Frequently Asked Questions

Do companies pay to participate in this report?

Absolutely not. We select companies for this report based on their size and the fact that they have made an investment in Web localization. Companies that do not support at least two languages on their Web site are not included in the report, regardless of their revenues. Our goal is to survey a wide swath of global companies across all major industries to provide a well-rounded overview of the state of Web globalization.

What companies have purchased this report?

All types of companies and organizations have purchased the Report Card over the years. Previous purchasers include AOL, Deloitte, Dow Corning, Google, Toshiba, The World Bank, and Bose, to name just a few. Many companies are repeat purchasers of the report.

When and how were the Web sites evaluated?

The 225 sites in this report were reviewed between January and February 2007 by John Yunker and a research associate. In producing this report, we dedicated an average of one hour to each Web site. This audit consisted of counting the number of local Web sites, tracking which languages were supported, studying global navigation, and reviewing a number of country sites in detail.

If a Web site does not change from year to year, will its score remain the same?

It is likely that a Web site that does not improve year after year will see its score decrease. This is because the benchmark for what constitutes excellent Web globalization continues to be raised every year.

Does a low score mean the company will do poorly abroad?

Not necessarily. A company that scores poorly in this report may in fact be doing very well around the world. A Web site is just one channel that companies use to market themselves globally and, for some companies, it is not a critical channel.

How do you select companies for your list?

Our list has evolved over the years to include most of the world’s leading multinational companies. We also make an effort to include smaller multinationals and start-up companies that have developed impressive global Web sites. If a company currently only supports English, regardless of its revenues, the site is not reviewed in this report. Our focus is only on those companies that have already invested in Web globalization.

What’s the value of comparing companies across different industries?

Web globalization best practices may emerge in any industry. By keeping a broad focus on all major industries, we are able to point executives to those companies and industries that are doing the best job of presenting themselves to the world.