In this, the final part of our guide to trading internationally through your website, we’re looking at domain names and legal issues.

Before you read this, check out parts one and two if you haven’t already.

If you’ve decided to translate your website to trade abroad, it can be worthwhile registering a different domain name for each country you trade in. In fact, it’s good practice to protect your brand by doing this anyway, as domains are cheap.

Country code domain names make it very clear that you trade in a particular country. So, for instance, if you’ve started trading in Spain and Austria, you could register www.yourbrand.es and www.yourbrand.at in addition to www.yourbrand.com.

A .es domain costs about £15 for a year, so it won’t break the bank. And as well as helping your image, it can boost your local search rankings. When people search Google’s Spanish website, your web pages are more likely to appear in results if they are on a .es domain.

Legal issues

Before you start selling overseas, make sure you’ve covered all the legal angles. Stay up-to-date with relevant customs regulations and check there aren’t any particular issues with the countries you’re targeting.

Doing research into this are can seem daunting, but things are often more straightforward than they appear, especially if you sell low-value items.

You can get lots of country-specific information from Business Link and UK Trade and Investment can also offer advice.

Again, this is an area where you can really learn from others. Track down companies which sell in your target territories and call them. Many will be happy to talk about their experiences. You can also seek professional advice from a lawyer. This will cost, but could save you time and money later on.

Loose ends

When you’re new to international trade, it’s often the smaller, unexpected things which catch you out. So use all the resources you can - particularly business contacts and friends - to find others who’ve gone into that country before. Ask what tripped them up, and avoid the same mistakes.

Finally, if your company is entering a new market for the first time, keep an eye on the resources you devote to the new venture. If your core domestic business is profitable, make sure you give it the attention it needs to stay that way.

Where next?

• Check out our ecommerce packages. You can use them to trade internationally in up to 9 currencies. And why not check for country-specific domain names while you’re at it?
• Get more advice from Business Link, UKTI and the British Chambers of Commerce. These organisations can help you plan and implement a successful international trade strategy.