3 Ways to Improve Localization Strategies in e-commerce

Where consumers spend, e-commerce localization must follow. While a good portion of international spending comes from North America and Western Europe, e-commerce sales are estimated to grow 44 percent in the Asia Pacific region in 2014. Many global companies are improving their outlook and strategy with e-commerce in an effort to get on top. Engaging in activities like adding more languages, localizing mobile apps and much more…

1. Take Note of Shopping Days Around the World That Are Important

China’s Single’s Day saw $5.7 billion USD in online sales last year; this is more revenue than is generated by any other shopping day around the world. You may want to consider localizing your marketing materials to drive traffic to your website and increase sales in these markets to fully take advantage of these major shopping days across the world.

2. Localized User-generated Content Helps to Increase Buyer Confidence

The infographic Review of Reviews presents some extremely compelling statistics, namely that 71 percent of customers agree that online consumer reviews make them more comfortable that they’re buying the right product or service. It also states that 70 percent of people consult reviews and ratings before purchasing, and that 63 percent of people are more likely to purchase a product from a website if it has positive product ratings and reviews. Finally, another significant statistic is that, customer reviews create a 74 percent increase in product conversion. If this information reveals anything, it’s that people’s views and opinions generate more trust over corporate product descriptions – this means that they are obviously more likely to buy.

3. Increase Revenue With Good e-Commerce Website Localization

Considering all of the revenue that is available for businesses online, without a solid localization strategy that incorporates an e-commerce website in multiple languages, really benefitting from that revenue will be a challenge. The economic potential of online communication is $45 trillion, according to a recent study by Common Sense Advisory. However, the same study found that if you have just an English version of your website, you’ll only benefit from one third of the takings. The research mentions that it takes a minimum of 14 languages for global businesses to stay competitive online and that global brands that really want to pack an international punch need to translate online content into at least 20 languages. The benefits of website localization for targeted regions around the world are obvious.

As e-commerce becomes more and more of a common way for global business to be done, a good localization plan for online business can get you on the right path to international success. With it quickly becoming the norm for companies to adjust their website to fit international markets, sometimes it’s necessary to make the necessary improvements to avoid getting left behind!