One of the main interests for those selling through e-commerce platforms is undoubtedly selling abroad and expanding into new markets. Before diving into such a comprehensive task as selling products internationally, we have prepared this article by compiling topics that you might be curious about and find useful.
Selling products or goods abroad is certainly not limited to e-commerce. However, manual methods outside of e-commerce are much more cumbersome and restricted, so selling internationally through your e-commerce site provides numerous advantages. Here are some key points you might want to note to achieve these benefits:
Localize Your Website for International Sales
When selling products abroad, you should initially make it easier by having a website in the native language of your customer base. Although English is widely accepted as a common language, there are still many people who do not speak English. Therefore, having a website that supports the native languages of your target countries will greatly facilitate your international sales activities. Additionally, remember the importance of having staff who can communicate in the target languages to ensure healthy dialogue with potential customers. Despite the advances in translation technology, relying on these tools can damage your corporate identity.
Learn Marketing and Advertising Channels for International Sales
It’s important to recognize that marketing mechanisms vary by country and culture. You need to accurately analyze the dynamics of the country you are targeting for international sales. For instance, while newspaper ads might increase brand awareness in one country, internet ads might yield better results in another. By using customized filters like these, you can develop marketing and advertising strategies that will enhance your international sales success.
Understand Legal Obligations
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of selling abroad is understanding the legal obligations of the country where you are selling. When selling products internationally, you must be aware of and comply with details such as tax rates, customs regulations, and the content of contracts between parties in the target country. Otherwise, you might face issues like products getting stuck in customs, packages that should be returned but aren’t, fines imposed by the target country, and other negative outcomes.
Ensure Your Payment Infrastructure is Suitable for International Sales
One of the most critical aspects of an e-commerce ecosystem is the payment system. When a customer likes a product, they add it to their cart and proceed to payment by entering their credit card details. A key point to consider in this standard procedure is whether your payment infrastructure is compatible with banks in the target country. While this is generally not an issue, there are cases where payment systems might block cards from specific countries. To avoid such problems and not lose potential customers, ensure that the payment infrastructure provider works seamlessly with cards from the target country.
Set Up Your Shipping and Logistics Infrastructure
Congratulations, your product sale through your e-commerce site is complete! The next step is to package the requested product and send it to the buyer’s address. But wait a minute; which courier company did you choose for shipping to the relevant country? Today, while courier companies generally offer global shipping, pricing and delivery times can vary widely. Some courier companies may also handle shipments poorly. Therefore, when selling internationally, you should determine which courier company to use based on factors like cost, performance, and past user experiences, and inform your customers accordingly.
