Suppose you run a garden center, landscaping business, or a related company with multiple revenue streams.
In that case, you've likely faced the question: should everything be under one website, or does it make sense to separate them?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but making the right decision can impact your branding, SEO, and overall customer experience. Let's explore when to consolidate and when to separate your websites.
When to Keep Everything Under One Website
For many businesses, having one central website simplifies marketing, branding, and management. Here’s when it makes sense to keep everything under one digital roof:
1. Your Services Are Closely Connected
If your offerings naturally complement each other—like a garden center that also offers landscaping services—keeping them on one website can create a seamless experience for customers. A well-structured website with clear navigation can help visitors find what they need without feeling overwhelmed.
2. You Want to Build Strong Brand Recognition
One strong website can help reinforce your brand's authority in the industry. Instead of spreading your domain authority across multiple sites, you concentrate traffic and search rankings into one powerhouse.
3. You’re Managing SEO and Marketing on Your Own
SEO is already complex enough without having to maintain multiple sites. Managing content, backlinks, and rankings across several domains requires more effort and expertise. A single site allows you to optimize all your content in one place, making it easier to rank for competitive keywords.
4. Your Customers Expect One Unified Experience
If customers interact with your business as a whole—rather than seeing different divisions as separate—keeping everything on one website prevents confusion. You can still create distinct sections within your site for different services while maintaining a single brand identity.
When to Separate Your Websites
While a unified website has its advantages, there are times when splitting them up is the smarter move. Here’s when having multiple sites makes sense:
1. Your Businesses Target Different Audiences
If your garden center primarily serves homeowners but your landscaping company works with commercial clients, each group has different needs and expectations. Separate websites allow you to tailor your messaging, SEO strategy, and marketing to the right audience without overwhelming one group with irrelevant content.
2. You Offer E-Commerce and Brick-and-Mortar Services
Online shopping and in-store experiences are vastly different. If you have an e-commerce shop selling gardening supplies but also run an in-person garden center, a dedicated online store might be the best way to optimize the user experience. Keeping transactions separate can also help with logistics, pricing, and customer service.
3. You Need to Improve Local SEO for Multiple Locations
Google’s local search rankings are influenced by location-based content. If you operate garden centers in multiple cities, creating individual websites (or at least separate pages with unique content) for each location can help you rank higher in local searches.
4. You Want to Experiment with a New Concept
If you’re launching a new service, program, or niche business—like a “Nursery Stock Direct” delivery program—it might make sense to test the waters with a separate website. This allows you to market the new venture without risking confusion on your main site.
How to Link Multiple Websites for SEO Benefits
If you choose to operate more than one website, it’s important to link them properly for search engines and user navigation. Here’s how:
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Cross-Link Between Sites: Add clear links between your websites so visitors can easily navigate between services.
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Use Google My Business for Each: If you have multiple locations or divisions, ensure each has its own Google My Business listing for better local search visibility.
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Maintain Consistent Branding: Even if you have separate sites, keep logos, color schemes, and messaging consistent to maintain brand recognition.
The Bottom Line: What’s Right for Your Business?
Deciding between one website or multiple depends on your business model, customer base, and marketing strategy. If your services are closely related and serve the same audience, a single website is often best. If you have distinct customer segments or operational differences, separate sites can provide clarity and improve SEO.
Not sure what’s best for your garden center or landscaping business? Start by analyzing your customers' needs, your current website performance, and how much time you can realistically invest in managing your online presence. The right decision today will set you up for long-term digital success.
