Set Up Your Website for Global Ecommerce Success -
Through all the trends, evolutions, and reinventions of the internet and ecommerce, it's easy to lose sight of what made the online world such a powerful business tool: access as well as connection and access. If you own an online website, then every online customer across the globe can walk into your shop.
Take into consideration the size and the potential impact of the market you are targeting:
- In 2020, there were 2.05 billion internet users around the globe in the year 2020. But only about 12% ( 256 million) resided in the United States.
- Exporting to the United States isn't just for major brands. In the 300,000 U.S. companies that export items, 97% are small or medium-sized enterprises.
Broaden your brand
Selling globally can help increase revenues, which is a smart move when planning your company for the future growth. For example:
- International sales are a great way to even out seasonal business cycles.
- Companies that sell their products outside of the United States are on average 17 percent more successful than businesses that do not sell outside the United States.
- International sales can assist your expanding business to fill the gap if your company has excess service, manufacturing, or wholesaling capacity.
Begin to plan your expansion into the international market
If your international e-commerce wish-list list is never ending, keep in mind that you don't need to go all-in right away. Study your website data to understand which countries visitors are from, then begin creating localized content on your website and experiences that will engage customers. For a start, select one or two market or regions and learn how to grow as you proceed. You'll soon discover which products or services are the most in need and in which areas. You'll also gain data on the market as you add more nations to your expanding your international checklist.
The front endof the experience: developing your experience as a shopper
Your storefront online is typically the first point where international shoppers are exposed to your products, brand, and services. Welcoming shoppers from all over the world with localization elements to provide an optimal shopping experience.
Language
Marketing
Currency
User experience
Websites that have interactive content, including videos, gift finders, as well as advanced API integrations, perform well in regions that have high-speed internet access however, they may not appear as good or run smoothly in areas that don't have the same level of connectivity. Based on a study by Digital, half of online shoppers will abandon their shopping carts if pages don't load fast enough.
The reverse end: helping your business internationally
Going international isn't only about what customers can see on your website. It is essential to make it easy for shoppers to buy and to receive products.
Payments
Payments can help you sell in 18 different countries, take 135 currencies, and enable local payment options. There are some things to think about when selecting and setting up a payment gateway for global online success
- Build confidence. A few customers are wary about purchasing products from overseas vendors, and the extra-cautious ones might put your transaction experience in the spotlight. Offering digital wallets like PayPal and Apple Pay can help to establish confidence.
- Redirect or integrate? Certain payment gateways are well known, even preferred, in foreign markets, while others aren't as familiar. Some countries have a situation where a redirect to an external website for payments is considered to be unsecure and less trusted. On the other hand there are countries where an external site may be more dependable. Check out the payment gateways that are reputable and popular with - your markets across the world.
- Security and compliance. If you are integrating your payment gateway as well as customer payment information be sure that the stored data is safe and secured. This PCI Security Standards Council web page can be a great starting point to begin your investigation.
Taxes
Shipping
Your checklist for international success
- Review website user and client details to figure out which market segments are the most lucrative for your company.
- Choose a plugin application that can translate your website into the local languages of your potential markets.
- You can enable multi-currency options on your site.
- Pick a payment method that's popular and trusted across all of your international market.
- Automate tax collection for different countries so you're charging clients the correct amount of tax.
- Maintain transparency about costs, delivery options, track your package, and provide support in international shipping.