engines putting a damper on direct reciprocal links,... Read More
Making money with your web site is the dream and... Read More
Thinking about starting up a business? The web is the... Read More
Conceptualize, Build and Publish a Web site - What's required... Read More
In the region where my company is located, South Bend,... Read More
The definition of the phrase "Content Management" depends on what... Read More
Getting a Targeted Visitor to a website is a waste... Read More
You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More
Launching a new small business website is often a long... Read More
More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help... Read More
Design and layout can make your communication come alive and... Read More
While studying online for IT investment opportunities, I found that... Read More
Cost Effective Advertising. Online selling. Increased geopgraphic range. Wider... Read More
Directory Generator, a product from Armand Morin and Marc Quarles,... Read More
When a user signs up at your website, you may... Read More
Anyone who knows anything about web accessibility knows that images... Read More
Most web sites are more like stage sets than real... Read More
Many websites I come across don't have a single link... Read More
When you consider the billions of individuals and companies on... Read More
An additional benefit of website accessibility is an improved performance... Read More
You've put up a website to promote a product or... Read More
The Internet is being used by local service business to... Read More
From early days of www, the Internet sites that are... Read More
It is an undeniable fact that not everybody is keen... Read More
Yahoo has long offered email, an online calendar, notes, bookmarks,... Read More
Simply ensuring your website is accessible to screen reader users... Read More
A PHP Redirect automatically transfers a web user from one... Read More
The process of Web application development is critical to the... Read More
Did you know that hosting companies overcrowd their servers despite... Read More
Why do some sites succeed while the vast majority of... Read More
Many executives and investors are skeptical that software products can... Read More
After years of working with entrepreneurs who developed their first... Read More
That's right. According to a recent study by Nielsen/NetRatings, Amazon.com... Read More
Are bloated images slowing down your web site and causing... Read More
Optimal website design is the art of logical navigation.It will... Read More
Internet has opened a whole new world for web developers... Read More
Web Development |