What are the differences between building a foreign trade independent website and a Chinese website, and what should be noted?

As you can see, Naibabiji shares knowledge for foreign trade professionalson building their own websites, and also answers many questions from netizens. Through this, some issues that foreign trade professionals haven't fully grasped have been identified. Therefore, this article shares the differences between building a foreign trade independent website and a Chinese website, as well as some points to note.

The difference between building a foreign trade independent website and a Chinese website

The most direct difference between building a foreign trade website and a Chinese website is thatthe primary distinction lies in the language used. Foreign trade websites are generally in English or other foreign languages, while Chinese websites primarily feature Chinese content. Additionally, due to the language difference, the target audience also differs: foreign trade websites mainly target overseas users, whereas Chinese websites target domestic users.A secondary difference is the search engines they target. For SEO promotion, foreign trade websites typically targetGoogle SEO, while Chinese websites focus on Baidu SEO. The optimization techniques for Baidu and Google differ. Similarly, for paid promotions, the advertising platforms also vary. Foreign trade websites usually advertise on platforms like Google AdWords and Facebook, whereas domestic ones use Baidu and Toutiao.

So, what should be noted when building a foreign trade website?

Note 1: Website Building Platform

Many Chinese websites use website building programs developed by the website building companies themselves, which are relatively simple but not necessarily suitable for Google SEO or the foreign internet ecosystem. WordPress is the preferred CMS system for the majority of foreign trade websites, though it's not absolute; the most suitable website building program should be chosen based on actual circumstances.

Note 2: Server Location

Naiba really can't understand why some business owners think that translating a Chinese website into English on a domestic server turns it into a foreign trade official website. Just as we experience slow speeds when accessing foreign websites, overseas users will also find your website on a domestic server very slow or even inaccessible. More reliable website building companies might suggest using a Hong Kong server because it doesn't require ICP filing, offers fast domestic speeds, and allows you to host both Chinese and English websites conveniently. Relatively speaking, hosting a foreign trade website on a Hong Kong server will be faster for overseas access compared to a domestic server, but many Hong Kong servers limit bandwidth, causing lag during high traffic. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a server provider located in your main customer's region for foreign trade websites. Here, we recommendSiteGround。

Note 3: Multilingual Website

There are multiple ways to implement a multilingual website. The simplest is to install a translation plugin and automatically translate into other languages with a click, but accuracy is certainly not high. A slightly better option is to install a professional translation plugin, which allows both automatic and manual translation. Naiba believes the more suitable way to implement multiple languages is to build a separate website for each language. Although it may seem more complex, in the long run, this approach offers greater advantages. For details, refer to the previous analysis article:The Scientific Method for Building a WordPress Multilingual Website_Plugins Are Not the Best Choice

Note 4: Saving on Theme Costs

I've encountered manybuilding your own websiteforeign trade users who are reluctant to spend money on a higher-end paid theme, or think paid themes are unattractive and don't match their aesthetic. First, for beginners, using a free theme makes it nearly impossible to implement necessary content and layout adjustments. Second, premium themes are carefully designed by excellent foreign designers; professionals' aesthetics are certainly more aligned with practical needs than those of most non-expert business owners. If you see enough of them, you can roughly distinguish between Chinese foreign trade websites and genuine foreign websites just by their interfaces. When in Rome, do as the Romans do—don't expect users to align with your perspective. Alright, that's all about the differences between building foreign trade websites and Chinese websites. Many other details are only noticed during actual website operation. Due to the pandemic, I've been stuck at home for over a month, and my brain isn't working as fast. Overall, whether you plan to rely on advertising or SEO, try to consider using WordPress. Don't approach building a foreign trade website with the mindset of investing neither effort nor money yet expecting revenue—such websites will eventually be outcompeted.