If you are living in the USA or Canada and you operate a web- based business such as an online store, chances are you have limited your target audience to your home country. Opening your doors to customers around the world is something every business that utilizes the internet should consider. There are several myths that prevent many online business people from accepting customers from abroad. We’ll take a look at a few of them here in the hopes that you will decide to market and sell internationally and increase both your customer base and your profits.
Myth #1 – I don’t speak another language, so I can’t communicate with potential customers in other countries.
Many online entrepreneurs are afraid of doing business with people in other countries because they don’t want to deal with language issues. Let’s straighten this out right now. There are some very large markets just waiting to be tapped. Take the Japanese for example. These people are online all the time. They buy online all the time. They have money to spend and chances are, they want what you have.
Yes, their main language is not English. No, you don’t have to translate your site into Japanese and hire an interpreter. Why? Because most Japanese READ English at a level that is much higher than the average American high school student’s. If you offer it to them in English, they will be able to understand. By the way, Japan is one of many countries where this is true. Check around.
Myth #2 – It’s difficult to accept payments in multiple currencies.
Not only can you easily operate in multiple currencies, you can increase your profits in several ways by doing so. Many online payment processors, including Paypal, will let you accept funds in multiple currencies. This opens the door to many new markets. Furthermore, Paypal now allows its premiere business members to hold funds in any of several major world currencies. You can collect payments in Euros from your European customers and wait until the Dollar is stronger again and then automatically exchange the funds in your account and make a profit a second time. Many payment processors will allow you to do this.
Many online shopping carts will even allow your online customers to view your items for sale in their local currencies based on the latest exchange rates and process them for you. Even open source software such as Zencart allows for this. Check your software to see if this is possible. Offering customers the option to purchase in their local currency means more dollars for you, and it often doesn’t have to require any difficult reprogramming of your site.
Myth #3 – International Shipping will be too much to deal with.
Depending on the type of product you sell, you may find it distinctly easier to ship abroad. The United States Postal service, for example, offers some great rates for international shipping in flat rate envelopes. This is perfect if you sell small items like books or cds. UPS also specializes in shipping around the globe and is well suited for larger items. Both offer shipping rate charts for international shipping just as they do for their domestic services and these rates can be found online. Yes, it will take a little extra effort to create and post your shipping rates to different countries and intergrate them with your shopping cart software, but think of the return in terms of new customers and increased sales.
A final tip – Don’t think that people in other countries don’t spend any time or money online either. The Asian markets such as Japan and South Korea are huge, their currencies are fairly strong, they have great internet access, and they spend like crazy online. Most importantly, they read English.
Learning the truth behind these myths, along with a bit of research and marketing on your part may lead you to a whole new world of international customers and sales. Open your online doors to the world as soon as possible and watch your profits soar.
James B. Allen is a niche market consultant who provides keyword research for a small, exclusive client list of internet marketers, website designers and SEO professionals. Visit him at http://www.NichesExposed.com
