Expanding a business; whats best 2 websites or 1?

Discussion in 'General Business' started by RedMaple, Jan 8, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hi everyone,

    I wasn't sure what section this should go under and thats why it's under General.

    I was wondering if you could share your thoughts and opinions on this question.

    When expanding an existing business into a new area is it better to revamp an existing website to include everything or create a new website to link to?

    For example:

    A small cake making business who is expanding into catering as well.

    - Keep the cake website as it is and start a catering website or is it better to revamp and have it all together?


    I feel there are several pros and cons to both options and hope that I could hear some other opinions to help me add to my lists.
     
    RedMaple, Jan 8, 2010 IP
  2. stupidcamel

    stupidcamel Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    418
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    #2
    Are you expanding business to different coutries, which means you need to use different language on your site? Or you are just further deferentiate your business and want to a complete new site? Or you are expanding business to a new area which is not quite relevant to your existing one and need to launch a seperate site?
    They are different cases.
     
    stupidcamel, Jan 8, 2010 IP
  3. RedMaple

    RedMaple Peon

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    The new business area is different to the current one, although the two can cross sell between them.

    I guess the question stems down to budget. Redeveloping the exisitng site will be more costly than creating a small new site for the new part of the business.

    Is it worthwhile spending the extra funds to have all of the buisness under one domain? Or is it okay to have the new part of the business on a cheaper separate site?
     
    RedMaple, Jan 8, 2010 IP
  4. biglegg

    biglegg Peon

    Messages:
    330
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    I would keep the two seperate. The cake site is a whole niche on its own so someone looking for cakes would not be interested in catering, as this could be equipment or providing for large dinner parties or what ever you are promoting, so keep seperate. This would be more cost effective also.
     
    biglegg, Jan 8, 2010 IP
  5. Steve Powers

    Steve Powers Peon

    Messages:
    1,196
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    I think you'd better keep the two separate.You can put backlinks one of them.It's not very easy for you to revamp
    your current website since it has been online for a long time and has its own emphasis.
     
    Steve Powers, Jan 8, 2010 IP
  6. alistair80

    alistair80 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,868
    Likes Received:
    59
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #6
    I'd suggest keeping two things separetely. The main reason being if one doesnt work well, the other would suffer if put together in the same site :)
     
    alistair80, Jan 8, 2010 IP
  7. claries

    claries Peon

    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    Is it worthwhile spending the extra funds to have all of the buisness under one domain? Or is it okay to have the new part of the business on a cheaper separate site?
     
    claries, Jan 10, 2010 IP
  8. StevieP

    StevieP Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    620
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #8
    hey,

    I would always recommend that you create a new website for you new business target. By doing this it allows you to target your market so much better. Check out my site in my sig to see how we have done it.

    Regards
    steve
     
    StevieP, Jan 10, 2010 IP
  9. Hijynx427

    Hijynx427 Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    517
    Likes Received:
    17
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #9
    revamp the one you have already AND make a new and attractive catering page as well. Websites are like women in bed - it only gets better with numbers
     
    Hijynx427, Jan 10, 2010 IP
  10. nEquity

    nEquity Member

    Messages:
    94
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    43
    #10
    Without having read the responses, I think it really depends on how and what is being expanded.

    I mean with the cake shop example, I think expanding the one site is the best as it will offer cross sell services etc.

    However sometimes it is also useful to run the 2 websites seperately due to entering a niche and for search engines etc.

    So the best option can be to do both. It really depends how related the services are, and what your budget and time available is.

    Good luck!
     
    nEquity, Jan 10, 2010 IP