Shopify is a user-friendly platform that empowers businesses of all sizes to establish a strong online presence. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing an online store, including website customization, secure payment processing, and marketing features.
With a vast selection of professional themes, the ability to sell globally, and built-in marketing tools, Shopify provides businesses with the flexibility to grow and reach a wider audience. Additional features like app integrations and expert support further enhance its value as a platform for expanding your business reach worldwide.
Table of Contents
How to Sell Internationally On Shopify
Expanding your Shopify store to an international market can open up new revenue streams and grow your business exponentially. However, selling internationally involves more than just shipping products overseas. This guide will walk you through the key steps to successfully sell internationally on Shopify, ensuring you’re well-prepared to manage the complexities of global commerce.
Step 1: Research Your Target Markets
Understand Demand and Competition
- Market Research: Identify which countries have a demand for your products. Tools like Google Trends and international market reports can be useful.
- Competitive Analysis: Look at local competitors in your target markets to understand their pricing, marketing strategies, and customer base.
Legal and Regulatory Requirements
- Import Regulations: Check the import regulations of the countries you want to sell to. Some products might be restricted or require special documentation.
- Taxes and Duties: Understand the VAT/GST requirements and other duties for each country to avoid legal issues and ensure smooth customs clearance.
Step 2: Prepare Your Shopify Store for International Sales
Currency Settings
- Multi-Currency: Enable multi-currency in your Shopify Payments settings to allow customers to shop in their local currency. This can significantly enhance the shopping experience and reduce cart abandonment.
- Currency Conversion: Use apps like Shopify’s Geolocation to automatically convert prices based on the customer’s location.
Language Support
Multi-Language: Use Shopify’s multi-language feature to translate your store’s content. Apps like Weglot or Langify can help with translation and localization.
Localized Content: Customize your store’s content to suit local tastes and preferences. This includes product descriptions, blog posts, and marketing materials.
Step 3: Set Up International Shipping
Shipping Zones and Rates
- Create Shipping Zones: Define different shipping zones for the countries you want to sell to in your Shopify Shipping settings.
- Set Shipping Rates: Establish shipping rates based on weight, price, or specific regions. Consider offering free shipping for orders above a certain amount to incentivize larger purchases.
Carrier Integration
- Use Reliable Carriers: Integrate with international shipping carriers like DHL, UPS, or FedEx to ensure reliable delivery and real-time tracking.
- Shipping Apps: Utilize apps like Easyship or ShipStation to automate your shipping process, compare carrier rates, and handle customs documentation.
Step 4: Manage International Payments
Payment Gateways
Multiple Payment Options: Offer a variety of payment methods that are popular in your target markets. This might include credit cards, PayPal, and local payment methods like Alipay or iDEAL.
Shopify Payments: Enable Shopify Payments if available in your target country for a seamless checkout experience.
Handling Taxes
Automatic Tax Calculation: Enable automatic tax calculation in your Shopify settings to apply the correct tax rates based on the customer’s location.
Tax Settings: Customize your tax settings for each country, considering VAT, GST, and other local tax requirements.
Step 5: Optimize Your Store for International SEO
SEO Localization
Localized Keywords: Conduct keyword research for each target market and optimize your store’s content accordingly.
Hreflang Tags: Use hreflang tags to signal to search engines which language and country versions of your pages to show in search results.
Content Marketing
Localize Content: Create blog posts, product guides, and other content that resonates with your international audience.
Link Building: Engage in local link-building strategies to improve your store’s visibility in international search results.
Step 6: Provide Excellent Customer Support
Multi-Language Support
Customer Service: Offer customer support in multiple languages. Consider using apps or services that provide translation or multilingual customer service representatives.
FAQs and Resources: Create a multilingual FAQ section and provide resources like shipping policies, return policies, and contact information tailored to each market.
Returns and Refunds
International Return Policy: Clearly define your international return and refund policy. Make it easy for customers to return products if necessary, and communicate any additional costs or procedures involved.
Step 7: Market Your Products Internationally
Digital Advertising
Localized Ads: Create localized ad campaigns on platforms like Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram to reach your target audience in different countries.
Influencer Marketing: Partner with local influencers to promote your products and build brand awareness.
Social Media and Email Marketing
Social Media: Use social media platforms popular in your target markets to engage with potential customers. This might include platforms like WeChat in China or VK in Russia.
Email Campaigns: Send personalized and localized email campaigns to your international subscribers to keep them engaged and informed about new products and promotions.
Conclusion: How to Sell Internationally OnShopify
Selling internationally on Shopify involves a strategic approach that considers market research, localization, shipping, payments, SEO, customer support, and marketing. By following these steps, you can effectively expand your reach, tap into new markets, and grow your e-commerce business globally.
Keep in mind that continuous optimization and adaptation to local market trends are key to sustaining international success.