How to sell internationally on Shopify in 2025

Why do research?

• Minimize risks

Recognizing potential obstacles, such as local competition, economic challenges, and cultural differences, can provide valuable insights and reduce the risk of entering the wrong market for your business.

• Identify new customer segments

Understanding consumer behavior and preferences helps you assess whether your products resonate with local audiences and identify new target markets you may not have considered yet.

• Evaluate market potential

Market research provides insights into market saturation, demand trends, and untapped opportunities, helping you choose markets with the most growth potential.

• Optimize spending and margins

Targeting high-demand and low-competition areas can maximize your marketing budget and improve profit margins.

• Establish compliance with laws and regulations

Market research helps you understand local trade laws, international taxes, and eCommerce regulations, preventing legal complications.

How to do international market research?

• Target your approach

The browsing and purchasing behaviors of global customers vary across different markets worldwide. Concentrate your efforts and expand territory by territory.

When going global, target specific markets, starting with nearby or culturally similar countries for easier entry into international selling.

• Consult local experts

Contact consultants or market experts familiar with the local landscape to gain insights into cultural preferences, legal requirements, and market trends. Consider using Shopify partners to help you.

• Leverage government data

Use publicly available data from government sources and international trade organizations to analyze economic indicators, industry reports, and market potential.

• Conduct online consumer surveys

Use surveys to gather direct feedback from potential customers. Platforms like Google Forms can help you understand consumer preferences and buying behaviors.

Shopify users can find potential markets by looking at their sessions by location reports, which show the locations of site visitors and customers.

• Organize focus groups

Focus groups provide deeper insights into consumer sentiment and product perception. They allow for more in-depth discussions, which can reveal valuable, qualitative data on customer needs.

• Research trends by territory

With Shopify, selling internationally can open new possibilities, but you need to know what customers are looking for and where. Use tools like Google Trends and Semrush to research trends over time in specific regions and see if your products would be a hit in different countries.

Set up international payments

1. Enable multiple currencies

Shopify Payments automatically converts prices based on real-time exchange rates. This lets you sell in multiple currencies in different countries, and customers can view prices in their own local currency.

To set it up, go to your Shopify Admin, navigate to Settings, and select Payments. From here, activate Shopify Payments and set up currency options.

2. Streamline currency selection

To provide a seamless experience, automatically redirect customers to the correct store subdomain based on their IP or use a Geolocation app to let them choose their preferred region manually.

3. Manage taxes and duties

Adapt your tax setup to regional norms – North American markets typically exclude taxes, while Asia Pacific and European markets often include them. Shopify can adjust taxes based on buyer location. You can also offer duties calculators or collect import fees at checkout.

Prepare international shipping

Efficient and reliable shipping settings are vital for international sales. Shipping logistics can be challenging for international eCommerce, but Shopify offers tools to streamline the process.

1. Create shipping zones specific to your target regions

Learn how to add international shipping to Shopify by setting up shipping zones and customizing rates for each target region. Shopify shipping apps automate the process, saving time and enhancing customer satisfaction.

2. Explore shipping providers and display pricing details

For Shopify international shipping, the platform integrates with carriers like DHL, UPS, and FedEx, allowing you to offer live shipping rates at checkout. If you offer flat rates, explain to your Shopify shoppers what they’re paying for. Use the Shopify Advanced plan to calculate third-party shipping prices.

3. Communicate shipping times and prices

Provide customers with multiple shipping speeds, from standard to expedited. This flexibility helps cater to different customer preferences. Make sure to clarify shipping prices, delivery times, and potential customs delays at checkout.

4. Handle customs and duties

International customers may face additional charges for customs and duties. Consider using Shopify’s duties and import taxes feature, which calculates and collects these fees at checkout, ensuring transparency and avoiding unexpected costs.

5. Adapt your product range

Avoid selling products that are too bulky or costly to ship internationally. Shopify’s shipping profiles let you control where items can be shipped, which can help avoid logistical challenges.

Translate and localize your Shopify store for selling internationally

Localization involves tailoring the shopping experience to suit your target audience’s cultural and functional preferences.

