How Web Themes Based On Tradition Can Help You In Certain Foreign Markets

Last updated 16 August 2008

There are fives scales to measure different cultural behaviors.

• High Individualism versus High Collectivism Behavior
• Uncertainty Avoidance versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Behavior
• High Power Distance versus Low Power Distance Behavior
• High Masculinity versus High Femininity Behavior
• High Context versus Low Context Behavior

Important: Read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools before implementing any of these web tools.

There is more than one tool you can use to appeal to each of the different cultural behavioral traits.

We have already reviewed two web tools for cross cultural communication to cultures with a high Uncertainty Avoidance behavioral trait:

• Customer Service
• Free offers

Let’s continue with a third Uncertainty Avoidance web tool :

Themes Around Tradition

This week we will look at another high Uncertainty Avoidance cultural behavior web tool :

• Using tradition on your website

Some cultures are less open to taking risks. They like to know what they can expect before giving you their money. They appreciate tradition.

Emphasizing the right tradition in the right way can make your company more appealing in certain cultures..

Let’s review the cultural behavior of uncertainty avoidance:

Traits Of Cultures High In Uncertainty Avoidance

Some cultures are described as being high on a scale of uncertainty avoidance. These cultures are stimulated more with:

• Predictability
• Structure
• Order

They do not respond well when they are faced with:

• Ambiguity
• Less structure
• Taking risks

This explains why presenting a theme on tradition on your website can get you better results in these cultures.
Here’s one thing you can do to communicate better with your clients in these cultures:

Highlight Use Of Tradition

In these cultures you need to pay attention to how you communicate and emphasize:

• History
• Company history
• National ties
• Respect in general
• Respect for their country
• Respect for their culture
• Respect for the elderly

You can often emphasize these traditional values with a few well chosen words in the right place. It does not take much. Without a small touch or two you would not communicate well with these cultures.Remember, there will be other tools you will need to highlight as well.

Use these cross cultural web tools to inspire you to improve your web communication with your international clients.

There is lots more on the different cultural behaviors in the June issues of the Get International Clients Weekly Newsletter. Sign up quickly for more tips and ideas for getting more out of your international marketing.

Important Notice

Basic Guidelines For Using This Web Tool

If you have not read the Basic Guidelines For Using Cross Cultural Communication Web Tools as mentioned in the very beginning of this article, please do so before implementing any of these web tools.

You need to look at the whole picture of all five cultural behaviors before tweaking how you use the specific web tools outlined here.

Cindy King is a Cross-Cultural Marketer and International Sales Specialist, with over 25 years field experience in international business development. Learn how you can get more international sales