The digital divide is narrowing. Not only do people all over the world have access to the Internet, more than 60% of the global online population is non-English speaking.
For American companies in search of new online sales opportunities, the whole world is well within reach. For years now, search engines such as Yahoo and Google have been available in different languages or different country-versions. Google’s search engine alone is available in some 36 languages. Google, along with many other Internet services companies, realize that the Internet knows no boundaries, and that online businesses can expand almost seamlessly into new markets with the right kind of technological and marketing support.
For instance, according to morevisibility, Latin America alone has more than 80 million users, with a growing number going broadband. Search marketing spending in Latin America is poised to become $337M by 2009. Google is definitely taking notice, by opening its third operating base in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and hosting events such as their “Code Jam Latin America” competition.
One would be hard pressed to mention anything about global business without mentioning China. The Internet Guide 2007-China Internet Survey Report notes that search marketing spend in China is now at RMB1.571B (US$203M)-- up 49.52%. Yahoo has launched its own China-specific search marketing tool , targeting small to mid-sized companies in China and offering them easy to use tools to improve their search marketing capabilities. Look to the China Economic Net for more on China’s e-commerce opportunities.
By making our world small, the Web enables small companies to think big. Not that long ago, selling internationally was unimaginable for all but the largest of firms. No more. Today, with the help of search engines and other support services that handle everything from currency exchange to fulfillment, companies of any size can tap into fertile markets anywhere and everywhere.
