9 Tips for Effective eCommerce Localization

Localization isn’t always easy to get right, but with a strategic approach, your online shop can benefit from increased conversions, improved customer engagement, and higher revenue. Here are some tips to help you get started.

 

1. Determine what potential customers want and need from your brand

Understanding your target audience and their preferences is key to creating effective localized content. Don’t dive into localization without a clear plan. Research the language, culture, and customs of your target market to get an idea of what customers in that area expect from your brand. You might have some inaccurate assumptions about different markets, so make sure to do your research or you could end up alienating potential customers.

 

2. Start with the most essential content

All brands must consider their budget carefully when it comes to localization. To get the most ROI, focus on localizing the essential content first. This might be product descriptions or key marketing messages. Determine which content drives the most conversions and localize that before anything else. If you have less essential content that you still want to translate quickly but don’t have the resources to do so, consider automated AI translation tools.

 

3. Don’t neglect your multilingual SEO

We all know how important SEO is when it comes to driving website traffic, but marketers often forget that SEO has to be customized for each market. This goes beyond simply translating keywords and phrases. You’ll need to research the most popular search terms in different languages and use them strategically throughout your website. Keywords are not the same in every language and can vary depending on region, so take the time to find out which terms are most relevant to your target market.

 

4. Make sure your checkout experience is seamless

No matter how great your content is, customers won’t convert if they have a bad experience at checkout. Make sure to double-check that all payments are accepted in different currencies and that the payment process is easy to navigate. Consumers have high expectations when it comes to convenience and any hiccups or delays in checkout can lead to abandoned carts and lost sales.

 

5. Adjust your dates and times to local standards

When localizing your website, dates and times need to be adjusted to the time zone of your target market. This goes for both content and any automated campaigns you might be running, such as email newsletters or notifications. Make sure to consider holidays and any other local customs when creating your content so you don’t miss out on important sales opportunities or risk offending customers. When displaying dates and times on your site, use the standard calendar and format for each market to ensure your customers understand it.

 

6. Research local regulations and laws

Half the work of running an online store is making sure you comply with all the necessary laws and regulations. Every country has different rules, so doing your research is essential to ensure your store isn’t breaking any laws. Consider cultural norms as well. For example, what kind of images or words are appropriate in different countries? Make sure to factor this into your localization strategy so you don’t run afoul of any unexpected regulations.

 

7. Make sure your customer support is tailored to each region

A good customer service experience is essential for successful eCommerce. Make sure to provide customers with support in their language, so they don’t have to struggle to express their needs. If possible, provide support in local time zones so customers don’t have to wait for a response. This will make them more likely to recommend your brand and come back for future purchases.

 

8. Adjust your visual content to match the local market

Your images and videos are just as important as your text content. Make sure to consider local cultural preferences when creating and curating visual content for different markets. This might mean hiring local models or adjusting the marketing content you use to better reflect local dress, customs, and tastes. Visual content is a powerful tool for engaging customers, so make sure it accurately represents the people and places you are targeting.

 

9. Create a social media profile for each market

Social media is an essential part of eCommerce, but it needs to be tailored for each market. This means creating separate profiles for each language and region, with content and messaging that is relevant to each market. Make sure to research the most popular social networks for each market so you can reach out to the right customers. Additionally, you’ll need to adjust the timing of your posts and consider any language or cultural barriers that may be present.

Take the hassle out of localization with LingvoHouse and see your eCommerce store go global. Contact us now to find out how we can help your business.