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Global Shopping Trends: Preparing for Cross-Border Sales This Black Friday

Global Shopping Trends: Preparing for Cross-Border Sales This Black Friday

What is BFCM?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) have become two of the biggest shopping events worldwide, expanding well beyond the US to become truly global phenomena. And it’s not just some big flattering words – about 15% of all sales during the BFCM were cross-border orders. More than that, last year Black Friday and Cyber Monday reached a record of $9.3 billion in sales, and  2024 is on track to break that record. This shows just how eager shoppers from around the world are for  Black Friday deals, discounts and unique products.

However, retailers aiming to break into cross-border sales in 2024 should understand that to successfully compete in the global market, it is not enough to simply lower prices. You need to "speak" your customers' language — both in the literal sense and in terms of understanding their shopping habits and preferences. To succeed, stores must adapt their content, payment systems, and delivery strategies to meet the expectations of customers all around the world

Effortlessly localize your store in just a few steps with LangShop

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Why Cross-Border Sales Matter for Shopify Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Shoppers are no longer confined to their local stores. Thanks to globalization and e-commerce development, participation in Black Friday sales has become a worldwide trend. According to Global-e research there was a 53% year-over-year increase in cross-border  Black Friday and Cyber Monday e-commerce sales. Shoppers now are on the search for black friday deals or items they cannot find locally, driving demand across borders.

In addition, Black Friday and Cyber Monday also contribute to the growth of digital payment in the world. Many overseas shoppers now trust digital wallets and localized payment solutions for cross-border shopping. FIS global payments report highlights that alternative payment methods are gaining much more preference over traditional credit cards. Offering payment methods tailored to local markets helps retailers increase conversions and achieve a better return on investment.

For Shopify retailers, cross-border Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals open up a huge opportunity to boost sales by reaching a wider audience. However, it isn't as simple as launching a store and expecting international customers to flock to it. To capitalize on international shoppers, retailers need a comprehensive localization strategy with translated content, localized currency, and a deep understanding of cultural preferences. This tailored approach is crucial for standing out in competitive global markets and turning international traffic into loyal customers.

Here’s where LangShop comes to help.

How LangShop Can Help Shopify Retailers Optimize for Cross-Border Sales During Black Friday

Preparing your Shopify store for international traffic requires more than just translations. Good localization strategy ensures that every aspect of your store, from the product page to the checkout, meets your audience's expectations. LangShop, a must have Shopify app for Black Friday cross-border sales, offers powerful tools to make your store multilingual and ready for global sales. Here’s how you can leverage LangShop for Shopify Black Friday success:

  • Speak your customer language
  • LangShop allows you to translate your store into over 247 languages, including key markets like Portuguese, German and Japanese to attract shoppers from around the globe and make them feel more confident about making a purchase.

    Pro Tip: Not all content is going to require translation. Concentrate on critical areas, such as product information, checkout pages, payment methods, and customer support. This targeted approach conserves resources while maximizing impact.
  • Customize currency display
  • LangShop helps you to ensure a seamless experience for first-time and recurring customers by automatically detecting their location and displaying the store in their preferred language and currency.

  • Offer frictionless shopping experience
  • Reducing checkout friction is key to higher conversions. LangShop now makes it easier to integrate localized payment methods, like Pix in Brazil, Klarna in Europe, or PayPay in Japan, ensuring smooth transactions and meeting regional expectations.

  • Ensure cultural relevance
  • LangShop’s integration with DeepL and GPT-4 delivers high-quality translations that resonate with local audiences. Retailers can manually fine-tune product descriptions to ensure cultural relevance. The addition of the DeepL Glossary further enhances consistency by allowing merchants to manage product-specific terminology, promoting brand cohesion across all languages and markets.

    Pro Tip: Take advantage of machine translation for speed and convenience, but be sure to review and edit translation for clarity and cultural relevance to ensure accuracy

  • Increase your store global visibility
  • LangShop enhances your store's visibility to shoppers searching for Shopify Black Friday deals by enabling translated meta descriptions, keywords, and URL handles. This improves SEO and ensures your store ranks in local search results, driving organic traffic Additionally, enhanced metafield management ensures precise data handling, simplifying the integration with external systems and keeping your multilingual content organized..

    Pro Tip: Test the user experience across languages before launching your multilingual store. Identify and resolve inconsistencies to ensure smooth navigation. Continuously monitor customer feedback and performance metrics to make necessary adjustments and maximize conversions.

Expand your reach, attract customers worldwide and boost conversion with LangShop.

Best Practices for Shopify Stores Cross-Border Success During BFCM 2024

Now that you’re equipped with the tools LangShop offers, here are a few best practices for maximizing BFCM cross-border success of your Shopify store:

1. Monitor Global Trends and Emerging Markets

Stay updated with market-specific trends to align your product offerings with customer preferences in different regions. For example, eco-friendly packaging might appeal more to German shoppers, while fast shipping options may attract Japanese buyers.

2. Customize Your Promotions for Different Regions

While Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are universal, offering region-specific promotions can enhance appeal. For instance, free shipping to Brazil or bundled discounts for German shoppers can drive higher conversions.

3. Provide Multilingual Customer Support

Offering customer support in native languages builds trust and reassures international buyers. Use automated translation tools to provide quick responses, or hire professional translation services for critical communications.

Pro Tip: Simplify multilingual customer support this Black Friday with Shopify apps like HelpCenter. This app allows you to create an easy-to-navigate FAQ section and manage customer inquiries efficiently, ensuring you provide seamless support in multiple languages.

4. Ensure Transparent Shipping and Tax Policies

Clear communication about shipping costs, delivery times, and taxes increases international shoppers' confidence. Make sure this information is easily accessible on product pages and during checkout.

Conclusion: Set Your Shopify Store Up for Global Success This Black Friday and Cyber Monday

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to prepare your Shopify store for cross-border sales. As global shopping trends continue to evolve, retailers must adopt localization strategies  – like offering translated content, localized payment methods, and understanding cultural preferences – to attract and retain international customers, positioning your store for success. And if you are still looking for the best Shopify black friday app to help you with this task, look no further. By leveraging LangShop’s powerful localization tools, your Shopify store can attract international shoppers and convert them into loyal customers. 

This BFCM 2024, be sure your store will deliver a seamless, localized shopping experience, allowing you to tap into the vast potential of the global marketplace.