5 Tips for Launching an International Website 

There’s a huge difference between creating a website that your target languages and countries can understand and simply doing a Google translation job and hoping for the best. An international website launch is a difficult and methodical process that requires constant care and attention from concept to implementation. 

Why is the process of website localization so important? Because when it’s done well, the rewards are second to none. Greater global brand awareness, more conversions, and a rock-solid reputation are just some of the benefits associated with a sound international website launch.

Below are 5 tips for launching with success and maintaining your momentum across time zones and locations worldwide. 

1. Assess Your Competitors Thoroughly 

Aside from preparing your website and business to host all of this global attention, you’re going to need to thoroughly analyze the competition within each and every area. 

Delve into what they offer, how they communicate it and the tone in which they do so. Every region and has its own tone for marketing that’s custom-made for the culture of the area. Is it aspirational? Assertive? Whatever the tone and methods may be, they’re being used for a reason.

Study, analyze, and apply this to your goals and next steps. 

2. Set Simple Goals That are Measurable 

Speaking of goals, a good international website launch is more than just one big idea. It’s a meticulous process with many simple goals that can be met and ticked off your to-do list on a daily basis. 

While the concept of expanding feels huge, there is a myriad of smaller things that need your attention. Don’t lose sight of these. If you maintain these simple goals, you’ll find yourself gaining momentum faster than you thought possible. 

3. Incorporate Local Influencers

That momentum you’re gaining from achieving your smaller-scale goals involves collaboration and feedback from some locals to the area you’re expanding into. 

Local influencers can instantly give your brand the credibility it will sorely need to establish trust with regional consumers. It provides you with a reliable platform to market in front of hot leads and keep that momentum moving into each new territory you translate for. 

4. Test Constantly 

A multilingual website is a complicated beast. For every small tweak and adjustment to a webpage, there needs to be comprehensive testing. This testing helps to identify and remove any bugs, glitches or user experience problems before the website goes live.

It doesn’t just end with the technicalities either. Recruit local readers to double-check your content for insensitivities or poorly constructed sentences that don’t make sense. 

Slang and cadence within small pockets of a country can change drastically. So stay vigilant and test yourselves every step of the way. 

5. Find Your Niche in Local Markets 

Once you’ve mastered the communications and technical aspects of your international website plan, you’re able to measure yourselves against the local competitors and find ways in which you stand apart from them.

When your niche is established and you’ve reached that final point, you’ll be able to launch with confidence. Your reputation, communication, and unique selling point all aligned clearly for all to see.