Launching an e-commerce business can be rewarding but also difficult for a variety of reasons. Common issues include funding, a lack of demand for your products or services, competition, ineffective marketing, poor financial planning, and the failure to translate products or services for foreign buyers, but what makes it even more difficult is expanding it beyond national borders.
In addition to overcoming the language barrier, international companies must consider legal, financial, and cultural influences. For example, 96% of global consumers are based outside of the United States, so breaking down the language barrier is critical, even if you only operate online.
Here are a few pointers to help you launch a multilingual website more efficiently, so you can cross international land borders and successfully expand your business. Learn how to navigate the world of e-commerce and overcome its challenges.
Rule #1: One way to manage your cash flow is to secure funding, but raising capital can be difficult, and it can be difficult to know where to get cash for your business idea.
Rule #2: Conduct market research to learn more about potential customers so that you can offer them the products or services they require.
Rule #3: Marketing must be effective. It must include advertising, promotional offers, customer service, and the ability to build your brand’s reputation.
Rule #4: Create a cash flow forecast that estimates the expected flow of cash coming in and out of your company, across all areas, over a given period of time.
In the short term, a cash flow forecast may look only 30 days ahead to help you determine whether you will need extra cash soon or if you will have more than you need.
Rule #5: Know the primary language spoken.
Knowing the primary language will enable you to launch campaigns for international customers in the region where you are entering a new market. It will also demonstrate respect for the language and culture of the people in that region.
Many countries, including South Africa, have more than one official language; in fact, South Africa has eleven officially spoken languages. Switzerland has four official languages, and Canada has two.
Rule #6: Conduct Surveys.
Companies should rely on the skills and knowledge of local experts. Local experts can help you understand the region’s culture, habits, heritage, language, and dialects, which will be useful when creating multilingual websites. Furthermore, having a local expert assist you with online surveys such as Google Forms, Qualtrics, and SurveyMoney makes the process much easier.
Rule #7: Bring onboard an Interpreter.
Having a trustworthy and experienced interpreter on board can help you provide feedback to your design, content, and marketing teams. The interpreter will assist in resolving any miscommunication, especially if you have teams working in two different regions.
Rule #8: Remove Slang, Jargon, and Idioms.
Idioms, jargon, and slang should be avoided whenever possible when writing for an international audience. Slang, like most idioms, is region-specific. So, minimizing all three elements will reduce the likelihood of miscommunication or misrepresentation.
Rule #9: Rely more on visual.
One of the most effective ways to convey your message through a multilingual website is to use images and graphics, which must be properly coded and placed on the website page. Everyone can understand images and clear graphics, which reduces the need for unnecessary text.
Rule #10: Know the basics of the language.
At least one team member must understand the fundamentals of the new language, such as work, greetings, and warnings. Knowing the fundamentals of the language will help other departments of your company coordinate and work on the website.
Rule #11: Translate keywords through an expert.
Translating keywords from English for SEO purposes is extremely risky, to say the least. We recommend that you do not translate keywords. Keywords are convenience words, not real-world words. So, if you want to do SEO in that language, make sure to conduct research on the region and language. The easiest way to ensure trouble-free SEO in that language is to hire a native speaker with search marketing experience to list the relevant keywords.
Rule #12: Get local domains.
The main “.com” website can be in English, but regional or country-specific websites can use abbreviated domain names such as abc.co.uk for the United Kingdom, abc.eu for the European Union, abc.ae for the United Arab Emirates, and so on.
At Ya-Hub Translations, we design and translate e-commerce websites. We have experience translating websites as we work with the best professional translators. We consistently receive 10/10 feedback from our international customers.
We are a professional translation agency that translates international company websites to help sell their products and services all over the world. Not only are we well-versed in SEO and coding, but we also translate websites, legal documents, marketing materials, and product collaterals to ensure that they always adhere to international law and regulations. Take healthcare (medication, allergies, etc.) and manufacturing (product specifications, technical manuals, etc.) as examples.
If you are a small business owner, you should be aware that the global e-commerce industry is rapidly expanding. Consider creating a local and then international website, as more internet users shop online every day.