Should I make 1 or 2 sites?

30 replies
Hello everyone,

I'm currently creating a new website for a company which sells 2 kinds of products:
  • Reuse and water treatment solutions (mostly for companies, condos and government)
  • Solar energy panels (mostly for families and small businesses)

Given that the target of each service is very different, what would you suggest as the best way for the website? I can either create one website with 2 separate sections or 2 websites, each one with it's own domain.

From a design and SEO perspective, what would you suggest?

Thanks for the answers!
#make #sites
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Obviously two sites.
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    • Profile picture of the author ReZeroAffinity
      Yukon, how did you come to this "obvious" decision?

      We would need more information, wouldn't you agree?
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by ReZeroAffinity View Post

        Yukon, how did you come to this "obvious" decision?

        We would need more information, wouldn't you agree?


        What more do you need?

        OP already said it's two entirely different niches.

        • Reuse and water treatment solutions (mostly for companies, condos and government)
        • Solar energy panels (mostly for families and small businesses)


        If I'm thirsty why am I buying solar panels?

        If I'm buying solar panels why am I thirsty?
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        • Profile picture of the author ReZeroAffinity
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          What more do you need?

          OP already said it's two entirely different niches.

          If I'm thirsty why am I buying solar panels?

          If I'm buying solar panels why am I thirsty?
          True, though oversimplified, thought you might like to expand. CheersM8🍻.
          We'll see if OP has anything to add. As I said, from experience and info provided, this would likely end up with 3 sites (one corporate with unique sections for each brand, one solar product/service specific, one ecowater/hydro product/specific).
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  • Profile picture of the author RefuseToLose
    Depends...

    Is there any value in the brand of the company?

    If there is, then keep both products on the same domain, just use different sections for each product.

    If the brand is not a factor and if the company wants to branch each product off as their own entity then obviously do two sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisBa
    If the site is around the company and a company site than one site. If it's a site about the products than two sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author RefuseToLose
    Besides going into SEO details about having two products under the same domain. Those two niches aren't so far apart as you think..

    Reusable water solutions + solar panels would fall in to the same niche as people who want to live off the grid and can use both solutions.

    However we don't really know what market the OP is in so it's hard to say. Either way there is no right or wrong answer. It depends on how the OPs company wants to position themselves and if they have the budget to promote two separate websites with two different budgets.
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    • Profile picture of the author ReZeroAffinity
      Exactly, this isn't like comparing two affiliate offers, say one in gaming and another in education. These could be bundled if the prospect were looking to build a new home for an ecofriendly family, or even a business. Or while installing PV solar, why not update your water system...Etc...type approach.
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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by ReZeroAffinity View Post

        Exactly, this isn't like comparing two affiliate offers, say one in gaming and another in education. These could be bundled if the prospect were looking to build a new home for an ecofriendly family, or even a business. Or while installing PV solar, why not update your water system...Etc...type approach.


        It's a safe bet the conversion rate on a water filter + solar panel would be very low.

        A better package would be:
        • Solar panel + Battery bank.
        • Water filter system + Replacement filters
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        • Profile picture of the author ReZeroAffinity
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          It's a safe bet the conversion rate on a water filter + solar panel would be very low.

          A better package would be:
          • Solar panel + Battery bank.
          • Water filter system + Replacement filters
          No doubt, I would hope that OP's client, or company, would offer these as well. However, we're also looking at this from a branding perspective for a business (not affiate offer) and high-level view (40k feet?) at that. Of course, upselling/co-selling those would receive a more prominent position.
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          • Profile picture of the author yukon
            Banned
            Originally Posted by ReZeroAffinity View Post

            No doubt, I would hope that OP's client, or company, would offer these as well. However, we're also looking at this from a branding perspective for a business (not affiate offer) and high-level view (40k feet?) at that. Of course, upselling/co-selling those would receive a more prominent position.


            That's not an upsell, buying a solar panel and recommending a water filter. Well, it's not logical upsell.

            Doesn't matter If it's an affiliate, vendor, manufacture, or whatever.

            The whole point of upselling is to recommend something that compliments the origional purchase.
            • Burgers + fries
            • Cake + ice cream
            • Pizza + breadsticks
            • etc...

            Great, now I'm hungry.
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            • Profile picture of the author ReZeroAffinity
              Originally Posted by yukon View Post

              That's not an upsell, buying a solar panel and recommending a water filter. Well, it's not logical upsell.

              Doesn't matter If it's an affiliate, vendor, manufacture, or whatever.

              The whole point of upselling is to recommend something that compliments the origional purchase.
              • Burgers + fries
              • Cake + ice cream
              • Pizza + breadsticks
              • etc...

              Great, now I'm hungry.
              Completely agree Yukon, Cheers...
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  • Profile picture of the author Tesslady
    Hi there,

    Yes, it would be much favorable to build 2 websites, as these 2 niches aren't much related to each other. In this way, your visitors will know what site to visit when they are looking for a water treatment solutions company, or if they need a solar panel for their home or business.

    But of course, you can promote your website on your other website, and vice versa. You'll never know someone needs both, right?

