One Website or Two?
That picture up there. It's a picture of my brain currently.
I have a website that's doing ok. It's getting some visitors, making a few sales. It started as a plant-based diet directory, but then I remembered how much I love writing about things like law of attraction, manifesting, goals, dreams and all that fun woo-woo stuff.
I started adding those kinds of posts to my site. Plus, essential oils (which I think easily fall into the plant category since they're made of plants, so I'm not concerned with that topic).
Then I thought "Hm, this is turning into something it shouldn't be. I want to focus my site back on plants. I know! I'll start a new site!"
And so my new website was started.
But now I'm going back and forth in my mind.
Is it better to just have the one authority site? I can work those goals and dreams posts into plant-based living in some way!
Na, people will want to see plant stuff on a site called Pick Plants.
But managing two websites might be tough. Plus, I already made business cards with Pick Plants on it. Do I need business cards for my other site too? All my social media is linked to Pick Plants!
Na, my other site can just be behind the scenes. I don't need to promote that one to the world.
But what about all the posts on Pick Plants that are not plant-related? What do I do with all of those??!
OMG, please stop my brain.
So, WWYD? Keep one authority site and work those other topics in? (Eating plants make you feel better which make you want to live a higher state of consciousness which makes you want to have big dreams and goals.)
Or split it up?
Please. Help. My. Brain.
Thank you!
Christina
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Sounds like a situation for two sites. And you seem passionate about both topics so I don't think it would be hard to manage. Just plan ahead what you're going to post and when you're going to post it and you should be ok.
Great advice! I wish I was good at planning! lol Something for me to improve on, I guess! :)
- Christina
Hi Cld111. Ok you sound like me. you like the same stuff as me! I am struggling myself about a 2nd site, I already bought the name a.com before someone else snatched it up/ I have not put any content on it yet. I am into essential oils also and LOA, manifesting, So see we do have a lot in common.
Like attracts like, right? :) Thanks for stopping by! I will do what others have said and split up the content. I will advise you to take the wise advice that was written below and "follow your gut".
- Christina
I started a site, and then started the second one in a completely different niche about 2 weeks later. I like it because It keeps ideas rolling easier to have 2 different niches to write for. But it is challenging for a beginner like myself!
I looked at my content page on SiteRubix and it says that I have written more words than 96% of Wealthy Affiliate. But then you have to cut that in half.
As long as you keep fresh content and work, work, work it's great !
But if you get a little slack with content it really slows down !
Keep it up! You can do it!
Best of success !
Mike
Great to know, Mike! I like the thought of the ideas flowing more easily with two different sites. I have tons of thoughts and ideas for both sites, so I think you're right there. Sounds like you're doing a great job as a beginner. Keep it up!
- Christina
There could be great arguments for either side, Christina. Initially, I didn't even think about developing 2 sites, but somewhere along the way, I had the idea to develop my 2nd site.
Although I have some great ideas for that and know who my target customer is, after a few months, I decided to slightly broaden my original niche and just focus on my first site.
I think, when it comes down to it, you really do have to go with your gut. I have this thing that I tell my friends when I'm joking around, but a part of me really believes it:
If I'm going to be wrong, then at least let me have a conviction in what I believe. If I feel that focusing on one site is best, then let me have a conviction about it, so I'm not being doubtful or "wishy-washy". If it turns out not to be the best decision, then I can make adjustments. Worse case scenario, you'll learn some things along the way.
There's a saying: "Ready, fire, aim!" We may be more familiar with "ready, aim, fire", but sometimes, we just have to "fire" then make the adjustments afterward.
Seems like you received some great input, Christina. All the best in moving forward.
Thank you so much for all of this! I think it would be easier to just have one website, but my gut is saying to split it into two.
Wishy-washy is definitely not the best way to be, you're right about that!
And I love the phrase "ready, fire, aim!" It's so true too. Just do something and then learn along the way, if necessary. I appreciate your perfect reminders!
