When starting an international Shopify store, it is crucial to blend different features to meet the needs of each market correctly while being user-friendly. Through this blog, you will learn how to get started with the Shopify international store with style and features intact.
In today’s interconnected world, businesses can operate seamlessly across various geographic locations, thanks to modern technology. According to Statista, global retail sales are projected to reach approximately $32.8 trillion by 2026, up from $26.4 trillion in 2021.
So, if you are an employee-entrepreneur or a retailer who would like to sell his/her goods in other countries! Then developing a global Shopify store is the answer. But how should customers from Asia, Europe, or other American continents get what they want or need? How simple is possible and how do you intend for your online shopping platform to perform smoothly?
The secret is to have an outstanding user experience (UX) while ensuring your store creates a redefined look for different markets. In this blog, you will learn some basic steps to guide you on how to start your multilingual Shopify store. How to make your Shopify store UX and design globally outstanding while at the same time still being an inexpensive endeavor.
Understanding the Need for a Global Shopify Store
To set the context before delving into the nitty-gritty of the process, one needs to understand the importance of establishing a Shopify store with a worldwide presence. By Shopify, companies grow 24% more on average during internationalization.
Having customers or offices in various regions means having more customers to sell your products. To open up new markets for your products and services, and establish visibility for your brand. While a global store may sound beneficial, it has drawbacks like UX can quickly become a nightmare if not correctly managed.
A multilingual Shopify store is a must for companies targeting customers from different countries using their first language. At CartCoders, we ensure your store is optimized for success by addressing factors like currencies, shipping methods, and payment options, tailoring the experience for every customer.
Instead, this is where professional Shopify international store setup services are created. This is to meet every brand’s individual needs and ensure its global success without sacrificing UX.
The Foundation: Multilingual Setup
Another critical aspect of Shopify’s international store setup services is providing services to build a multilingual Shopify store for entrepreneurs. Pretend you have a customer from France; the only thing he sees when he comes to your store is English writing.
Many expect them to purchase because they have been served with content that may make them feel out of touch or even angered. As per the CSA Research, 75% of consumers purchase products that are in their native language.
To get started:
Choose the Right Shopify Plan: None of the Shopify plans support multi-language features. You will be forced to go for a plan that can enable you to control and display content in different languages.
Use a Multilingual App: It is possible to use special apps available at the Shopify App Store, such as Langify or Shopify Markets. They would independently translate the content into a chosen language. These apps keep your store responsive and friendly to users across different linguistic capabilities.
Custom Translations: Automated translation can be employed chiefly, although additional manual changes can still be required for more accurate cultural differences. This makes it more friendly as a customer than translating the whole content and ending up with awkward sentences.
75% of consumers are more likely to buy from a store offering content in their native language.
Want to speak your customers’ language?
Localizing Payments and Currencies
Another benefit that improves the Shopify store UX and design services for clients from overseas. It is the option to pay with local payment options and the ability to use local currencies.
Customer convenience is another important aspect of their satisfaction when simplifying the purchasing process.
- For example, you can provide them with the option to pay from different payment platforms. These include PayPal, Alipay, or Stripe, making transactions easier.
- Besides using local currencies, this also positively affects how customers worldwide can identify actual prices of products up to each cent.
- Multiple currencies and regions are also customizable with Shopify. This makes it easier for your customers to buy products in their preferred payment form.
Designing a User-Friendly Experience for Global Audiences
The Shopify store UX and design services you will select should ensure that all users can easily locate. They should also be able to access the information they need or products they are interested in. It should be regardless of where they are coming from!
In this case, customers differ in their origins and cultures, making the design pluralistic while still having to be coherent. Here’s how to do it:
- Responsive Design: Make sure that your website has a mobile adaptation since 68% of global shoppers use their phones to shop. This is based on the report by the report of Statista. A responsive design is important to guarantee the site’s aesthetic display across many gadgets.
- Easy Navigation: It is essential to have straightforward navigation to keep the customers. This should be structured neatly, with easy-to-find categories of content. Many websites also include a language selector and currency options in the header or footer.
- Visual Elements: Different colors and images can represent different things in different cultures. For example, while red is considered lucky in China, it is symbolized as a danger in some cultures of the West. Take care to have the design mimic the preference of the target customer base.
Serving International Shipping and Delivery
International delivery is not easy, but it should be fine for your international shipping setup services for your Shopify international store. 47% of online shoppers abandon their carts if international shipping options are not available, according to Statista’s report.
- Set Up Region-Specific Shipping Rates: Shipping rates can be set according to the country or region conveniently divided on Shopify. You can set a flat rate checkout, real-time carrier rates, or free shipping by location.
- Custom Shipping Methods: Depending on the location of your customers, you may have to contract local delivery services. This is to provide the cheapest or the most reliable shipping forms.
78% of customers purchase after discovering products through local search engines.
Is your store optimized for global SEO?
Localizing Content Beyond Language
It is now clear that localization cannot just be translation. If you want to speak to customers worldwide, localize the web content. This means you must localize the product descriptions and prices, promotions and offers, and even jokes and riddles. This makes your store more friendly and noticeably easier.
For example, if you are operating in the Japanese market, you would benefit from using images familiar to this region of the world. Or even start by modifying the product’s brand name to meet local expectations.
Stores with localized payment options see a 30% higher conversion rate.
Offer payments that your customers trust.
Optimizing for Global SEO
The key to a successful Shopify multi-language store development is SEO explicitly designed for those markets. This means the correct choice of keywords for particular languages and regions and the translation of metadata, titles, and descriptions. And also the use of localized domains or subdomains for the targeted markets.
The report by SEmrush found that 78% of users tend to purchase who do online searches. Therefore, setting the SEO to that specific location is a must.
SEO tools and various applications developed by Shopify make it possible to take into account preferences. This includes international search engines, including Google, Baidu, and Yandex.
Effective Shopify International Store Solutions
Only some business entities are in a position to spend huge amounts on their international ventures. However, options for cheap Shopify international stores are also present.
Combining Shopify features and applications with affordable multilingual apps and UX design services can make going international easier.
Shopify offers Shopify Plus and Shopify Starter, which are cheaper. Still, many third-party apps can be installed to keep the cost down while maintaining an excellent user experience.
Conclusion
Opening a Shopify store to an international market does not necessarily mean the user experience is compromised. Ensure you are creating a multilingual Shopify store that is culturally sensitive. And also utilizing Shopify international store setup services along with other methods.
At CartCoders, we offer Shopify store design and UX services to deliver the best shopping experience for your customers. With the right strategies, you can set up a Shopify store that attracts customers worldwide without compromising quality or performance.
Businesses using Shopify’s internationalization features grow 24% faster on average. Scale up your business with Shopify.