The great thing about the World Wide Web is it’s just that — world wide! However as the owner of a web site that means you must consider international visitors and be prepared to deal with them.

Let’s say, for example, you’re a retailer that has stores in the US, Canada and Japan. Also, you are a well-known brand - a household name among your target market in all three regions. Fantastic!

Now let’s say you run an online store, but you only ship in the US. You’re going to tell Canadian visitors right upfront that you don’t offer international shipping right? No? I have to dig deep into the shipping policy to find that out? Oh, well at least you’ll provide a link to locate a store near me in Canada, eh? Not doing that either? Gee I’m not even sure why I shop at your store, now that I think of it…

Ok, so maybe you’ve figured out I’m talking about a true story. What’s unfortunate is this has happened to not only me, but to many of my Canadian friends, family and colleagues. Now, I’m not saying every retailer needs to ship to Canada and every other international destination… Not at all! In fact, lots of us Canadians like browse online more than buy — I mean the thought of high shipping costs + duties and taxes makes us all tense up a little.

The solution is simple — probably a lot simpler than you think… Imagine if, when I landed on your page, I was served up a friendly message letting me know that while you don’t currently ship to Canada, you’re happy to show me products available at a store near me… oh and do I need to know where the nearest store is located?

You don’t need to re-invent your web site to accommodate international visitors, but adding a few small mods can make a world of difference for your brand reputation in the eyes of your international customers.

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