Are,You,Ready,International,am ecommerce Are You Ready To Go International?

Wood handles are used in tools due to their ability to provide a good grip when holding the tool. Unlike many other types of handles; wooded handles are easy to grip do not transfer heat and are not an electrical conductor. Therefore, making I will be answering three main questions in this Emerald Passport Review for all of the tenacious Entrepreneurs that are seeking the ideal Home Based Business Opportunity. Internet Marketing has seen some tremendous growth in the "work at ho

Although North Americans were the dominant population onthe Internet, that has now changed, and the rest of the worldhas caught up rapidly. And while English is still the mostwidely used Internet language, it's not the language of choicefor many, many Internet users.So are YOU ready to communicate in this international medium?Whether you're building your own Web site, taking partin discussion groups, visiting a chat room, or just sendingand receiving e-mail, you'll meet more and more "foreigners"on the Internet - and vice versa, of course.Let's look at some tips for communicating effectively in thisnew global village.1. Write in plain EnglishWrite clearly, with small words and short sentences.If you're writing long messages or creating long Web pages,include a simple summary at the top.Be very careful to write exactly what you mean.If you're writing for a general audience, avoid sarcasm,colloquialisms and other things that rely on a certain toneof voice or cultural background.2. Watch out for phrases with two meaningsAlthough English is the de facto international languageof the Internet, differences abound between, say, English andAmerican English. It's easy enough to allow for differences inthe way that we spell "colour", "apologise" and "organisation",but other - more subtle - differences can easilylead to misunderstandings.For example, does "bi-weekly" mean twice a week or once everytwo weeks? It's different for Australians and Americans.Similarly, when Australians "table an issue", they are raisingit for discussion, but for Americans, "tabling an issue"means putting it aside.3. Include area codes in phone numbersAny time you quote a telephone, fax or mobile (cell) phonenumber on the Internet, ask yourself whether your readers resideoutside your local area. If you're potentially addressingdistant readers, include your international code and area codein these numbers.4. Allow for variations in postcodesAmerican zip codes and Australian postcodes use numbers only;U.K. postcodes contain letters and numbers; Singaporeanpostcodes use numbers only, but appear in a different placein the address; all have different lengths from each other.If your Web site includes an order form or a demographic survey,allow for postcodes that fall outside your own local format.5. Include your full postal addressIf you're addressing an international audience, include yourcountry in your postal address. Don't expect people to justfigure it out. This seems obvious, but a surprising numberof businesses on the Internet forget it.6. Include international postage costsIf you're selling anything through e-mail or your Web site,cater for international orders, whether you expect them or not.Find out the cost of international postage and shipping,and publish the costs for your customers.This is a complex area because of the variety of options,depending on the source and destination countries, methods andspeed of delivery, customs and duties, and more.Simplify this as much as possible for your customers.It's better to start with something very simple(for example, one postage price for all international orders,regardless of destination) and adapt it with experience.Or eliminate postage costs entirely, as Rachel Green doeson her site by offering free postage anywhere in the world:http://www.rachelgreen.com7. Explain your currencyIf you use a currency that's common to other countries -such as dollars - make it clear which version you mean.Some Web sites quote their prices in American dollars as a kindof "universal currency", but most use local currency.Include a link to a currency converter on your Website to make it easy for your international visitors.Here's one to use:http://www.xe.com/ucc8. Be aware of time zonesIf you're writing a time (for example, the time whenyou're available in a chat room) for people in specifictime zones, include their local times as well.When writing for an international audience, include the timein GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).Include a link to a time zone converter on your Web site- for example:http://www.timeanddate.com9. Use icons carefullyChoose icons on your Web site carefully. For example,not everybody understands what a "STOP" sign means;and a "thumbs up" sign can offend people from some cultures.In fact, it's so easy to misunderstand icons - even withina culture - that you should always supplement themwith clear descriptions.10. Tolerate mistakesThe more you use the Internet, the more you'll communicatewith people who don't speak or write English as well as you do.Be tolerant of poor spelling, bad grammar and typingmistakes when you receive e-mail or take part in Internetdiscussion groups.Of course, this is just common courtesy, but again it'ssurprising to see how many people attack others when theythink they can hide behind the safety of their keyboard. Article Tags: You're Writing