| When a business sets up its first web site, it often | | | | business to prepare yourself for international |
| cannot anticipate the full reach to its international | | | | expansion. It is called website internationalization. |
| markets. | | | | At first glance it can appear to be very simplistic. It |
| Businesses are normally focused on their immediate | | | | often covers the same ground as good internet |
| business opportunities. Creating a web site opens | | | | business practices. |
| your company to markets you are unable to imagine. | | | | Internationalizing your website, when done |
| Over time you may get international enquiries and | | | | methodically, systematically and conscientiously will |
| begin to see opportunities for development. A few | | | | have favorable repercussions on your international |
| more international sales and you may look into | | | | business development. |
| developing your visibility in certain foreign countries. | | | | First of all, internationalizing your website simply |
| The world of international business begins to open up. | | | | means making your website friendlier to international |
| What does this involve? What sort of issues will you | | | | online visitors. Your website will become more open |
| have to deal with? | | | | to international sales. It will often perform better with |
| - Communication across cultures. | | | | your local customers as well. |
| - Repositioning your products to sell well in different | | | | The second good reason to adopt a website |
| cultures. | | | | internationalization strategy is to prepare for your |
| - Confrontation with different cultures | | | | future online international development. The next |
| - Adapting your business pace to fit into different | | | | step in online international development after website |
| practices. | | | | internationalization is website localization. This is |
| - Slowing down to understand others. | | | | creating a website targeted to a local foreign market. |
| - Developing empathy towards valued clients | | | | Companies are often advised to localize into one |
| different from you | | | | country at a time. This is because unforeseen issues |
| - Opening your mindset to take in all sorts of | | | | often come up in multicultural communication. It is far |
| differences in all areas of business. | | | | easier to learn by focusing on one process. This will |
| This may seem like an easy, pleasurable ride for | | | | give your company the time to make adjustments. |
| those who are not involved in international business. | | | | Having an internationalized website makes the |
| It certainly can be one once you have acquired the | | | | transition to creating a localized website much easier. |
| personal skills that come with exposure to | | | | Your mindset will already have been turned towards |
| international business. | | | | your international audience. You will have paid more |
| But the adjustment to handle international business | | | | attention to your international communication and |
| can take a toll if you are busy with your local | | | | learned from it. Your company will be able to take |
| business as well. Things can take longer than you | | | | any multicultural communication challenges in stride. |
| imagine. Personal issues can bubble up if you are too | | | | You will be ready to truly enjoy the experience of |
| busy elsewhere. | | | | international development. |
| There is something you can do with your online | | | | |