- Christina
Stop and think about what problems your visitor is trying to solve from reading your posts. If they are looking for nutritional guidance and they run into law of attraction posts etc., it will be confusing and off-putting.
I ran into a health snag that required changing my diet. When I researched online I was looking for info on food. That was all I wanted. Anything else would have gotten in my way. I would not have subscribed to any sites that looked like a hodgepodge.
As long as you can generate content for both, you can have two sites. You've already got pick plant, so why not a site called pick dreams?
You'll figure it out - but from what you describe it's two separate niches.
Just my humble opinion.
You always give such sound advice, Wendy. I hope your students or "scholars pay attention to your wisdom.
Had a serious health snag myself.
Check out "No Grain No Pain" by Dr. Peter Osborne. Changed my life dramatically and the people I've given copies to.
A real eye-opener.
Definitely two sites! You could use linking from one article to another if they fit together. What would you think if you went to a website with cats and recipes? You'd be confused and leave right? So will your customers....
Thank you, I know you're right! (I do have some cat stuff there too. haha. Oopsies!)
- Christina
Christina, Stay focused. I think Mr. Miagi said that..... ;-) You could work the cat in some as cats can't eat certain plants. Pretty soon you'll have ten websites!
That's what I'm afraid of! lol Or, maybe not. It could be fun to have a whole empire of websites!
- Christina
I had the exact same dilemma! My first site was cat health and behavior and my second is human health and nutrition. The cat and human sites both started out on supplements. I could have rationalized combining them but I split them up.
If someone goes to a cat site they expect to see cat things not random human things. Also, a person looking at supplements might not see any logic in having cat articles mixed in!
I am very glad I split them up. It is just better to have a clear niche for each site. My sites (and yours) will already be considered authority sites once they are build out anyway. A narrow, non authority site would be focused on just cat food for example or just grain free cat food rather than cat health and behavior as a whole. We are already in broad fields. No need to make them so broad they lose all focus.
So, as much as it might be a pain to figure out the business cards, social media etc. I still think having two is probably the better option.
There are many successful models however. That is not the only way to do it.
Jessica
Ah, thanks so much for your input, Jessica! I think deep down I know that I need to split them apart, I just get overwhelmed at the thought of it. Especially since I already have too many posts at my current site that I need to figure out the best way to move over.
I tried moving them over with a feed last week, but it didn't totally work, so I may just end up rewriting them. Which could take forever. But, I think it'll be worth it in the long run.
How are you doing managing two sites? Is it ok?
- Christina
The only way for me has been to try to force myself to alternate writing posts between the two. So, if I did a post for nutrientcures last time I need to do a post for thrivingcat next.
I am not exactly sticking to the plan however! If inspiration strikes I might just go with it and write another post for the same site.
I am not very good at keeping a perfect balance between the two. I am sure it would be more efficient to just have one site! The more posts I get on each one, the more they can go on auto pilot however.
I am not in a huge rush though since I have a good job already, so luckily I can take my time with these and build them up slowly.
I get more sales from my cat site, mostly because it has been around for several years vs. a few months so I have a lot more posts on there. Considering how little content I have on the new site I think it is doing well though and I expect it to take off at some point. It would probably surpass thrivingcat in traffic and sales if I put enough time in.
I hope you find a solution you feel really good about!
Jessica
I think I will be more of the "when the inspiration strikes" kind of person as well.
I love both of your sites and I have no doubt they will both be huge successes!
I appreciate your insight! Thank you again!
- Christina
That is quite a dilemma! I wish I could help, but I often have the same problem. No solution yet.
Sheila
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I also have three projects. But I do not have the time to maintain all of them
Yea, I can see that becoming an issue! I guess you just do the best that you can with each of them?
- Christina
I have gone back to just working on one of them. My two Danish pages are still silent at the Moment. One belongs to my book. But do not have the energy or time to work with them all at the moment
Even one site can be a lot, so I understand how 3 can be daunting! Best of luck with all of them!
- Christina