In business beginning to think about global expansion, one big question is on the idea of lots of tongues: which countries/regions should we target first? (For a good primer, read our Top 10 Languages to Translate Your Website Into article from the other day.)
There are around 200 nations worldwide as well as around 6,900 (or more) languages. While you’re probably not going to sell in every nation on earth (as well as certainly will not localize your internet site into those hundreds of languages), there’s still a frustrating number of excellent potential markets and also languages to check out. With limited time and sources, also three equally good-fit options can leave you feeling stretched a little bit slim if you’re just aiming to start with one.
So to begin, ask yourself: what does the present competitive landscape because region/country look like? And where are your clients currently coming from?
Do as much fundamental market research as you can. Even if it does not look like much from the outdoors, don’t underestimate your competitors’ cultural or local industry knowledge. Some quick evaluation will reveal the native lands and languages of your current customers. Maybe French customers have an interest in your hospitality website, or you see constant internet website traffic from Japan despite your ecommerce site only being offered in English. Don’t ignore these beneficial insights.
After doing research, is your item matched for regional tastes, or will it not adjust well? As a basic example, if you’re marketing cars and trucks in a nation where the large bulk of the populace commutes walking or by means of public transport, you could want to look elsewhere.
Will you come up against considerable governing or licensing obstacles, and are you furnished to handle these difficulties? Many business that are presently attempting to interrupt a sector or create a room of their own usually face this challenge. A common example is with ridesharing: in this field, locally popular businesses like Uber or Lyft deal with worries not only in their home nation, but abroad, too. If you’re in a similar area, ask yourself if it’s better for your firm to try and also push there, or if you’re much better off building in a nation or area where the road a bit more straightforward.
As you try to damage down barriers with your product and service, ensure that you have a strategy to get to know the country’s company choices much more intimately on your own. Also consider the country’s facilities, tax system, web infiltration rate, GDP per capita and political security.
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