International Seo And The Emerging Markets

By Author: Larry Tang
Total Articles: 512
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Internet is a global portal. Access is no problem and one does not need a passport. Therefore, anybody can conduct business or market their products / services online. After the initial phase of Internet until the beginning of this century, Google re-arranged the focus by introducing advanced search. Imagine a TV channel or radio station or even a magazine where all marketing is targeted. Suddenly questions like the number or the percentage of a target audience would not require advanced research anymore. It definitely would be a blessing. With Google and the other major search engines, we have just that a blessing.

However we need to ask, how many companies are actually taking advantage of this opportunity? How many businesses are actually aware of this opportunity? We believe that the number in question is a lot lower than one would expect.

Many companies are equipped to do business globally. The Flat World concept of Thomas L. Friedman applies to many businesses in the USA. When we have a look at the online competitiveness of markets such as the US, Canada and Europe, we see a huge change in the past 7 years. ...
... There are very few companies without a website and almost all firms are aware that they should have one. But are they getting the maximum output from their websites?

As busy as the web is for the western world, there is huge potential for US Companies in emerging markets in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Internet awareness is still quite low in these countries although there are many internet users. The search results are not flooded with websites and that presents a great opportunity for US Businesses to be visible in targeted international search results. Imagine the possibilities; A firm could multiply their business in relatively short periods of time.

TV Commercials, Print Ads and Radio Advertisements in other countries require a lot of research and investment. The results are always unpredictable and the ROI could be a disaster. However, a scheduled and planned Internet Marketing approach is a much smarter way to start. We have access to measure and ascertain the demand quotient for any specific search term. Through this type of research, we can plan and execute targeted marketing to consumers or businesses and we can track 100% of results. This provides an overwhelming competitive edge vs. legacy media.

Two of the key factors for international online marketing are:

Multi-Language Functionality
We must make sure that the content of the websites are professionally translated taking culture, customs and traditions into consideration.
Servers and Load Time
In locations such as Africa and the Middle East, the infrastructure is still poor and the speed of their connections is slow. Therefore, the international versions of the website must be tested for load-time in different geographical locations. Elements such as flash should be eliminated from these pages for fastest load time. (Slow load times affect conversions negatively.)

International Online Marketing and SEO, in particular, offer outstanding growth opportunities for American businesses, large and small, through sophisticated processes that effectively target consumers and businesses with precision and efficiency never seen before through the legacy media. Now your business finds you no matter where you are in the world. It's your job to make sure you are the one being found.
For more info click International SEO and the Emerging Markets. Optimum7.com is an Internet Marketing Services Company with primary focus on Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises (SME's). Optimum7.com offers a rich consultative approach that our clients find refreshing. We actually listen to our clients to learn exactly what their problems and objectives are.