In the article written by Maximilian Claessens “CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN MARKETING – WHAT

BUSINESSES NEED TO CONSIDER IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS” It explains that Cultural differences in

marketing should receive primary attention when selling goods or services internationally, as the
cultural environment changes one country to the other. This means that multinational companies must
understand the culture of a specific state before selling the products. Here are some significant cultural
factors that businesses intending to move to the international stage should consider.

1. Language
Languages are some of the major cultural differences in marketing that companies ought to
understand before they market their products and services in a foreign country. 
2. Purchasing Power/Pricing
In as much as pricing strategies appears to be economic factors, they are important cultural
differences in marketing. It is common knowledge that some cultures have a higher purchasing
power than others.
3. Consumption Habits
As a marketer, you are already aware that personalities and cultures combine to shape the
consumption behavior of individuals in a particular country or region. Before marketing your
products, you need to determine whether individuals in a specific country make individualistic
or collective buying decisions.
4. Age/Demographics
Just like in domestic marketing, age and other demographics significantly contribute to cultural
differences in marketing. 
5. Taste and Preferences
Eating habits are further important cultural differences in marketing that multinational
companies need to understand. For a food selling company, it is essential to understand the
eating habits of a particular region before marketing its menu. For instance, McDonald’s and
other fast-food companies had to start offering vegetable products in India rather than meat
products. Likewise, these companies have started to increasingly cater to international tastes,
like rice dishes for the Asian market.
6. Religion
Religious beliefs are important cultural differences in marketing that should be considered when
selling in foreign markets. They influence how a particular society perceives various products
and services. Organizations have to understand the impact of religion and its role in society. For
example, in Muslim countries, marketing secular women outfits might be off as the religion in
these countries requires women to dress in a modest way, which is highly regulated. Besides,
some marketing messages have been at loggerheads with religious groupings after their
messages were deemed to be offensive towards a particular religion. Religion is a very critical
aspect that companies need to understand before they can start marketing their products at the
international stage.