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How Does Culture Play A Part in E-Commerce?: Communication With Your International Customers
How Does Culture Play A Part in E-Commerce?: Communication With Your International Customers
Recognizing the importance of culture in the business world is an important step towards success in
the E-commerce industry. While taking on global partners many opportunities emerge, but also bring
challenges like the cultural differences that arise when doing business online. When cultural
differences are understood well and conducted successfully, they can lead to creative business
operations and permanent competitive advantage. One of the most attractive domains of E-
commerce is online shopping, where retailers sell goods to online customers. If the different ethics,
values, languages, and aesthetic of the customers and the main audience are not taken into
consideration by the retailers, the demand for the product can gradually decrease, and the company
will experience a major loss in customers and interest. Cultural issues are considered one of the most
important and effective issues through the path and process of E-commerce. Understanding a
countries culture is a sign of respect, and it also helps foster effective communication, which is a very
important factor in business success. Values and attributes of different cultures such as frugality, trust
and endurance may be viewed differently in other countries. It’s vital that the key participants
understand and appreciate the culture of the people with whom they’ll be doing business.
11. How cultural differences impact E-commerce buying experience? Communication with
your international customers
90% of snap judgements about products can be based on color alone. Choosing
the right colors can have a big impact on your conversion rates.
Further, cultural differences will point you towards restrictions that could get you into
trouble. For example, if you want to sell a bunch of products on foreign markets, it
may not even cross your mind that some of them (e.g. beauty products, cosmetics,
certain tableware) may not be allowed to be sold online in specific countries. Check that
out to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Cultural differences can make or break the success of your advertising strategies. For
example, Germans are information-oriented. They like to have complete information
about products, e.g. to make the most informed decision by feature/price comparison.
They value honesty and are suspicious of hyperbole and promises.
This is why your ads should include some solid data and case studies rather than sugar
coating and emotional messaging. In some cultures sugar coating can soften criticism,
but Germans prefer to get to the point. Thus, put focus on price/value information and
some product attributes, e.g. performance, safety, price, nutrition or value.