E-commerce in Japan - 7 tips to sell successfully
The Japanese e-commerce market is large and lucrative, but it can also be tricky for foreign sellers. In this article, we give you seven tips to help you sell successfully in Japan.
1. Do your homework
As with any new market, it is important to do research before entering the Japanese e-commerce market. Try to understand local buyer habits and preferences, and try to find a niche that you can tap into.
2. Invest in a good localization strategy
To succeed in Japan, you must localize your e-commerce offering. This includes everything from your website and product descriptions to your customer service and marketing materials. Start by translating your website anyway, because without a Japanese Web shop, customers locally will not take you seriously. A good start for this is Clonable, which will save you a lot of time and money. Then invest a little bit of the money saved in a Japanese native translator who will perfect the basic translation in a minimum number of hours. Or have someone who will do customer service (see point 7) review the website.
3. Use Japanese e-commerce platforms
Japanese consumers like to store on Japanese e-commerce platforms. So it's a good idea to include your products on popular Japanese sites such as Rakuten and Yahoo! Japan Auctions. Clonable fortunately offers a way to translate XML feeds, making it easier to advertise here.
4. Collaborate with a Japanese company
Working with a Japanese company can give you a significant edge in the Japanese e-commerce market. They can help with everything from local market research to setting up an e-commerce platform and logistics.
5. Be patient
The Japanese e-commerce market is not easy to crack. It takes time, patience and perseverance to build a successful business. So don't give up too easily and make sure you have a long-term strategy.
6. Focus on quality
Japanese consumers are known for their love of quality goods. So it is important to focus on offering high-quality products and services.
7. Offer excellent customer service
In Japan, customer service is very important So make sure you provide your Japanese customers with an excellent experience from start to finish.
If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to success in the Japanese e-commerce market.
