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Would you like your blog, or business, to have a broader global audience? Recently, I asked one of my interview subjects, “what is the best way to have your blog break into various international markets?” The response I got was quite insightful but I don’t want to get into the reply just yet (you’ll have to wait for the interview to be posted).

image source: stevecadman

However, it did get me thinking, how many bloggers and small business people are truly reaching out beyond the borders of their own country? How do people from Indonesia culturally interpret what they read on DoshDosh, which from my point of view as a North American, has some of the most in depth marketing and blogging articles around?

Truthfully, as a means of attracting more readers I think we should all be -

Blogging Locally and Thinking Globally

Of course, Blog Locally and Think Globally, is a play on the famous environmental slogan and subsequent movement of the 80′ and 90’s, which encourages activists to, “Think Globally, Act Locally.” We all draft our posts from various corners of the world, whether it be the Caribbean, Australia, Europe, or the United States. The change that I am suggesting we undertake as bloggers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs entails us cognitively appreciating cultural differences when trying to increase readership or attract more customers.

When I look at my visitor statistics (and because I’m a Human Geographer by training) I am continuously amazed at the countries that I see listed. Within the past week people have read my blog from the Ivory Coast, Bosnia, Iraq, Taiwan, Jordan, and Guam just to name a select few. My site has probably .1% of the visitors that most large blogs and regular websites have. Unfortunately, I will probably never have the chance to visit most of the countries that are listed unless I win the lottery. The lottery aside, I still want my content to be relevant and constructive to all visitors.

How do we as bloggers add value to the lives of our international visitors?

Useful content is of course the major determining “success” factor for most sites. But, how is a blog that is written by an American expat, who lives in the Caribbean, received and digested by someone in Pakistan? Moreover, Seth Godin once stated about blogging, “What works is bringing actual news and actual remarkable stuff to people who care.” How do we successfully go about what Seth suggests in a manner that is attractive on a global scale to many nationalities, religions, and cultures?

Drafting a new post soon? Take a moment to think about the global nature of blogging, and online business.

The primary idea for this post came about because I was thinking back to when I lived in Papua New Guinea as a Peace Corps volunteer and the cultural differences I experienced there. For example, if you wanted to ask someone a question it was considered extremely rude to just come out with it and ask directly. The cultural norm that existed there dictated that you have an informal discussion, with NO prescribed length (one hour, two hours, a day), on just about any subject as long as it was not related to the real issue at hand. It was a very strange lesson for someone who comes from the US, a country where we have taken being direct in our actions and interactions to almost an art form.

For some additional cultural innuendos I recently asked for some input (on a forum) on the following question, “Are there specific cultural differences or business customs in your country that people should know about?”

* The owner of a1-fan-fun responded by stating, “In Brazil we tend to be much less formal than in other countries. Even when doing business. Of course you are expected to be somewhat “serious” in such situations, but let’s just say that a typical Brazilian will never be the most serious person on Earth.” Additionally, they noted “Brazilians are also notorious for being unpunctual. A meeting set to start at 9:00 AM is very likely to be delayed for half an hour, or maybe one hour (sometimes even more).”

* Another respondent, from Goal Setting College, had the following input, “As a Singaporean, I don’t find Singapore’s business/meeting culture to be particularly different from what you may experience in other countries until I read the following on a web page (http://www.moveandstay.com/singapore/guide_doing_business.asp).” The website, moveandstay.com, suggests that the culture in Singapore is quite different and highlights these key etiquette points:

“Be courteous and professional at all times - take the time to learn Asian courtesy as Western courtesy may have a contrary meaning in Singapore; Business friendships are based on honor, integrity and good character - take pains to establish and maintain contacts as Singaporeans highly regard warm and personal relationships; Handshakes in Singapore are usually soft and light to the touch, unlike the bone-crushing one common to people from the West.”

The last point about Singaporean handshakes I find particularly interesting because I just discussed the importance of a “good-strong” handshake in a post last week entitled, “The Importance of NonVerbal Communication Ten Things Your Handshake Says About You.” Guess I should have looked at the topic from more than just my North American viewpoint…

Now I will ask you the readers, in order for me to better embody the “Blog Locally and Think Globally” concept, please answer the following questions in the comment section:

*Where are you from?
*What cultural innuendos might we not know about in your country that could affect blogging and business relationships?
*Do you think culture affects the tone of most blogs?

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