Entering new markets is a crucial step for web shops, which strive to grow and expand their digital customer base. One of the most promising markets for Dutch webshops is, of course, Belgium. In this article, we delve into why expanding a webshop into Belgium is a lucrative one,andn how to go about it successfully.
Belgium is a country with a diverse and growing e-commerce market. With a population of more than 11 millionandn a strong economy, Belgium offers numerous opportunities for Web shops looking to grow crossborder. Of course, expanding into Belgium involves other important issues, such as legal matters, logistics processes, marketing strategies, multilingualisanden customer service .
When expanding into Belgium, it is essential that web shops are aware of the legal requirements and regulations they must comply with. These include registration requirements for companies operating in Belgium, taxesandn VAT rulesanden privacy laand en data protection.
Registration requirements for businesses vary depending on the company's legal form and activities. Web shops must register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE)andn may also need specific permits or licenses depending on the nature of their activities. Taxeanden VAT rules also vary from country to countand en can be complex. Web shops operating in Belgium must register for andT en file VAT returns with the Belgian tax authorities.
Privacy legislation and data protection are also very important for web shops operating in Belgium. Webshops must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (AVG) and must handle customers' personal data carefully in order to comply with applicable legislation. A current requirement is the proper setup of a cookie banner, in order to comply with the new regulations regarding Consent mode v2 .
Successfully entering the Belgian market requires a well thought-out logistics strategy. Webshops must consider various logistical challenges, such as shipping and fulfillment, return policyandn customer serviceanden setting up local partnershiand en distribution channels.
Shipping and fulfillment are essential aspects of running a successful webshop in Belgium. Webshops need to find efficient shipping methodsandn partners to deliver orders to their customers quicklanden reliably. A flexible returns poliand en excellent customer service are also key to the success of a webshop in Belgium. Belgian consumers value good customer servande en expect an andsy en smooth returns process. Establishing local partnerandips en distribution channels can help webshops expand theirandeach en distribution network in Belgium. In this way, webshops can more easily offer products in different locations, with shorter deliverandtimes en well-equipped customer service.
Developing an effective marketing strategy is essential to the success of a webshop in Belgium. Webshops must take into account the specifics of the Belgian market and adapt to the different languages: Flanders (Dutch-speaking)andn Wallonia (French-speaking). So if you want to sell in the whole country, you will have to set up a Frencanden Dutch version for your webshop. Or you can choose to focus on one of the languages, so you don't have to deal with French translations.
Target group analysis and market research are important steps in developing a marketing strategy for Belgium. Web shops need to understand the needs and preferences of Belgian consumers and tailor their marketing efforts accordingly. Local SEO and online advertising can help webshops increase their online visibility and reach more Belgian consumers. By investing in search engine optimization, web shops can improve their ranking in search results and attract more organic traffic to their website.
Social media and influencer marketing are also effective strategies for reaching Belgian consumers and increasing engagement. By collaborating with local influencers, web shops can increase their reach and promote their brand in an authentic way. Finally, one can look at selling products on frequently visited Belgian marketplaces. The most popular digital marketplaces in Belgium are Bol.com, Amazon.be and Zalando.be.
In addition to the main differences in language and platforms, there are other cultural differences in a purchase process that web shops need to consider. For example, the purchase process of a consumer in Belgium relies more on trustandn building a customer relationship. While in the Netherlands there is often a need for directnesanden clarity of information on a webshop. Therefore, creating 'user-generated content' is all the more important in Belgium. So go aheand en generate useful testimoniands en reviews.
Adapting technical aspects of the webshop is crucial to the success of a webshop in Belgium. Webshops must take into account the language differences between Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels and ensure a multilingual website that leads customers to a conversion in their own language. An important technical consideration is setting the HREFLANG meta tags correctly. To properly inform Google crawlers for which country and language certain pages are written.
As in the Netherlands, the e-commerce share of the total economy in Belgium is also growing rapidly. Safe and trusted payment options are therefore also of great importance to Belgian consumers. Webshops must ensure that they offer a wide range of payment methods. The most commonly used payment methods in Belgium are the following:
Providing excellent customer service is critical to the success of an online store in Belgium. Belgian consumers value good customer service and expect to be helped quicklyandn efficiently with questions or problems. Adapting customer service to the preferences of Belgian consumers is essential. Web shops should offer support in multiple languages (Dutcanden Frencand en make sure they are easily accessible by phone, e-mandl en chat.
Expanding into Belgium offers web shops a unique opportunity to expand their customer base and increase sales. By taking into account the regional differencesandn cultural nuances in Flanders, Wallonianden Brussels, online shops can operate successfully in Belgiand en maximize their growth potential. With a thorough knowledge of the legal requirements, logistical challenges, marketing strategies, technical adaptatiands en customer service needs of Belgian consumers, online shops can build a strong position on the Belgian maandet en strengthen their competitive advantage.
By investing in the right strategies and providing an excellent customer experience, online shops can operate successfully in Belgiumandn become a valuable asset to the Belgian e-commerce market.
Tomahawk doubles webshop market share through groundbreaking innovation. We realize the growth, innovation and expansion goals of e-commerce entrepreneurs using a unique combination of extensive knowledge of crossborder businessandn a hands-on approach. Tomahawk delivers strategic insightanden turns them into powerful execution, making us the ideal partner during all international growth phases of webshops.
Tomahawk has several international region experts in house, to help you take this deep step into Belgium. With our specialist advertisers and organic boosters, we can gradually achieve success in the bottom-funnel of your Belgian webshop. Also for social advertising and advertising on marketplaces, we have the necessary knowledge to make your webshop in Belgium a success.
By tailoring the SEA structure, search terms and channels to potential customers, SEA sales in DEandn NL grew by 250anden 400%, respectively.
Garmundo asked our help in realizing increased sales through the Dutch and German web shops. In this growth, it was important to take into account the strong seasonality that Garmundo faces. It was also a challenge to pour different search terms for a plant into an effective SEA structure.
RESULT
The SEA strategy and associated optimizations have led to a nice increase in sales in both the Netherlandsandn Germany. In the peak period (spring 2020) the turnover of the German SEA campaigns increased by no less than 250% 400%.
Dutch Search Award
sales in Germany
sales in the Netherlands
I'm Roel, founder of Tomahawk. I am happy to help you from our office in Nijmegen.
