A WorldWideWeb Reminder for Success

I have not done business outside the U.S.A. directly in the past 15 years. A family trip to Canada when we lived in Detroit was probably the last time I bought anything directly from another country. Probably a hot dog.

However, these days I get visits on my website from around the world. On the right side of this page is a clickable map that shows where the visitors reside.

If you are wanting to do business world wide, then take heed to this advice from MarketingProfs.com:

It's a Small World After All

When Disneyland first opened the It's a Small World ride in the mid-1960s, the catchy chorus of its theme song was largely metaphorical. No more. Advances in technology have made the world a much smaller place for everyone—and opened global opportunities for small businesses like yours.

But before you pursue an international strategy, Huiping Iler of Wintranslation.com says it's important to ensure your website appeals to a global audience. She recommends taking a few key steps:

• Learn the lingo. According to Iler, sites that include content in a local language receive preference from search engines like Google and Yahoo. "[W]ithout German content," she says, "the chance of your site showing up in Google.de is next to nil." Search engine optimization aside, the courtesy of speaking the native tongue will also enhance your company's cosmopolitan image.
• Dress to impress. A potential customer in the Netherlands or Japan will make purchasing decisions based largely on the quality of your website. So offer information-rich content and appealing site design.

The Po!nt: As German Chancellor Willy Brandt once said, "If I am selling to you, I speak your language. If I am buying from you, dann müssen Sie in meiner Sprache sprechen." In other words, then you must speak my language.

Source: MarketingProfs. Click here for the post.