The Basics of Cross-Border Optimization
- 1. Getting to Global Optimizing for Cross-Border The Basics
- 2. Optimizing for Cross- border sales Walkthrough There are simple, incremental ways you can make their site an effective cross-border sales tool. Selling cross-border does not have to be painful or break the bank. We will walk you through the gradual steps you can take to “globalize” your website.
- 3. Know Your International Visitors Optimizing for Cross-border What (or where) should you optimize for? Know your global audience Use Google Analytics’ Geo report to find out where your visitors are coming from. You might discover you already have global visitors interested in your products!
- 4. Localize your Website Optimizing for Cross-border Localizing content for increased conversions Up to 75% of shoppers won’t consider buying from a site that isn’t in their language. Don’t panic! As you will also learn in your report, you might not have to localize everything. Speak the right language One key success factor in cross-border eCommerce is to localize their site. Localizing means more than just translation, as you will learn in your report.
- 5. Localize your Website Optimizing for Cross-border Translating your content can be incremental Welcome your audience in their language Use pop-up solutions like Just Uno to create “welcome mats” in multiple languages. Say hello the right way and reassure your visitors by covering common shipping, payment, and return questions. Free (or cheap) solutions out there Plugins like WPML (WordPress) and Languify (Shopify) can help your clients translate their sites. Do NOT auto-translate Although Google Translate is a useful tool, do not use it to translate a website. The first thing that gets lost in translation? Conversions.
- 6. Deliver a Great Cross-border Experience Optimizing for Cross-border Focus on clarity and customer support Have clear shipping and return policies International shoppers will want to know how much and how fast delivery will be and how easy (or not!) it will be to return the product if they are not satisfied. Make this info front and center. Plan to offer solid service wherever you ship to Start with the assumption that every single one of your international customer will call, chat, or email you and plan from there.
- 7. Use Currency to Your Advantage Optimizing for Cross-border Technology Comes to the Rescue Display prices in the local currency Use a multi-currency plugin like Zonos Hello or Bold to dynamically display prices in your visitor’s currency. Use the rounding option! Remember to use the rounding option! You’re more likely to sell an item at €5 than €4.76.
- 8. Handle Duties & Taxes Optimizing for Cross-border The #1 source of bad surprises with eCommerce Calculate and Capture Nothing worse than having to pay duties at delivery. To avoid this nasty surprise, invest in international checkout solutions that calculate and capture duties and sales taxes at payment. Communicate, calculate, and capture duties and VAT for all the countries you ship to. Automate tax calculation, compliance, and reporting.