Are you a business owner looking for a speedy way to growth? Expanding internationally seems like a logical step forward once you’ve maximized the local customer base or see diminishing returns in your home country.
Foreign markets are often under-served reservoirs of customers that represent a fantastic opportunity for your business growth. The rise of e-commerce sales, expected to exceed US$3.5 trillion worldwide within the next five years (emarketer report), makes it the best time ever to sell your products online.
So, when you plan to expose your products and services to the international market, there are a few crucial factors that need to be sorted out quick and well: worldwide shipping, international payment methods, and website localization.
Provide Worldwide Shipping
Shipping is a crucial factor for an online business. Consider how you will gain global consumers without the means to ship internationally?
A large part of the process lies in the fulfillment. Customers expect it to be as smooth and as predictable as possible. You have several options for worldwide shipping, such as shipping consolidation services and drop-ship vendors. Alternatively, you may establish a partnership with an overseas company to stock your products and fulfill orders in certain locations.
The toughest and crucial part comes when you are tasked to identify and continuously evaluate the right shipping mix for your business. The right mix will offer distinct advantages and pricing options that will benefit you in the long run.
Offer International Payment Methods
Payment methods is another crucial factor for your e-commerce website. Consumers won’t be able to access your products and services, no matter how enticing they are, unless you have a reliable platform for them to make online transactions.
You may either integrate a direct payment method of accepting credit cards or third-party merchant that specializes in worldwide transactions. Moreover, it helps if you support the international currencies that your consumers use.
Localize your Website
What’s a better way to connect with consumers than to make your website compatible with their country and language? Localizing your website improves its search engine rankings in a given country and gives it more visibility to compete with local businesses.
Localization is more than translating web content or setting up country-specific domains for search engine rankings.
Customers are more likely to trust your product if your product descriptions are in their own language. Understanding the cultural and local needs with localization is imperative to success. If you are a Singapore-based business owner going online, three crucial factors you should consider will maximize your success with your target audience, and one of the best ways is by localizing your gateway. With some market research and a reliable localization service provider, the possibilities are made simpler.