International expansion and use of search engines

International Expansion found an interesting article entitled:

International Expansion Through

Search Engine Marketing

of Oct 5, 2010 11:49 AM, By Michael Kahn

Mr. Kahn points to that a recent review of global markets uncovered interesting data points by country and region, and that search engine use worldwide is steady and poised to grow, as can be seen in the following table:

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He points out that China and India, the world’s largest markets, are particularly due for explosive growth, and continues: "Businesses considering international expansion, into any market but particularly into these emerging online nations, should capitalize on the intelligence offered by search engines." 

He also proposes that you consider this five-step process to do just that:

1.    Get your search marketing and new markets teams working together
2.    Develop international keyword lists for each market through translation
3.    Use keyword research tools from leading engines and third party vendors in each market to get specific data on search volume, active competitors and more for various keywords, if budget allows
4.    Complete a systematic competitor audit by keyword and track findings to gauge competitors’ active presence in the market and associated demand
5.    Re-collect data points and observations regularly to update the prioritized list of markets that results; as Internet penetration climbs, the activity can grow and change rapidly

This article is a must-read for anyone contemplating international expansion today.