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Essential International Ecommerce Tips: Mobile

DynamicWeb

Mobile ecommerce is in the news again, thanks to a recent Google algorithm update that boosts the search rankings of those sites that are considered “mobile friendly.”

Mobile ecommerce is in the news again, thanks to a recent Google algorithm update that boosts the search rankings of those sites that are considered “mobile friendly.”  But did you know that mobile readiness is even more important for international ecommerce than it is for the US?  It’s true.  E-businesses with hopes to expand beyond their native territory should be prepared for the widespread usage and significant growth rates of mobile in international markets.

International Ecommerce is International M-commerce.

Let’s take a look at how mobile stacks up in the US.  A study by Havas Worldwide shows that 16% of the US population has made a purchase on their smartphone.  That’s no small number, and it doesn’t even account for tablet shopping or “couch commerce.”

You certainly wouldn’t want to lose out on a potential 16% or more of your business by neglecting mobile.  Now compare the US figure to the 50% in China, 48% in Singapore, and 42% in India that have made purchases on their phones.  You have serious problems if your international ecommerce plan doesn’t include a great mobile experience for these customers.

Mobile growth isn’t stopping either.  According to Forrester Research, three regions represent major growth in the smartphone market – Asia/Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America.  These regions house 84% of the world’s population and are subscribing to mobile plans with the fastest rates of growth on the planet.  When expanding your business with international ecommerce, mobile is the way to plan for the future.

Developing Countries

Developing economies, specifically, see high rates of growth in mobile commerce and mobile internet access in general.  At first this seems counterintuitive.  You just spent way too much money to upgrade your phone and sign up for your new data plan…  How could developing countries keep up with that?

In actuality, the infrastructure for widespread fast broadband internet simply doesn’t exist in many developing countries.  It’s just not feasible.  In countries and regions like these, mobile penetration booms.  A personal mobile device is, instead, the easiest way to access the web.  And this includes shopping at your website for international ecommerce.

Responsive Design

“Ready for mobile” isn’t a catchphrase.  It’s not even a state of mind.  Being ready for mobile is an actual trait for your website and your online presence.  To appeal to online shoppers on smartphones and tablets, you want responsive design.

Responsive design means that the content on your web pages (the images, the text, the video, etc.) scales and conforms to the users’ specific screen size, no matter what device they use.  Rather than having cropped images or cut-off text, your website looks great and gives the same brand experience across platforms.  Before you dive into the deep waters of international ecommerce, make sure your CMS and ecommerce solutions are responsive to the customers’ needs and their devices.

International and Mobile

International ecommerce and mobile are two peas in a pod.  Just as you want to do business all over, regardless of borders or barriers, so too do your customers.  Your customers’ barriers, though, could be devices, screen sizes, or connections.  That’s why Dynamicweb breaks down barriers with responsive design.  After all, when you grow your business with international ecommerce, you aim to break down barriers.

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