Christian Arno

Christian Arno is the founder and Managing Director of global translation agency and localisation specialists Lingo24. Launched in 2001, Lingo24 now has over 180 employees in five continents and a global network of 4000 translators. Last year, they translated 55 million words for clients in more than sixty countries.

Global businesses eye the emerging Indonesian ecommerce market

Ecommerce is growing rapidly in Indonesia, with the market expected to soar to $10bn by 2015. More global businesses are looking to take advantage of this fast-growing market, with its resilient economy and huge population.

With the world's fourth largest population, more than 700 languages, and 18,000 islands, Indonesia is a fascinatingly diverse country. Its idyllic beaches and stunning mountains draw tourists from around the world.

But for global businesses, its huge population, resilient economy, and emerging ecommerce market, are the main attractions.

by Christian Arno 27 March 2013 09:31am 0 comments

Developing a multilingual content marketing strategy

For digital marketers, content marketing is top of the priority list for 2013. And as more of the world gets online, the global audience for content is growing fast.

According to the UN Broadband Commission, a third of the world population already has internet access, and this is set to rise to 40%, or 3bn, by 2016.

by Christian Arno 23 January 2013 12:30pm 4 comments

Tapping into seasonal e-commerce trends around the globe

Cyber Monday broke records in the USA this year, and resulted in a surge in online sales around the world.

While December is still a key month for UK and US retailers, many e-commerce companies are also focusing on other global shopping trends.

by Christian Arno 03 December 2012 13:04pm 0 comments

Delivering great customer service across borders

The old adage “the customer is always right” applies just as much in a global digital economy.

A recent survey by American Express of international customers found that almost two-thirds were willing to spend slightly more money with a company which provided better service. Others say they expect “excellent service” as standard, and it’s essential to gaining repeat business.

Yet it can be particularly tricky when marketing online, especially across different markets and languages.

Here are seven ways to make sure your customer service isn’t lost in translation:

by Christian Arno 22 October 2012 10:08am 3 comments

Seven avoidable mistakes in global marketing

Global e-commerce business-to-consumer sales are set to soar past the 1 trillion euro ($1.25trillion) mark by 2013, according to a recent report.

The IMRG concluded “the future of ecommerce is global”, with strong growth in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

For businesses of all sizes, the internet is a relatively low-risk, and cost-effective way to test the waters in new markets. But it’s all too easy to go wrong, by failing to take cultural differences into account.

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid...

by Christian Arno 14 September 2012 09:01am 4 comments

Reaching the CIVETS through digital marketing

The fast-growing CIVETS countries have attracted a lot of attention from investors in the first half of 2012.

As internet use continues to rise, they offer new opportunities for e-commerce companies.

As the Eurozone’s debt woes continue, more marketers are looking further afield for new customers. Many eyes are turning towards the so-called CIVETS nations - Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa.

by Christian Arno 28 August 2012 10:47am 1 comment

Five steps to creating a successful global PPC campaign

Pay-per-click advertising can be one of the fastest ways to drive new traffic to your website. For companies looking at breaking into new markets, it can be a low-risk, cost-effective way to get started.

However, many businesses are failing to realise its full potential, especially in other languages.

by Christian Arno 30 July 2012 10:16am 7 comments

Web designs that communicate across cultures

Targeting international customers involves a lot more than just translating a website. Global companies, such as McDonald's and Twitter, show the importance of adapting designs to reach different audiences.

It’s said an image can tell a thousand words, and a well-designed website can make or break an online company. But the message it’s sending can vary depending on the audience.

Communicating effectively with global customers can involve much more than simply translating the content. It also means thinking carefully about other design aspects, from choice of colours to navigation.

by Christian Arno 28 June 2012 11:52am 1 comment

Mapping world social media trends

Facebook's growth is increasingly fuelled by users in emerging markets, including Latin America and the Middle East. But it still faces local competition in many countries.

It’s been a tough week for Facebook, with share prices falling sharply after its widely hyped IPO. But that doesn’t change the fact that the social networking giant now reaches roughly one in eight of the world’s population.

And it’s still growing fast internationally, especially in developing countries in Africa and Latin America.

by Christian Arno 31 May 2012 11:45am 0 comments