1. Set up international domains

Set up country-specific domains or subdomains (e.g., .co.uk for the UK or .de for Germany) to assure customers they’re shopping on a localized site. Both Shopify-managed domains and third-party domains can be used to establish international domains.

This also helps display prices in local currencies, improves trust, and increases your search engine rankings in those regions.

Tailoring your SEO strategy to target local keywords and phrases is equally important. Shopify handles SEO complexities, like adding hreflang tags and showing the correct pricing and content in search results.

2. Translate your store content into a local language

While web browsers can translate pages, the quality doesn’t match manual translation. Shopify stores let you sell in up to 20 languages. Activate and manage multiple languages directly from your Shopify admin.

Start with translating high-traffic pages, product details, and legal information to create a seamless customer experience. Use Shopify’s Translate & Adapt app for automatic translations, or choose third-party apps. Additionally, consider hiring professional translators for better product descriptions and customer communication accuracy.

3. Localize customer experience

A pleasant user experience is key for successfully selling internationally on Shopify. Offer customer support in multiple languages, and clearly communicate your return policy, shipping times, pricing and language defaults, and other key aspects of the shopping experience to international buyers.

This helps build trust and makes international visitors feel confident purchasing from your Shopify store.

Customer segmentation

Customer segmentation is necessary for targeting international markets effectively. Shopify’s analytics tools let you segment your customer base by region, language, and buying behaviors. This enables you to deliver personalized content, offers, and promotions that resonate with each target audience.

Email marketing campaigns

Email marketing is a powerful tool for nurturing relationships with domestic and international buyers. Personalize campaigns by segmenting your list by location. For instance, offer region-specific promotions or target local holidays, such as Singles’ Day in China, 4th of July in America, or Black Friday globally.

The Shopify Email app simplifies email marketing with a drag-and-drop editor and customizable templates to promote your store. It integrates with Shopify automation, offering pre-built templates, custom workflows, centralized email design, and analytics management – all in one place.

SEO and content marketing

SEO is necessary when targeting international markets. Additionally, consider that search engines like Baidu (China) or Naver (South Korea) dominate in certain regions, so optimizing for these platforms is important. Create content that resonates with your audience and ranks well on local search engines.

To research local keywords, use tools like Google Keyword Planner and adapt your content strategy to target those terms. Optimize your blog, product, and meta descriptions with relevant keywords to elevate your Shopify store’s visibility and searchability.

Use social media

Promote your Shopify products globally using platforms like Facebook or Instagram, allowing international visitors to purchase directly from your social media. Remember that different regions use various platforms. Adapt your social media marketing accordingly.

The Shopify platform integrates with Facebook and Instagram, offering free product listings with built-in one-click checkout. Use single or carousel ads to showcase up to five products at once, encouraging customers to explore your collections. Set up targeted paid ads through Shopify’s admin or Meta Business Manager, adjusting budgets and audience targeting for each market.

Focus on your international customers

Providing excellent customer service is essential, especially when dealing with international visitors. Offering multilingual support and live chat options ensures you can assist customers promptly and in their preferred language.

Additionally, having customer support available in different time zones helps improve response times and customer satisfaction globally. Shopify marketing lets you integrate various customer support tools, such as help desks and chatbots, to handle international inquiries efficiently and effectively.

Choose markets wisely

While expanding internationally can increase sales, not all markets are equally profitable. Focus on regions where your products resonate and where you have a competitive advantage. It’s better to start small, with one or two markets, before expanding to more.

Be aware of local laws, rules, and taxes

Every country has its own legal requirements for eCommerce businesses. Make sure you’re familiar with local data privacy laws, sales tax regulations, and import/export restrictions. Shopify’s tax settings can help you automate much of this process, but staying informed about your responsibilities as an international seller is important.

Adapt your shipping and return policies

Offering smooth shipping methods and return processes is crucial to building trust with international customers. Consider offering local return addresses or working with third-party logistics providers that can handle returns in your target market. This will make the process easier for both you and your customers.

Adjust your branding and online store

Your branding should reflect the cultural preferences of your target market. This might involve changing your logo, packaging, or even the tone of your marketing messages to align with local expectations. It’s important to do this without losing your brand’s identity.