Thinking of expanding into Japan? You’ve got a lot going for you. Japan is the third largest global economy and has a well-established consumer base. Certain aspects of American culture are very well-received with Japanese consumers; however, there are some things to keep in mind to ensure that you position yourself well. Our blog post and newsletter article give you some tips to consider.
To ensure a successful global website launch, it’s good to consider some issues early on in the process, such as your own content management system’s (CMS) infrastructure and capabilities for handling multilingual content, the relevancy of your content for your global users, and the general tone and style you want to impart in translation. If you’re preparing to launch your site internationally, today’s post gives you some good starting points, and links to our more detailed newsletter article on the same topic.
Building business alliances in Japan requires a nuanced approach. What plays in America’s full-contact football brand of capitalism doesn’t necessarily cut it on the quieter golf greens of the Japanese version. If you want the executive-level internal support you need to close deals and expand your share of Japan’s stable economy, you simply must understand how to “play it as it lies” rather than call the play. Steve Pollock, CEO of Turnstone Ventures, explains more.
Work cultures can have different meanings around the world. In America, we talk about having a 9-to-5, 40 hour a week job, According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) rankings in 2011, the top three countries in terms of hours worked, based on a combination of paid and unpaid hours, were Portugal, Japan, and Mexico. Strikingly for Japan's 9 hours of work, almost 3 of those are unpaid, whereas in Mexico, the work day is closer to 10 hours with a little over 4 of those unpaid.
In some countries, it's not just the length of the workday that matters, but how those hours are spent, and the all important work/life balance. Read on for some other considerations for businesses around the globe.
Targeting “simship”, or simultaneous shipment, can be a complex juggling act for businesses trying to build a solid global presence. Transforming simship from an improbable afterthought to a do-able, desirable and ultimately profitable process requires a clearly defined enterprise-level globalization strategy bolstered by a solid commitment to internationalization. Aiming for simship will have an impact on decisions from code and UI development to QA and testing, and entails certain costs. Those costs, however, which may include slower release times in domestic markets, can translate into long term profits.
We know that coming up with an English name for a brand or product can be hard enough, but if you’re thinking about taking it to international markets, your work isn’t done. Names aren’t easily translatable and may end up being offensive or inappropriate. We doubt that even the wordsmith Shakespeare, whose famous quote from Romeo and Juliet is adapted for this blog title, would have an easy time with international naming.
So how do you go about evaluating how your brand, product or service name sounds to ears accustomed to another language? It helps to know a few basic ideas behind naming. Let’s take a look at aspects of naming that are important for your international naming project.
When you’re writing the business plan for your tech startup, global strategy might not be the first thing on your mind. The traditional path of the startup has been to achieve success at home first, then look to expand overseas. But in our hyper-connected world, everything is more visible, including trends, innovations and even business strategies. If you’re not thinking global when you start up a company, you might find that someone else in another market has taken your idea and run with it before you have time to enter the race. That’s why VCs and investors now look for fast global scalability when they evaluate potential investments. So what can you do to make your new startup global ready from the get-go?
How did 7-Eleven realize a fivefold increase in sales in 2011 and add 36 stores in Indonesia in one year alone? It’s a case study in successful “glocalization,” a combination of “global” and “localization,” or shorthand for “think globally, act locally.” Glocalization covers everything from employee training to marketing collateral, point of sale (POS) software, product selection and even local labor laws.
Without thoughtful localization, a brand in a new culture runs the risk of coming across as rude, weird or unappealing in light of local tastes and customs. But if a brand goes overboard with changes, it runs the risk of becoming unrecognizable, and most of a brand’s equity rests in its consistent identity.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how 7-Eleven got it right. At the heart of their success? The Indonesian concept of nonkrong.
Beauty is in the eye of beholder, which is why global cosmetics companies take care to adapt their products for a local gaze. Whether it’s a tweak to an existing product or a shift in marketing strategy to accommodate different beauty priorities, product localization in the beauty industry is nothing new. Now some major players are upping the ante in the beauty localization game for China’s ever-expanding market.
Global beauty giants like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder are competing with Japanese and Korean beauty companies like Shiseido, Kao, and Amorepacific for market share in China. How are these North American and European companies using localization to make themselves more attractive to Chinese consumers? Read on to find out.
