The localization of your website is a critical factor in bringing your online business global.
What is localization? Website localization involves the complete cultural translation of your website, making sure that the look and feel of the site matches what your future customers will be expecting, while not leaving your company branding. You will have to make sure that your web site is registered in all of the appropriate local directories - the sites more important that Google and Yahoo in different countries. It also means preparing your website to get you the results you want from a market that is culturally different from yours.
Not all websites are hosted in the same country, which may not seem important, but there is not one search engine alone that can reference every single website in the world in all languages. For someone in the US, Google may seem as if it is the only solution available. But Google is not always the number one ranking search engine in language other than English. In some countries and regions Google finishes a distant third and Yahoo is virtually unknown.
A user in a foreign country will probably use his local search engine, in his own language, when looking up his information on the web. If you want him to find you with his tools, you have better prepare to have a website that has been created in that country, by people that are native of that country. American with historical roots to that country just won't do. You also often have the option of hosting your website in the foreign country, and registering your website in the appropriate local directories in the local language. This means you can have your website translated and then submitted to foreign directories from your home office. Microsoft, as an example, may host the majority of its web pages in on location, but the home pages and most important pages are hosted in the local country.
If the future client you are trying to target cannot find your website, your translation efforts and costs will be worthless. Having your website translated into foreign languages goes hand in hand with having your website registered in the appropriate local directories. If you do one without doing the other your international business from that country will suffer.
For further details on how you can create websites that facilitate your future international development see the full article on Website Globalization at http://www.CindyKing.biz
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