Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Is it Worth Translating Your Website for International Business?



The internet has made it absolutely necessary for businesses to be competitive across a variety of mediums, borders and cultures. Even small brick and mortar businesses must find ways to maintain loyal customers in the face of increasing competition from all over the world. As such, a strong web-based presence is always a good idea for any business that wants to be successful in the long-term. Many businesses face a tough decision with respect to international commerce and engagement: whether or not translating the website into multiple languages is worth the effort. Below, we’ll discuss whether this strategy is a sound effort and what can be expected from the effort.



The Reality of Consumer Behaviour

The first and perhaps most important data-point regarding international business pertains to shopper behaviour: customers are much more likely to purchase a product or service if the website is in their native language. This is the biggest motivator for businesses that would like to expand their horizons into new markets. However, translation services can often be expensive and require professional services in order to deliver proper results. As such, businesses that have explicit targets in specific countries may find translating website content to be useful, but businesses that wish to merely broadly target a variety of different languages and countries may not find it feasible.

Real Estate Investment: Does It Make Good Business Sense?



There was once a time where everyone was telling you the best thing to invest in is bricks and mortar. Of course, last decade’s economic downturn turned the property market upside down. These days, most nations are still in economic recovery mode.

So, if you wanted to make your money work for you, should you avoid real estate investment? In a word, no. Let me give you some reasons why it makes sense to put your money in property:



Property prices are low


It makes sense to buy properties when their value is low. Unlike other types of investment, real estate is less volatile. Sure, there will be times where there are dips and curves. But, if you invest in property you will do so for the long haul.

When people buy investment properties, they don’t just sit on them, of course. They rent them out, allowing owners to have an income until they are worth more in the future. All savvy property investors know this fact, and that’s why now is as good a time as any to invest.

People are crying out for rental properties


Despite the lower purchase prices, many people cannot afford to buy a new house. At the same time, they don’t wish to live at home with their parents! The answer to their problem is simple: rent!