The ‘How’ and ‘Why’ of Content Creation for International Markets

Are you aiming at growing your brand or expanding your business? Do you plan on going international but are reconsidering it? Undoubtedly, going global is a difficult task, but once you take that big step, many opportunities await you. However, it is essential that you strategize your content well before going worldwide. 

The heart of any business is its content. That being said, content creation is not easy – but adding the element of it reaching many countries simultaneously makes it more challenging. You will have to consider a lot of factors and work accordingly. Here is the process for international content creation and its benefits. Plus, you’ll get additional tips at the end!

Process

• Identify your problem statement

Before taking any steps, you should know exactly what your problem statement is. It should be concise and objective and should cover the root of the problem rather than what it seems on the surface level.  The problem statement will help you prioritize your resources and avoid unnecessary mistakes. 

• Generate possible solutions

Create as many possible solutions after outlining your issue. It is possible to hold a brainstorming session when many different ideas and solutions are generated. What you should aim for is an extensive, exhaustive list of possibilities. Later, the solutions can be approved, mixed, or debarred.   

• Know your Audience

You won’t be able to access your target audience’s psychology unless and until you are familiar with them. You need to consider what customers need and anticipate from the product or service you offer. To gain a better understanding of their perspectives, you may carry out a thorough survey pertaining to your queries and issues. Since this is a worldwide affair, be sure to make the survey or questionnaire available in multiple languages and respect the local customs. 

• Research 

The process of research never ends. Throughout the progression of globalization, you must do several degrees of research; it must be accurate, resourceful, and almost error-free. Research involves more than just reading and accumulating facts; it also entails identifying what is crucial for the success of your company and determining whether there are any knowledge gaps that must be filled. 

Conducting adequate research will also help you beat out the competition and increase client satisfaction. Depending on your needs, you can perform primary qualitative or quantitative research. You can also conduct secondary research using academic journals, government papers, or industry reports.

• Structurize your content 

You will be able to decide how to arrange everything after you are clear on your goals. Be systematic and create an outline for your material before adding headers and subheadings. Any things that you feel are crucial can be added first, and you can then expand on them. Once the content is complete, make sure to reread, edit, and review everything.

• See what media suits you the best 

Is it an animated video, an infographic, or a brochure? In order to reach a larger audience, regardless of their age or language proficiency, multimedia is always an excellent alternative. Video, animation, VFX, and other forms of multimedia make it more appealing to consume than reading just text. Additionally, you’ll be able to expand the outreach of your content by adding concise text to it.  

• Understand cultural differences and language barriers 

Once you have decided to disseminate content throughout your target countries, take careful efforts to learn their culture. You have the information prepared and know what needs to be done. People see from their hearts and make decisions through their minds, so if you say something that can be considered disrespectful to their culture, there might be a backlash. 

Through your research, you’ll be able to learn about their culture and interact with them effectively. A positive brand image is created when your target audience resonates with you. 

You can navigate the legal and regulatory environment in many nations by having an understanding of people’s cultures. Laws and rules governing marketing, corporate operations, and intellectual property may vary depending on the culture.

• The translations should be effective 

Communication barriers have always been an issue, even when using translation or interpretation services. It’s crucial when localizing that you go beyond simple word-for-word translation and focus on the essence of the intended message. Make sure to work with reputable translation, interpretation, dubbing, and voiceover services. Hiring native speakers would also work in your favor. 

Benefits 

• Attract different groups of people

Your target audiences from other countries will make up your engagement once you leave your country. You’ll be able to maintain a bigger turnout and grow even further with this additional traction. 

• Inclusivity will enhance your recognition and reputation

Increasing brand exposure and recognition can enhance sales and customer loyalty, so it could potentially be beneficial to expand internationally. A company may become a more desirable partner for prospective investors, suppliers, and other stakeholders as it gains recognition in new areas.

Diversity always helps any business become more successful. Your business will thrive there as long as you have the necessary cultural awareness, are sensitive to the requirements of the locals, and respect their customs and culture.

• A new viable source of revenue-generation

With the aid of global expansion, a company’s revenue streams can be more diversified and less dependent on any one market or customer. This can aid in reducing the risks connected to regional economic downturns or other disruptions.

• International talent acquisition possible 

Employing individuals from other nations and cultures can help a company benefit from a varied range of viewpoints and talents, which can encourage innovation, creativity, and problem-solving.

• Business growth

All of the above factors will help your business grow, through diversification, brand advantage, and of course, keeping the sales and marketing strategies dynamic. 

Tips 

• Make your content appealing: convince your audience that they need to consume the content.
• Know the inside outs of your field: is your audience looking for something new? Something engaging? Is there a game-changer that you can introduce to the market? Think through all the possibilities that would help you overcome any lacunae or come up with something new.
• Make it as relatable as possible: Regardless of their age, individuals are drawn to information if they can identify with it. If people recognize the need for your product or service, they will be receptive to it. 
• For instance, if you offer event planning services, you must comprehend your client’s requirements, expectations for the event, etc., and endeavor to meet those demands.
• Take the common elements that have already been covered by many: and then add an unusual twist to it. It’s probable that many people have already utilized what you’re offering. Find something that hasn’t been done before and brand it to make your material more desirable. 

Think about this: 

How can you effectively keep the audience engaged from the first word to the last?

To summarize, there are a few things you should consider before expanding abroad. Your content should be interesting, but it also needs to be relevant, relatable, and not overdone. Make sure your translations are not overly mechanical and blend in with the background, among other things. Overall, even if diversifying your business internationally is challenging, you will greatly benefit from it if you take the right actions and work with people who share your values.