International eCommerce: 

Do borders even matter? In 2022, this question is more is complex than ever before. Globalization is thriving and so is the worldwide online market, and the pandemic has accelerated things even further. If back in 2019 global processes mainly dealt with eCommerce trade, retail, and tourism, today selling online has added another dimension — trading across borders. 

International eCommerce is the new frontier for even new entrants to the online space. That’s why we're focusing on the subject of online selling to international markets, the pros and cons of it all, as well as 5 specific strategies that will help you get your product on the worldwide market, fast. 

Let’s jump in.  

What is international eCommerce?

The outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 has undoubtedly been a driving force behind the rise of international eCommerce. Almost one-third of online shoppers now say they have made purchases from online retailers located in a country other than their own.  But what does the term “international eCommerce” actually mean? 

You could probably guess that it closely relates to the process of businesses favoring selling internationally instead of sticking to their local markets. This way they tend to tap into the pool of new opportunities, such as product diversification, new loyal audience acquisition, extended brand recognition, etc. 

Before selling cross-border

Before you jump in to try and steal a piece of this growing cross-border opportunity, there are some things that you need to get in order first. Before you commit to opening your eCommerce to the global market in order to sell overseas, make sure you go through this checklist. 

You are ready to run an international eCommerce operation, when: 

• You have an established position in your local market
• You have carefully researched and evaluated the risks associated with international online retail
• You have set up clear tangible goals for your global expansion
• You have selected specific countries you want to expand to
• You are familiar with the cultural specifics of the markets you want to target
• Your product is appropriate for those markets 
• You have researched some of the potential international partners
• You have a specified budget for this venture
• You will be able to recover if selling internationally doesn't work out for your product
• You have gone through each point on this checklist twice and understood its meaning

Done! Now let's move to our proven selling tips for launching a global eCommerce store! 

How to sell internationally online

Apart from the obvious, there aren’t that many fundamental differences between an international eCommerce and a local one. Of course, there are certain country-specific regulations and some complications caused by the global scheme of your operation, yet, in the long run, it’s not as hard as it may seem at first. 

In this post, we want to take a look at the most crucial steps you need to take to successfully make your online business international, but you will be sure to find more information on the specifics of global eCommerce on your own.