Brazil is going to be busy. While recent news has focused on how the once white-hot economy has slowed considerably since 2010, there’s no doubt that an enormous amount of economic potential is ahead for the South American powerhouse.
An exploding middle class, greater internet access, and unique opportunities in the Brazilian franchise boom are all reasons you should keep Brazil on your radar.
In this article, we’ll take a brief look at the numbers behind the headlines and provide a few popular resources for exploring possible pathways to success among the Portuguese-speaking population of Brazil.
International marketing is complex; just take a look at some major hotels you've likely stayed at while traveling for business or taking a vacation. Global businesses like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt have to juggle staying true to their branding and corporate identity while also appealing to local markets, from Thailand to Germany. These brands are known for their consistency in terms of quality and services, but a stay at the Marriott in Hong Kong is not exactly the same as in São Paulo. Adapting to local markets, foods, and cultural expectations, these international global businesses have much to teach us about successful localization and translation in action.
Do you have new business ventures on tap for Europe this summer? Britain is a natural springboard, combining a low barrier to entry for American business with high economic potential.
Your next step? Localize for the UK. While this may seem far-fetched, the cultural and linguistic differences between American and British English are significant enough to warrant special attention.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the differences which merit translation from American English to British English as well as several high-profile companies which have made the investment.
Bargain shoppers worldwide now have access to some familiar US-based retailers, like Walmart, Costco, and Target. But these growing international businesses don't look the same as their home-country counterparts. New formats, products, even store names are some crucial ways that these power-houses have embraced international markets and seen growing profits as a result.
So what makes for success with international expansion? The short answer: adjust to local markets. But with so many variables in play, how do you truly get local when it comes to global growth?
Turkey may not be the first place in mind when you think of global expansion, but the country merits serious consideration if you want to establish a presence throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The country’s future is bright, its people friendly, but there’s an expectation of serious commitment when you bring your company under the moon star (ay yildiz) flag. The Turkish proverb, “Bir kahvenin kirk yil hatiri vardir” (A cup of coffee is remembered for 40 years) speaks to both the social and serious nature of an investment in the region.
In this blog post, we’ll take a brief survey of the business case for Turkey as well as a few cultural guideposts you’ll want to heed when you make the move.
When you’re scanning the globe for a few hundred million new customers, China might naturally come to mind. While China may very well be your next source of international growth, it’s not an easy place for foreign investors and U.S.-based businesses to get a foothold. Global companies stumble time and again attempting to access China’s lucrative market. In this post, we’ve put together seven ways you can make the road to Chinese expansion easier to travel.
Can a zip code get in the way of profits? If you're a business looking to tap into overseas markets, shipping internationally can cause some unexpected headaches. From postal codes that have less than five digits to not knowing the correct customs procedures when shipping to places like Brazil, Saudi Arabia, or Japan, potential pitfalls abound. However, as many major companies in the US are finding out, you can set up your site to make shipping and deliveries abroad simple. All it takes is some research and preparation to embrace markets that are waiting for your products. Read on for our top tips for shipping internationally.
If ignored, tetraphobia — literally, fear of the number four — could be deadly for your brand in Asian markets. So what is this common superstition and how can you avoid falling into its trap when expanding your business into China, Japan, Korean, and other East Asian countries? And why are we so brazenly flirting with Fate by posting this on the fourth day of the fourth month? Read on to find out more....
Are you a retail company looking to go global? Acclaro President Michael Kriz provides some pointers to navigate international cross-channel marketing and create an optimal customer experience…no matter where (or how) your customers interact with you.
Kraft Foods created the name “Mondelez International” for a portion of their international snack business. Unfortunately, part of that name carries a, shall we say, decidedly NSFW meaning for Russian speakers. How did Kraft negotiate the slip-up? Read on to find out.
The Acclaro blog is two years old! Two full years of snippets of localization savvy, language, and international business, all for you, dear Mr. or Ms. Acclaro Blog Fan. Since 2010, we've done our best to bring some pizzazz to your international business life, and we hope we've succeeded. Come with us as we take a trip down blog memory lane.
Smart, fun and useful. Acclaro shares news and tips on translation, localization, language, global business and culture.