As technology evolves and the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the retail landscape has undergone dramatic shifts. E-Commerce has emerged from being a mere convenience to an indispensable component of business strategy.
With the many options available for creating websites, it’s not just big businesses that can reach international audiences and sell to them. From Etsy shops to independent websites to multi-million-dollar retailers, you need to know how to transform your website into an international e-Commerce shopping center.
This means not only reaching out internationally but also understanding and adapting to the intricate maze of local cultures and behaviors. And the choice of the right e-Commerce platform plays a pivotal role in this expansion. Follow along as we help you choose how to engage in international e-Commerce by translating your website.
International e-Commerce Trends and Stats
One of the greatest trends in the last year is cross-border shopping. According to a study by Flow, 67% of online shoppers have bought from retailers outside of their home country. The most popular product categories include shoes, fashion accessories like jewelry, consumer electronics, and beauty/personal care. According to PayPal, global e-commerce sales are projected to reach $7.4 trillion by 2025, and cross-border online shoppers will play a huge part in that growth.
Along with cross-border shopping, many e-Commerce retailers are investing in website translation and localization in an effort to access new markets. Based on an analysis by Slator, the largest intention for translating a retail website is to reach new multilingual markets. In fact, of the $27.89B total vertical for 2022, $10B was used to access new addressable markets. Market access drives the growing demand for localization technology, especially for e-commerce and online retail in the overall travel and retail vertical.
The Importance of Website Translation for Retailers
Every customer, regardless of their geographical location or language, cherishes a shopping experience that feels close to home. According to Statista, 55% of global consumers would only buy products from websites that translate information into their preferred language. It’s a matter of comfort and trust. By engaging in e-Commerce website translation services, you’re showing that you value the culture and preferences of your multilingual audience. You can show that you care about providing a tailored experience to your customers, regardless of where they’re from.
This is not just about translating the words on your website. It’s also about tailoring your content based on cultural nuances, preferences, and purchasing behaviors. This can all be addressed in a strong website localization strategy. Catering to these subtle differences transforms a generic shopping experience into something memorable and relatable.
Impact of Translation and Localization on Brand Reach and ROI
The business benefits of website translation extend beyond just happy customers. Translating and localizing content unlocks the doors to broader audiences and global markets. A brand that speaks a customer’s language is more trustworthy, relatable, and easier to recall.
With over 120 million multicultural consumers, a number that is increasing every year, this is the fastest growing segment of the United States population. As a result, research has shown that localized ad campaigns got 22% more conversions than their English-only counterparts.
With a familiar language and culturally apt content, customers spend more time engaging with advertising and your website, leading to better conversion rates. This means higher sales and greater return on investment.
How to Begin International E-Commerce
Embarking on international e-commerce involves several key steps, regardless of the size of your business. From the beginning stages to website translation and localization working with a professional language service makes a difference. Here are the key components:
- Market Research: Understand the demographics, preferences, and behaviors of your target markets. Analyze cultural norms to adapt your strategy effectively.
- E-commerce Platform: Select a platform that offers multilingual capabilities, allowing you to create localized versions of your website. Keep reading to find out which options we recommend.
- Website Translation: Translate your website and any user and payment tools so your new multilingual customers can navigate your website easily.
- Localization: Localize your website elements, such as currency, images, and content, to align with local preferences and cultures.
- Customer Support: Provide customer service in multiple languages to assist international customers effectively.
- SEO: Optimize your website for local search engines by using localized keywords and relevant content.
Website translation and localization enhance user experience, build trust, and improve conversions by providing content in customers’ native languages, aligning with cultural norms, and offering a personalized experience. It’s essential to follow best practices and collaborate with professional translation and localization services to effectively expand your e-commerce business globally.
Top 3 International e-Commerce Platforms for Retailers
1. Shopify:
Our top option for creating an international e-Commerce website is Shopify! Recognized globally, Shopify offers a seamless shopping experience. Its interface is user-friendly, making international expansion smoother. With its extensive range of plugins and translation options, retailers can easily adapt their stores for different regions.
Here are some key insights:
Features: Enjoy a user-friendly drag-and-drop website editor, a versatile selection of 91 customizable themes, mobile-ready design, SEO tools, and an app marketplace for expanded features. Track site performance with traffic analytics and provide discounts and coupons for enhanced engagement.
Pricing: Get started from only $29 per month, after a 14-day trial.
Global Impact: Access 135+ currencies, multilingual capabilities, diverse payment options, and efficient shipping and tax calculations.
Key Advantages: Benefit from an all-in-one platform delivering unparalleled ease of use.
2. Wix:
Research has shown that Wix stands out as an ideal platform for small businesses, offering excellent customization options and strong e-Commerce functionality. Its drag-and-drop builder ensures that businesses, regardless of their tech-savviness, can build beautiful, localized online stores.
Features: Employ an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, access a vast library of over 800 customizable templates, ensure your site’s adaptability across devices, harness the power of SEO tools, explore an expansive app marketplace for added functionalities, scrutinize valuable traffic analytics, and implement discounts and coupons for enhanced engagement.
Pricing: Pricing options starting at $27, after a 14-day free trial.
Global Impact: Benefit from international reach, supporting over 135 currencies, offering multilingual capabilities, and facilitating a wide array of payment methods to streamline transactions. Additionally, simplify shipping and tax calculations.
Key Advantages: Leverage marketing tools to amplify your outreach and capitalize on the unique benefit of completely waived transaction fees.
3. Squarespace:
Known for its design-centric approach, Squarespace allows retailers to craft visually appealing online stores. Its templates are responsive, ensuring a consistent shopping experience across devices, which is crucial for international shoppers.
Features: Experience the ease of a drag-and-drop website builder, access a range of 68 themes tailored to your preferences, ensure a mobile-friendly design, harness the potential of SEO tools, gain insights from traffic analytics, enhance user engagement through valuable coupons and discounts, explore extensions for comprehensive functionality, and much more.
Pricing: Get a rate of only $23 per month, after a 14-day free trial.
Global Impact: Take advantage of supporting over 135 currencies, employ multilingual capabilities, explore a diverse array of payment methods, and streamline shipping and tax calculations.
Key Advantages: Elevate your creative toolkit with an integrated image editor, leverage a logo maker for brand identity, and harness the power of effective marketing tools to boost your online presence.
Start Selling Internationally
In the world of international e-Commerce, the right platform coupled with effective translation and localization strategies sets the stage for success. As businesses continue to expand their horizons, understanding and valuing the diversity of their global audience becomes non-negotiable. It’s not just about selling a product or service; it’s about delivering a global brand promise consistently.
If you’re ready to expand your global brand reach, let MotionPoint help. We have so many options, from our industry-leading proxy technology to integrations like connectors and APIs to our Adaptive Translation™ technology, there is something to fit your e-Commerce site.
Want to get the most for your money? Check out our limited-time BOGO offer and get two new languages for the price of one! That means you can test two new markets at half price. Learn more today.
Last updated on August 30, 2023
