Currency and Websites

In the old days, when just an Internet newbie, I used to gather up as much information about Internet Marketing as I could get my hands on.

Much of what learned still serves me well today and is even still be served up as being new information, by wannabe Internet Marketers in their ebooks.

One of the things I was told and absolutely believed when I first started out online, was that if you're selling anything online, whether it be a book, a subscription, or anything, that you should always charge your fees in US Dollars.

Being British, my natural inclination was to want to use UK Pounds.

But, the Internet Marketers know best don't they?

One of the sites I run for a client (I don't have many clients, but one or two don't hurt), is a popular membership site.

It has always charged in US Dollars, but most of the visitors come from the UK.

The payment processor, a third party provider rather than a bank, only allowed them to charge in Dollars and in fairness, business was brisk and stable for a number of years.

Today, the Dollar rate makes it almost impossible for a British site to charge in Dollars because the exchaange rate is so poor (unless you're a tourist going to the USA).

I helped the site change to UK Pounds and add in a little increase at the same time, charging £20 per month instead of $29.99 (£15).

What happened?

The take-up increased. More members piled in.

It just goes to show that the Dollar might be the international currency of choice of the net, but if you're aiming your product at a predominently local audience, charge the local currency!

UK people want to pay in Pounds. Pure and simple.