When it comes to targeting your global customers there are two current methods available for Webmasters and sponsor programs to use in detecting where this traffic is coming from and what language the customers prefer.When it comes to targeting your global customers there are two current methods available for Webmasters and sponsor programs to use in detecting where this traffic is coming from and what language the customers prefer. Browser language detection, whereby the script uses the surfer’s browser program language settings to find out what language is being used, and IP detection, whereby the program identifies the location of the surfer, revealing what country he is from and what language he is using. So which is better – identifying by country and location or by language?

IP detection is the most commonly used method for identifying global traffic. As most Webmasters know, the IP determines the location of the user, revealing where in the world the surfer is logging in from. Unfortunately, even though this method is used most often, it is tragically flawed. English is the language of choice in the U.S., but we all know there are many U.S. citizens who speak other languages as their native tongue who may prefer surfing websites in something other than English. The same is true for Europe. Surfers from Germany may speak German, but they may also speak a variety of other languages. We may assume that the person who is logging in from Spain speaks Spanish, but what if he doesn’t? We could be losing a customer because of those assumptions!

Browser detection to the rescue! Browser detection determines the language of preference for the user by revealing the language choice used in Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape or whatever browser the surfer is using to view the ‘Net. True, this can also be faulted if the user does not re-set the browser to his language of preference. But it is a lot more accurate than detecting surfers by IP location alone. And, if the user hasn’t changed the language preference for his browser, it might be because the surfer is familiar at least with the language being detected in addition to his own native language.

The best solution overall is a combination of both methods: The use of IP detection to determine the country, culture and most-used language of that region; and the browser language detection, to determine the language of choice for that user. Knowing the country and culture of the user in addition to language gives the Webmaster even more advantages for understanding the needs and desires of that surfer. Knowing what your surfer wants goes well beyond language barriers. Surfers from specific countries or regions have different tastes, different laws about what type of content is acceptable and different levels that dictate what is considered to be extreme hardcore than we do in our culture.

As the international Internet markets continue to grow, North American Webmasters need to educate themselves on how to meet the demands of this unique demographic. Not only language needs to be a consideration when thinking about global traffic, though. Realizing that there are different culturally based needs, interests and turn-ons outside of what we know in our own countries – that’s another major obstacle. Different fetishes, niches and twists upon the niches that we know from past experiences – it’s literally a whole new world to learn about and explore.

Education is key and Webmasters who take the time to read industry articles, trade magazines and explore Webmaster resources in search of alternative ways of generating traffic and income are the Webmasters who will find success in the future. More and more countries from all over the world are coming to American conferences like Internext Expo and are sharing their knowledge about the global market and are willing to help Webmasters find their place in this growing sector of the industry. Learning more about the surfers that populate the world, who are looking to buy adult content memberships and products in new currencies, through non-traditional methods and for sites that feature unique niches and interests – it is all worth the time and the effort.

American Webmasters are becoming more and more aware of the new income potential surrounding international traffic and are exploring new ways to capitalize on it on their existing websites. SexMoney.com is the perfect “compliment” to your current sponsor programs. If you are already using traditional per sign-up and partnership programs for your English-speaking traffic, then the SexMoney.com program used in conjunction with those programs will help you filter off your non-English-speaking traffic and make additional income from it that you might have been missing out on before.

The SexMoney.com program is not meant to be a replacement for your current moneymakers, but an alternative revenue source for your international traffic. Think of it as giving your current traffic fresh options for language, payment processing solutions, currency and cultural tastes. For more information on how you can make the most of the international traffic that you already have – and might not even be aware of – please visit http://www.sexmoney.com and explore our Webmaster education areas.

Kath is the Marketing Manager for SEXMoney.com and can be reached at kath@sexmoney.com.