Is Your Digital Marketing Content Ready For The International Market?

SES Hong Kong, a leading digital marketing event held in Hong Kong in 2010 was quite a success. The event gave digital marketing professionals a chance to interact with SEO, SMO, smartphone experts and online marketers from Hong Kong, mainland China, and many other Asian countries. This conference helped experts from Europe gain an understanding of new digital marketing opportunities arising from various search engines like Yahoo, Google and Baidu.

In 2009, we saw major economies around the world suffering from recession; yet most European online marketers were surprised to view a strong sentiment of energy in the Asian digital marketing market.

No matter which country a company is based in, a foray into the global markets are sure to increase overall profits. Even if your company is based only in China, the United Kingdom or Australia, you may have a specific number of customers from various international destinations. A great way to increase your position in overseas markets is to speak to your customers directly, in their native lingo or language.

Each market in a foreign country needs a different digital marketing approach. Consider 'localization' rather than 'translation', when it comes to creating content for international audiences, and you will soon be miles ahead of your rivals, when it comes to search engine optimization. Here are three main points to help you successfully localize your content for potential customers in foreign countries:

1. Speak the same language as the consumer: While creating localized content for digital marketing purposes, it is vital to develop content in the language of your targeted audience. Remember, different cultures refer to common terms by different names. For example, a 'mobile' in the UK is commonly referred to as a 'cell phone' in the USA. Similarly, what we English people would call a 'holiday', is referred to as a 'vacation' in the USA and a 'handy' in Germany.

2. Use slang words and jargon sparingly: It is important to be especially careful about business terminology. While most digital marketing experts would advise you not to use corporate jargon while conversing with potential customers, some companies find it acceptable to use lingo or abbreviations which may be commonly used by customers.

3. Consider alternate spellings: Countries in different parts of the world use different spellings for the same word, which is why top keywords in these countries could be different. Words such as 'colour' are spelt as 'color' in North America and some Asian countries. Similarly, there are different grammar rules. Keep these points in mind while designing content for your foreign customers.

Make sure that the company you partner with is not translating your digital marketing content in a direct manner, or else you will lose credibility with your international audience. Periodically, review keywords to ensure they are suitable for your targeted market and can drive higher profits.

Qudos Digital is a leading digital marketing agency and can be contacted on 020 8891 2077 or info@qudosdigital.co.uk.

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