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Home > E-Marketing >

7 Tips to Internationalize A Website
Date Published: 25th February 2008
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Author: CindyKing RSS Views: N/A PRINT ASK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
7 Easy Tips to Internationalize Your Web Site And Stop Pushing Your Foreign Visitors Away


Most websites owners only think of catering to their local or national audiences. Some common mistakes close doors on your international website visitors.
How many of your international visitors are you turning away without realizing it?

Here are 7 tips on how to keep your web site friendly for international visitors.

  1. Easy Content For All Readers.


    2. - The majority of internet users world-wide are non-native English speakers. Your web site visitors may have more difficulty in reading English than you do. Avoid slang and national metaphors other cultures cannot follow.

    - If you use a national sports metaphor to make a point, it might be best to explain your point in another way.


    - If you mention national holidays, explain them clearly to others who may not celebrate the same holidays as you do.

    - Is your web site too culturally specific?

  2. Be Reachable To Everyone


    3. - Can everyone reach you by phone? Toll free numbers are only accessible from within your own country. There are still many web sites that only think about placing this number prominently.

    - Remember, if you hide your office telephone number somewhere in small print, your international users may not find it. And if they do they will assume your international clients are few and far between, or that you do not want any foreign clients.

    - Can your international clients reach you by phone?

  3. Physical Address


    4. - Are you easy to be situated? It is a good idea to have your full physical address easy to find. This is a trust building element.


    - Foreign visitors will probably be curious as to where you are. If they can visualize it, they will feel more comfortable buying from you. Why not have a snapshot of a map with your town as it is situated near a town foreigners would recognize?

    - Do your international clients know where you are located?

  4. Consistent Vocabulary


    5. - Using two words to refer to one thing can have disastrous results on any non-native English speaker. This can be very confusing and generate a slew of negative reactions.
    This is one of the sources of cultural blunders.

    - Do you use consistent vocabulary?

  5. Order Address Forms


    6. - Unfortunately most order forms used by American companies are still, well, very American. Which is fine, except that international addresses come in multiple formats and not always easy to fit into the standard address form used by North Americans.


    - However, the biggest difficulty still comes up when the American forms insist on a State or Zip Code it recognizes.

    - Can your international clients place an order online with you?

  6. Glossary


    7. - This is a wonderful touch of thoughtfulness your international visitors will greatly appreciate. It is especially useful the glossary is easy to read and very simple in format with clear explanations.

    - A glossary is highly recommended in certain industries where specific vocabulary requires expert translations. Don't try to provide translations. Simple explain words with utmost simplicity, clarity and accuracy.

    - Glossaries are also appreciated in non-technical areas too. Cultural habits differ. People can use vocabulary differently. Glossaries provide insight into how you communicate and provide a base for cross-cultural dialogue.

    - Do you have a glossary explaining industry terms?

  7. Welcome International Visitors


    8. - Creating a relationship with international visitors can be as simple as "We welcome international clients" the right place.

    - You are inviting your international visitors to dialogue with you. They may feel hesitant to call or contact you because their language skills are not that great. They may feel embarrassed to call knowing it will take them 5 minutes to talk to know when it would take them 1 minute in their own language.

    - If you convey your willingness to serve international clients, you will get more foreign revenue.

    - Do your international clients feel welcome?

    - With the US dollar's current international exchange rate, American products and services are priced very attractively to many of your international clients. Now is not the time to be losing international visitors.

    - If you follow these tips your web site will be friendlier for all of your international visitors.


    Get a free special report that gives you the 8 Steps To Develop Your International Business easily from where your business is now. This valuable report is yours when you sign up for the Get International Clients free weekly newsletter, with easy to implement tips and case studies to help you develop your international mindset and get you more international clients today. Get yours now at http://cindyking.biz/get-international-clients/
Tags: metaphor, physical address, website visitors, metaphors, snapshot, telephone number, slang, cultures, international clients, international visitors, foreigners, native english speakers, toll free numbers, national holidays
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_481051_3.html
About the Author
Occupation: International Marketing Maven
Cindy King is a freelance copywriter, seasoned international business professional, internet marketer and cross cultural sales expert. She combines all of these skills to help businesses captivate elusive international clients. The services she offers provide the best value for investment for international lead generation and business expansion: * International Internet Marketing: International Website Analysis For International Audiences - The first step for businesses to internationalize their communication * International Sales Strategy: International Sales Cheat Sheet - An outline of international sales strategies for businesses to know what to say to their international clients * International Copywriting: Monthly International Content Packages - Used as a platform for integrated marketing for international audiences. * International Integrated Marketing: Step By Step Integrated International Lead Generation Strategy - To actively stimulate lead generation on a budget. Cindy’s first hand experience in international sales, cross cultural communication, international marketing, internet marketing and copywriting is rare. She uses this to provide clients with real tools for immediate international business development. This is what you get when you work with Cindy King.
http://cindyking.biz
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