Taking Your Ecommerce Business Overseas

How language translation should be part of taking your ecommerce website overseas.

The time has arrived to take that international leap with your ecommerce business. There are probably many questions going around your head, with the first one being… ‘where should I begin?’

Don’t be put off by uncertainty in the marketplace due to recent political upheaval. In fact, you’re in good company if you’re expanding across the border. UK exports are expected to reach £850 billion by 2020, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. When you consider this figure was at £224 billion by around 2010, it demonstrates the potential opportunities for growth.

Whether you’re an online fashion retailer, a toy seller, an online homeware business or a shoe designer, there are simple initial steps you can take towards taking your business overseas - and making it successful at the same time.

Here’s our quick checklist to help you grasp new opportunities abroad:

Check the marketplace
Do you know your rivals in the countries you’re targeting? Is demand for your product high?

Stay vigilant.
The risk of online fraud is greater when you’re dealing with international online orders. Educate yourself with the challenges.

Consider your returns policy.
Understanding the nitty-gritty of how you’re going to operate will ultimately promote your overall success. This includes something important to your end-to-end sales process, such as how efficient your returns policy is. Factor in any costs or obstacles.

Ensure your branding is right.
In our previous blog post, we highlighted how getting branding right when you’re moving your business overseas is vital.

Get up to speed with tax, VAT, payment systems and duties.
Whether you will incur certain costs by selling via your ecommerce website overseas, or your customer will, should be clear. Read the HMRC guide here.

Also consider which payment systems will work best for you and your customers through your online shop. For example, WorldPay, Paypal or a multi-currency store.

Get web ready.
Ensure your website - your bread and butter - is fit for purpose for your new international audience. Does it have the relevant country’s URL, which will help your SEO and impression of authenticity?

Language is key.
Having a multilingual website business or getting in language translator experts to interpret your ecommerce efforts might just be the pinnacle of your ability to infiltrate a marketplace abroad. Even better, access to native language speakers could be critical to your success.

Call 0114 470 1075 or email us about your language requirements.