Expanding your e-commerce presence often involves reaching a new audience or showcasing a different product line. One way to do this is by setting up a second website on the same domain. Whether you’re looking to introduce a new product category, create a separate storefront for a niche market, or cater to a different geographical region, using the same domain can help you maintain brand consistency while expanding your reach. If you’re using Shopify for your primary store, you might want to know how to set up a second website on the same domain effectively. This process requires specific tools and expertise, which is where a Shopify Plus development agency can assist you in seamlessly implementing this setup.
Setting up a second website involves multiple steps, but with the right guidance from a Shopify Plus eCommerce agency or a Shopify Plus design agency, you can ensure that your new storefront is functional, visually appealing, and optimized for success. Let’s explore the steps you need to follow and how partnering with a Shopify Plus agency can enhance the process.
Step 1: Understanding the Purpose of a Second Website
Before jumping into the technical details, it’s crucial to understand the purpose of setting up a second website on the same domain. The first question you should ask is whether this second website will serve a completely different market segment or complement your existing store. Some common reasons businesses choose this approach include:
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Geographical targeting: Setting up a second website for a different country or region while keeping the same domain.
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Product diversification: Offering an entirely new product line that appeals to a different set of customers.
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Language variations: Running separate websites for different languages or cultural markets.
Understanding your goal will help guide your decision-making during the setup process, and partnering with a Shopify Plus web design agency can help ensure that the design and functionality meet your needs.
Step 2: Deciding on Subdomains or Subdirectories
To set up your second website on the same domain, you’ll need to decide whether to use a subdomain or a subdirectory. Both options are viable, but they offer different advantages:
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Subdomain: A subdomain, like
secondstore.yourdomain.com, is treated as a separate entity by search engines, making it ideal if the second website will have significantly different content, products, or target markets. This is a good option if you’re running two distinct businesses or want to target a completely different audience. -
Subdirectory: A subdirectory, such as
yourdomain.com/secondstore, keeps the same domain, offering a more unified brand presence. This is a great choice if your second website is closely related to your first, like a new category of products or services.
Working with a Shopify Plus ecommerce agency can help you determine which option is best for your business and ensure proper technical configuration.
Step 3: Setting Up Your Shopify Store
Once you’ve decided on the structure, you can begin setting up your second website. Shopify offers a straightforward way to manage multiple stores, but there are some nuances when setting up multiple stores on the same domain. Here’s what you need to do:
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Create a new Shopify store: For a subdomain, you’ll need to create a second Shopify store. This can be done easily from your Shopify admin panel. If you’re using a subdirectory, you can either use your existing store or set up a new one.
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Choose a theme: A Shopify Plus design agency can help you create or customize a theme that matches your existing store while providing a distinct experience for your second website. They can ensure that the design is cohesive with your brand, yet fresh and tailored for the new target audience.
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Add products: Depending on your second website’s purpose, you will need to add products or services. If it’s a new product line, make sure to update the store’s product pages with appropriate descriptions, pricing, and images.
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Customizing navigation: Whether you’re creating a new store or adding a subdirectory to your existing one, adjusting the navigation to make it intuitive for your customers is key. This is where the expertise of a Shopify Plus development agency comes in handy—they can help set up smart navigation menus, filters, and other features to ensure a smooth user experience.
Step 4: Implementing SEO Strategies
When setting up a second website, it’s essential to implement SEO strategies that help your new site rank well in search engines. A Shopify Plus web design agency can provide assistance with technical SEO, ensuring that your subdomain or subdirectory is properly configured for maximum search engine visibility.
Some key SEO considerations include:
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Content optimization: Ensure that your product descriptions, blog posts, and any other content are keyword-optimized for your target audience.
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Linking strategy: If you’re using a subdomain, interlinking between the two stores is important. This can help users navigate between sites and pass SEO value. With a subdirectory, your SEO efforts are more streamlined since the search engines treat the stores as part of the same domain.
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Mobile optimization: With most shoppers browsing on mobile devices, ensuring your second website is responsive and fast-loading is essential for SEO and user satisfaction.
Step 5: Connecting Your Domain and Hosting
For both subdomains and subdirectories, you’ll need to configure your domain settings properly to ensure that both websites are accessible. If you’re using a Shopify Plus agency, they can help you set up the technical side of things, including DNS settings for subdomains or URL settings for subdirectories.
Step 6: Setting Up Payment and Shipping Options
For your second website to function smoothly, ensure you have proper payment gateways and shipping options in place. Shopify makes it easy to integrate different payment processors and shipping solutions, but working with a Shopify Plus ecommerce agency can help you configure these elements efficiently for your second website.
Step 7: Launching Your Second Website
Once everything is set up—your design is in place, SEO is optimized, and all payment and shipping options are ready—it’s time to launch. Make sure to test everything beforehand, ensuring that all links, product pages, and checkout processes work seamlessly.
Partnering with a Shopify Plus design agency will help ensure that the launch goes smoothly. They can help you implement additional features like marketing pop-ups, customer reviews, and social media integrations to increase engagement.
Conclusion
Setting up a second website on the same domain using Shopify is a smart strategy for growing your business. Whether you choose a subdomain or subdirectory, working with a Shopify Plus agency can ensure the process is smooth and that your second site is well-optimized. From design and development to SEO and payment processing, Shopify Plus partners offer a range of services to help you scale your e-commerce presence. With the right support, you can create a second website that complements your existing store while opening up new opportunities for growth.
