E-commerce has grown exponentially over the last decade, and the recent global pandemic has only accelerated this growth. With more and more businesses turning to e-commerce to expand their reach and increase global revenue, it’s become increasingly important to make sure your e-commerce site is ready for international sales.
For businesses using BigCommerce, global expansion is made easier thanks to the platform’s native support for multiple currencies, languages, and payment gateways. Here are some tips for selling internationally with your BigCommerce e-commerce site.
Table of Contents
Research Your Target Markets
Before expanding globally, it’s important to research your target markets. This includes understanding the culture, consumer behavior, and buying patterns of your potential customers. This will allow you to tailor your products, prices, and marketing strategies to better suit their needs.
You should also research local laws and regulations related to e-commerce, including taxes and customs duties. Make sure you have a clear understanding of international shipping and logistics to avoid any unexpected surprises down the line.
Localize Your Site
To maximize your international sales potential, you should consider localizing your site. This includes translating your site content, product descriptions, and customer service materials into the local languages of your target markets.
Offering multiple currencies is also important, as it simplifies the buying process for international customers and helps to reduce shopping cart abandonment rates.
Optimize Your Site for Mobile
Mobile commerce is growing rapidly around the world, so it’s important to make sure your site is optimized for mobile devices. This means using a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes and mobile operating systems.
Make sure your site loads quickly on mobile devices and that it’s easy to navigate and use. Consider enhancing your mobile experience with features like one-click checkout, mobile payments, and push notifications to keep customers engaged with your brand.
Offer Multiple Payment Options
Offering multiple payment options is crucial for international sales. This includes popular local payment methods like Alipay in China, iDEAL in the Netherlands, and bank transfers in Europe.
BigCommerce offers support for many popular international payment gateways, so make sure you choose ones that are accepted in your target markets. Offering multiple payment options helps to reduce shopping cart abandonment rates and increases your chances of completing the sale.
Provide Excellent Customer Support
Providing excellent customer support is vital for building a loyal customer base and establishing trust with your international customers. This means offering fast and efficient support in multiple languages, as well as providing clear and detailed product information and shipping policies.
Consider offering live chat or chatbots to help customers quickly resolve any issues they may encounter. Make sure you respond promptly to customer inquiries and complaints, and do your best to accommodate their needs.
Conclusion
Expanding your e-commerce site globally can be a highly profitable strategy for increasing sales and revenue. With BigCommerce’s native support for multiple currencies and payment gateways, it’s easier than ever to sell internationally.
However, it’s important to do your research and make sure your site is properly optimized for international sales. By following these tips, you can maximize your global sales potential and build a successful e-commerce business.