Introduction

With the recent trend of globalization, it has become easier to expand businesses into overseas markets. In order to sell products or provide services internationally, building a multilingual e-commerce Website on Shopify is crucial. This article introduces key points for creating a multilingual Shopify e-commerce Website, especially in Japanese for business expansion to the Japan market, along with the support that Goat WebCreation can provide.

Steps to Build a Multilingual Shopify E-Commerce Site for the Japan Markets

Selecting Your Target Market

First and foremost, it is important to clearly define the target countries or regions, including whether you plan to expand your business only to Japan or other countries as well.
Deciding on the target market allows for the proper configuration of language settings, payment methods, and delivery areas.

Understanding the Japan Market

When building a Japanese Shopify cross-border e-commerce site, understanding the target market is essential. Consider the following points when researching the target market:

Key Points:

Market Size: How many potential customers exist?
Competitive Landscape: How many competitors are already operating in the market?
Cultural Background: Differences in consumer preferences and purchasing behavior.

In particular, analyzing how competitors have already positioned themselves in overseas markets is crucial.

Language Considerations

After determining the target market, it is necessary to decide on the Website's language options. Consider whether to introduce the local language of the target region or operate only in Japanese and English.

Language Options:

Introduce the local language of the target region.
Operate only in Japanese and English.

In general, many countries prefer content in their native language. Therefore, if possible, adapting to the target region's language is recommended. However, due to operational costs (as more content requires more translations) and translation accuracy (machine translations may not capture nuances well), using only English and Japanese is also a viable option.

Defining the Purpose of the Shopify Website

It is also important to clarify the purpose of the multilingual cross-border Shopify e-commerce site. Will it function solely as an online store for Japanese users, or will it also aim to enhance brand awareness through content marketing, provide information via blogs, or serve as a FAQ page to answer customer inquiries?

Examples:

If the primary goal is sales: Focus on simple product pages and a seamless payment system.
For new customer acquisition through content marketing: Integrate blogs and social media features.
For customer support: Include a FAQ page and detailed product information.

Shipping Considerations

Determining the shipping method is crucial—will deliveries be limited to domestic areas, or will international shipping be available? If a physical store exists, will in-store pickup be an option?

Shipping Selection:

Define the shipping regions: Domestic only or international shipping?
Determine in-store pickup availability: If a physical store exists, will customers be able to pick up products?

Website Content Structure

Finally, deciding on the website's page structure and content is necessary.

Key Content Considerations:

Number of pages required
Content for each page
Blog integration (if needed): Brand information, industry news

Key Considerations for Creating a Japanese Shopify Site for the Japan Market

1. Translation and Localization

Using appropriate language and expressions tailored to your business is vital in establishing trust with potential customers.

Psychological tendencies suggest that no matter how good a product is, Japanese customers may feel hesitant or skeptical about unfamiliar businesses. If the Website relies on machine translations, potential customers might distrust the content and leave.

Therefore, proper linguistic localization is a crucial aspect of building a Shopify e-commerce site for the Japan market.

2. SEO Optimization & Social Media Marketing

To attract customers from Japan, incorporating relevant keywords into titles, meta descriptions, and content in Japanese is essential for Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Additionally, social media marketing - where information about products and the company is shared through social networks and linked to the Shopify site - can be highly effective.

3. User Experience (UX) Design

Design and UX should be tailored to the Japan market. Since languages like English, German, and French tend to have longer text compared to Japanese, the website layout may need adjustments, such as decreased width.

Thus, appropriate font sizes, line spacing, and layout modifications should be considered.

4. Mobile Optimization

With the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, an increasing number of customers worldwide are searching via mobile devices. As a result, a mobile-first approach - designing the Shopify site with smaller screens as a priority - is essential.

Considering language - related design aspects and ensuring compatibility across various devices is critical when designing a Shopify site.

By addressing these key points, businesses can successfully build a multilingual Shopify e-commerce site tailored for your business expansion to Japan.

To bring your inspiration to Japan

Creating a Japanese Shopify Site for the Japan Market requires expertise in design, SEO, and localization. Simply applying the same approach used for English websites may result in a site that does not resonate with Japanese users.

To ensure success, it is best to work with a web developer experienced in international markets.

At Goat WebCreation Japan, Regarding Japanese website development, the entire process – including emails and online meetings – is also available in English.

If you’re not sure where to start, feel free to contact us and share your vision - Happy to help you bring your inspiration to Japan.

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