In today's highly competitive market, an online presence is essential for every company's success and growth. A high ranking in search engine results not only brings targeted traffic and increases conversions, but also establishes a business as an authority in a particular industry.

When expanding into international markets, it is critical to understand that English is not used by the majority of Internet users -- only 28.7 percent of the entire Web population uses English. Chinese is the Internet's second largest language, spoken by 321 million online users whose numbers have grown by 894 percent in the last eight years. Spanish, as the third most popular language on the Web, represents 131 million online users who are located not only in Spain, but also in Mexico, most of Central and South America, and a significant portion of the United States. Japanese, French, Portuguese and German are currently among the top 10 languages spoken by millions of Internet users around the world.

In order to speak to foreign audiences, translating content is a necessity, but translation is not enough. Localization into chosen languages is the first step of a multilingual marketing strategy that can substantially increase the number of potential clients. Every language has its own nuances that have to be taken into consideration when targeting users from different cultures. What people refer to as a "cellphone" in American English is called a "handy" in German, a "mobile" in UK English and a "GSM" in Belgium. These language distinctions influence Internet searches carried out by users of different nationalities and cultures, who use a variety of key phrases to look for the same service or product.

Source taken from Orad Elkayam ( E-Commerce Times )

To be a serious player in the online retailing market, you need to follow the industry's bible—the Top 500 Guide®. With 436 pages, the 2009 Edition of the Top 500 Guide® is the only authoritative ranking and the most comprehensive analysis of America's 500 largest e-retailers based on annual sales on the web. From the publishers of Internet Retailer, the leading information provider for the e-retailing industry, this all new Top 500 Guide® contains the very latest competitive data on the leaders of web-based retailing, the industry's sales growth driver.

The 2009 Edition of the Guide completely updates the comprehensive marketing and operating data and online sales information on each Top 500 e-retailer, which is the basis of our proprietary rankings. This edition once again expands the detailed profiles of each e-retailing business in the rankings that are written by our editors. We also added sections for social networking and shopping comparison site affiliations, site search features and functions and mobile commerce applications. An entirely revamped front section contains even more detailed stories and charts that examine in-depth the Internet and mobile commerce trends that are reshaping the retailing industry's future.

This edition also provides expanded and compelling profiles on each of America's 500 biggest web merchants—the trailblazers who have made e-retailing the fastest growing segment of U.S. retailing. Researched and written by our staff editors, each profile details the corporate strategies and the merchandising and marketing tactics used by each e-retailer to gain a leadership position in the Internet retailing industry. Compiled after more than six months worth of research, the Top 500 Guide® provides valuable competitive information on each of the 500 biggest retail web businesses—data not available from any other source.

Because we base pricing on a high-volume sales model, all this valuable data can be yours for the single copy price of just $65 plus FedEx shipping. Order your copy now, and the Top 500 Guide® will be sent to you via FedEx 3-day air (orders may take 24 - 48 hours to process).

source : http://www.internetretailer.com/top500/

The you tube video you see below explains in brief to why more importance should be given while designing the above mentioned key pages in any e commerce merchant website; no matter what the size (or) turn over of the company is.