Its not always simple to think ... nevertheless many of our sites visitors ... In fact, most ofthem do. This has annoyed us to pack a lot of learning into a rude time.We shorten and post a monthl
Its not always easy to think globally, nevertheless many of our sites visitors live
abroad. In fact, most of
them do. This has goaded us to pack a lot of learning into a unexpected time.
We shorten and publicize a monthly e-zine from the tiny Greek island of
Karpathos. Kafenio, which
premiered in March 2000, focuses on European liveliness and culture. The first
step in thinking globally
was to accept our classified ads in any language using Latin letters, so
French, Spanish, German -
no trouble for our software.
Not correspondingly hard, is it?
That was an important decision for us. breathing upon a distant Aegean island as
we do, surrounded by
goats and cats, it would be simple to acquire tunnel vision and forget roughly the
rest of the planet.
English is English, right?
The first major engagement that punched us right in the nose was British vs.
American English. We
then had a contributing writer from Australia, marginal journalist from
Canada.
What to do? We made it our policy that each writer would pin to his/her
native usage of English.
No artifice did I desire to ruin an article by Americanizing it. Thats not global
thinking. Savvy
readers in Britain or elsewhere would spot that style slip-up a mile away.
(I aspiration a kilometer
away, no greater than before make that kilometre. look what I mean?)
There is a huge difference amid editing something for truthfulness and acting
like the language
police. No, we cannot entertain everybody and we cannot spend all waking
moment irritating to. But
to reach out to a global audience, we have to delightful to widen our thinking.
Global excitement
Recently we fixed to govern banner ads in languages supplementary than English and
this kicks off in the
July event afterward one German and one Russian banner. Its a start of something
exciting and we
think we can increase upon our idea as time goes on. Not every fee to a
site or e-zine has to
occur overnight.
Oops!
Do most sites really think and fighting globally? No. I cant add up the period I
have tried to sign up for
free subscriptions to newsletters or zines, only to be rejected because I
didnt occupy in my welcome and
zip code correctly. Or that my phone number did not fit the (American)
format. This oversight is
going to face off not just me--with a Greek quarters and phone number--but
other potential
customers nearly the world as well.
Another matter that urks me at many sites is in the same way as you see a button where you
can click on your
weather. Most of these programs slope out to give weather for North America
and North America
only. What if your reader in Tokyo or Paris wants to know the weather, too?
Ditto the news. For sites offering the summit news reports, Ill bet half offer
only American news.
What just about visitors vivacious in Asia or Europe, dont we as a consequence want news? In a
news story, I locate it
bothersome that every insinuation to government has to forward to Washington.
Or that every stock
quote must be from the U.S.
Folks, theres a cumulative world out here ready to visit your Website and maybe
buy your products.
Why shut us out?
Do you suppose Ill be going support to a Website that offers lonely weather for
North America or
claims my habitat is incorrect because I did not pick a state from their
listing? No, Ive had the
door slammed in my twist and afterward is enough. They wont get my business
because theyve more or
less made it positive to me at first visit that I am unimportant to them.
Im not suggesting we go out and employ sociologists instead of Webmasters,
but lets not go out of
our mannerism to position off a potential customer base from every over the planet
either. inspect your own
site and look what sure changes you might create in this regard.
Once we all start thinking globally, well suit it. As we attract new
customers, our exploit rates are
bound to go up. After all, I cant think of a bigger place to go global than
cyberspace.
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