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Breinicke
    You could surely go both ways and make it work. If it were me I would make two sites for a number of reasons. First the most obvious is the different target markets, one being commercial, and the other home owners/consumer based. By creating two websites with different domain names opens the door to really focus on each audience which will have different viewpoints, and needs. By having different websites and domains it is better for SEO. Once you get into the development and get to know you target market better you will be able to expand each site to serve the market without the interference of the other market. It's just cleaner all the way around having two different sites and domains. Good stuff, I wish you the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author ZaneLe
    Hi,
    Why don't you make a website about solutions for natural energy? This site give information about Reuse and water treatment solutions and
    Solar energy panels. Depends on several factors which is disscussed by many others, you find the way for your website products!
    Cheers.
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  • Profile picture of the author innn
    I suggest to create 2 sites. there are 2 different specifications and you should have different approaches to them.
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  • Profile picture of the author salmonjames21
    I think one site for both the products. This is because both of these are interlinked, secondly, the more products on your site means you produce more content and the more content means you get some stable position in the search results.
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  • Profile picture of the author spartan14
    Well as these domains are diferent you must create 2 site with diferent domains because you will have better chance to rank this way
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Two !!! .
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  • Profile picture of the author chenbui
    If the products are relevant you should create a site
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  • Profile picture of the author tytonmedia
    different services/keywords, different websites
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  • Profile picture of the author livinglight
    I would first ask the company what direction they are going. Are they planning to expand into other related services (seems like they are into natural energy solutions for real estate?). If they are just starting with these 2 and planning to expand I would create 1 website. You can still target both groups and more if you structure your website properly. For example if you have a sports ecommerce store you can sell both shoes and pants.

    If the company wants to manage the two groups separately and that is their business model then two sites
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  • Profile picture of the author sujathasri
    In fact, my suggestion is to create 2 websites is good. B'coz these are two different specifications and you need different approach methods for both. From this, you can target every viewers which they need. It is convenient to do higher SEO. Also that you could discover which industry is walking excellent than other. It is clear to you all the way around having two different sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author salmonjames21
    I think one is sufficient as the content will be more and the chances are you will rank it easily. This is what I think as I am self learner and quite new in this whole stuff so based on my experience and thoughts, I am recommending this.
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  • Profile picture of the author ronnierokk
    If you client's business sells these products from one location, then the ideal thing would be to put in on the companies site with two different tabs relating to each product.

    That way you would only have one support portal and one phone number to deal with.

    Make sense?

    Hope that helps!

    Ronnie Rokk Smith
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Is the goal information and expose, or ecom? If the former, one site. If the later, two.

    Just FYI - I've bought a lot of solar panels over the years. I can't think of any I didn't buy off Ebay. I've visited manufacturer's sites before purchase, but I always buy through Ebay.

    Also, the thing to upsell with PV panels is charge controllers.
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  • Profile picture of the author hynds
    Originally Posted by Rafael Barros View Post

    Hello everyone,

    I'm currently creating a new website for a company which sells 2 kinds of products:
    • Reuse and water treatment solutions (mostly for companies, condos and government)
    • Solar energy panels (mostly for families and small businesses)

    Given that the target of each service is very different, what would you suggest as the best way for the website? I can either create one website with 2 separate sections or 2 websites, each one with it's own domain.

    From a design and SEO perspective, what would you suggest?

    Thanks for the answers!
    "create one website with 2 separate sections" because all your products are on the same brand, that's your company's brand. Build 2 separate sections on the same site does not hurt anything about SEO or digital marketing. Doing this way will save you cost, resource and easier to manage. IMO
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    • Profile picture of the author smartkpis
      Originally Posted by hynds View Post

      "create one website with 2 separate sections" because all your products are on the same brand, that's your company's brand. Build 2 separate sections on the same site does not hurt anything about SEO or digital marketing. Doing this way will save you cost, resource and easier to manage. IMO
      I agree with Hynds, If you have two different websites you will spend a lot of effort on each site and that is not effective. For me, your product still has similarity, both of your product is eco-friendly.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Originally Posted by Rafael Barros View Post

    Hello everyone,

    I'm currently creating a new website for a company which sells 2 kinds of products:
    • Reuse and water treatment solutions (mostly for companies, condos and government)
    • Solar energy panels (mostly for families and small businesses)

    Given that the target of each service is very different, what would you suggest as the best way for the website? I can either create one website with 2 separate sections or 2 websites, each one with it's own domain.

    From a design and SEO perspective, what would you suggest?

    Thanks for the answers!
    So far, most people are focusing on the products as niches. I see it a different way.

    The two different markets are:

    "companies, condos, and governments" (actually, you could break these into three markets)

    "families and small businesses" (again, these are really two markets).

    So, the answer could be one site, two sites or even five sites. You could further break things down within each market segment (large companies vs. mom/pop shops, etc.)

    The two product lines do have the potential to cross over. For example, the development my folks live in reuses water from the "lakes" to feed the fountains and water the landscaping, which drains back into the lakes. The company could sell the development on a water solution powered by solar panels in order to lower assessments and take advantage of tax breaks for green technology.

    So, lacking sufficient information to pick a single number, use enough sites to cover each market segment and the objectives for that segment.

    My hunch is that, from a company and SEO approach, you may end up with a single domain with multiple subdomains. Use the main domain pages to segment and direct visitors to the most relevant subdomain.
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  • Profile picture of the author jennydonald
    SEO wise, I would go for two
    sites instead of one.
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