Things to Consider Before Taking Your Business International

Global domination isn’t just the main goal of Bond villains, it’s something most ecommerce business owners will have considered. Taking your business international is a huge step and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

If you’re seriously considering global expansion, or just want someone to lay down the facts, here’s what you need to know before launching your store on an international scale. 

Why Sell Internationally?

We’ve all likely been targeted with ads from international brands showcasing their products for a fraction of the price if you were to buy that item locally. It can often seem too good to be true and while that might be the case at times, often it’s only increased shipping times that consumers have to contend with.

By launching your store internationally, you’re able to share your products and services with millions of potential new customers. It might be that your products aren’t available to them locally, or you’re able to offer a more competitive price. Whatever it is, there’s huge potential for increasing your customer base and sales.

If you’re unsure as to whether your products or services would sell in a particular country, it’s a great idea to test the waters by launching your products internationally via online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay. Of course, if you plan on trying this method, you will need to ensure all your product information is localised. That includes pricing, shipping and the translation of any copy to the local language. This is the only way you’ll see real results.

A lot of time and money will go into opening in a new market, so it’s important you conduct a lot of research beforehand.

What Should I Consider Before Launching My Store Globally?

Take a look at the list below and make sure you understand what and why you are doing what you are doing.

Demand 

As mentioned previously, is there a demand for your product in that market? Do your research. You may find there is a huge demand in select regions but nothing in others.

Localisation

You need to consider currency and language. Will you need to localise your ecommerce site to suit an international audience? Think payment options – the most popular will differ from country to country.

Shipping

Are you planning to do cross-border shipping or place a local depot in each country? You need to consider the costs and capabilities of both.

Marketing

Did you know that certain hand gestures mean different things in different countries? You have to be super careful when it comes to using the same marketing on a global scale as not everything will translate. You need to work out the cost of unique campaigns and how this will affect your bottom line. 

You need to keep all of these things in mind so you can make a fair decision on whether selling internationally will be beneficial to your business or not. It may not be for every brand, and that’s ok.