The first step to internationally expanding your Shopify store is identifying which target markets make most sense for your business. A great place to start is by spending some time reviewing your Shopify store’s analytics. This will let you see whether you already have international visitors, and from where, which may indicate there’s a potential audience for your products there.

If you don’t have any international traffic yet, this doesn’t mean there’s not an opportunity. It’s still worth investigating other markets. A good idea is to start with those that are geographically or culturally close; perhaps somewhere that speaks the same language.

As well as potential customers in your new territory, it’s also key to understand potential competitors. Do some market research, examine their products, prices, and marketing approaches to spot opportunities, capitalise on your unique selling points, and approach the market with a strategy that will make your brand stand out. Take into account cultural differences which may influence customer behaviour and product preferences.

It’s important to have a good understanding of any local regulations surrounding products like yours before you start your expansion journey. You don’t want to get to a position where you can start selling, only to find…you can’t start selling.

The three main shipping options to choose from are flat-rate shipping, free shipping, and carrier-calculated shipping. It’s worth creating a unique international shipping strategy rather than sticking with Shopify’s default options. Make sure you consider points including carriers,  speeds, and tax requirements.

This refers to amending your site to make sense to a specific market. This includes language, currency, using international domains and considering cultural points.

Creating international domain names helps visitors trust that you sell to customers where they are, increasing the likelihood of them purchasing from you. You can create a subdomain in Shopify and then set its default currency.

If you’re moving into regions with a different language, translating the text content on your website is key to making your expansion successful. Installing a translation app (available in the Shopify app store) is the simplest way to translate your website content for international visitors. The apps translate your site’s content to the appropriate language based on the visitor’s location. You can then choose which active market you wish to add the language to and import the translated content using your translation app before publishing the new language.