How to internationalize your e-commerce with an effective go-to-market strategy?

Expanding into new markets is one of the most ambitious decisions a brand can make.

But growing globally isn't a matter of luck; it's a matter of strategy . Here, we explain how to structure a Go-To-Market plan based on data, prioritization, and optimization to maximize your results.

How to internationalize your e-commerce with an effective go-to-market strategy? Rocket Digital

Why internationalize your Shopify store?

Selling internationally opens the door to new customers, increased revenue, and sustained growth.

Shopify makes the technical process (translation, currencies, local payment gateways) much easier , but real success comes from having a solid strategy .


If you're wondering where to start, read on.

01. Tiering: Not all markets are the same

Before investing in a new country, it is essential to classify markets according to their potential and maturity .

At Rocket Digital, we use a Market Tiers system that facilitates decision-making:

Tier 1 - Core Markets

Consolidated markets, with a strong brand presence and high sales weight.

Tier 2 - Growth Markets

Growing markets, with some brand awareness but room for improvement.

Tier 3 - Conquer Markets

  • Unexplored markets, with low brand penetration but expansion potential.

02. Market strategy: adapt your investment according to the country

You can't communicate the same way in all markets.

The Brand x Tiers strategy helps you decide what type of campaigns to launch based on your brand's popularity and market competitiveness:

Brand Awareness

Or brand positioning, for new markets where we need to generate recognition.


Increase Share

In markets where we are already known but are looking to grow further

Brandformance

Balance between brand and performance, ideal for consolidating markets.

Full Performance

For markets where the objective is to maximize sales.

Recommended budget distribution

  • Search Engine ( Google Ads , SEO ) → up to 50% of the budget.

  • Social Media Ads → up to 50% in less mature markets.

  • Online Video (YouTube Ads) → 20-25%.


03. Media Mix and Forecast: How to Calculate Opportunity?

Designing a comprehensive media plan for your e-commerce requires solid data and strategic planning . It's not about investing based on intuition, but rather assessing the true potential of each market.


When defining the performance forecast by country , we use key performance indicators (KPIs) such as available budget, cost per click (CPC), conversion rate (CR), and expected return on investment (ROAS).



What can be extracted from this data?

Market size and interest

The greater the potential investment and demand, the greater the expected sales volume.


Average cost per click (CPC)

Determines how much we will pay for each visit to our Shopify store.

Conversion Rate (CR)

How many of those visits end up buying.

Target ROAS

The expected return on each euro invested. The higher this value, the more profitable the campaign will be.

Prioritize markets with a balance between investment and profitability

The key to success in internationalizing an e-commerce business is not focusing on just any market, but rather identifying those countries where investment, demand, and profitability are strategically aligned .

By prioritizing these markets, you transform your international expansion into a profitable and sustainable business decision , avoiding improvisation and maximizing the return on every euro invested.

It's not about luck, it's about strategy.

International success is built on data and method.



A good go-to-market strategy is the difference between investing wisely or improvising.

At Rocket Digital, we help brands prioritize markets , optimize investments , and achieve measurable results .


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