[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Digital River, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRIV), a leading global provider of Commerce-as-a-Service solutions, announced the release of its newest white paper (http://driv.ws/1f), which provides valuable advice for any company considering multinational expansion of its online commerce activities. The free white paper, “Global Strategies for Your Online Business,” offers decision-makers, commerce practitioners and digital marketers tips and solutions for managing through the complexities that accompany commerce on a global scale.

Nearly one-third of all companies doing business today state that international expansion is one of their top three digital priorities, according to a Forrester Research report*. The importance of understanding buyers’ expectations as well as their preferred forms of communication and payment types are not only vital—they’re also the beginning of a series of disciplines requiring deep awareness of local trends, regulations and business rules. “Global Strategies for Your Online Business” offers readers a working knowledge of the factors impacting successful global commerce expansion, including product mix considerations, country-specific tax laws, payment differences, and strategies for localization, search engine optimization, email marketing and social media, among other points.

“Many companies assume that what works in their own country or global region will be as effective in other markets. Unfortunately, such beliefs can lead to expensive problems that may take years to overcome,” said Scott Heimes, Digital River chief marketing officer. “The world is indeed getting smaller—but huge differences in business practices remain. ‘Global Strategies’ will help any company get off on the right foot in its international e-commerce initiatives.

“Most marketers know that digital marketing is one of the most effective ways to establish a presence in a new market and a key to e-commerce success. Yet there are nuances by program - such as SEO, email marketing, social media - and unique regulations, requirements and preferences that vary by country and region, which marketers need to properly navigate,” added Heimes. “This free white paper helps marketers understand what they’re facing—and more importantly, puts them on a path to best execution.”