Umbraco can provide a shared technical foundation for multiple websites, allowing common functionality and infrastructure to be managed centrally while each site retains its own content, branding and user experience.
An Umbraco multi-site platform allows multiple websites to be managed from a single Umbraco installation and shared technical foundation. Each website can have its own domain, content structure, navigation and branding, while common functionality and underlying development can be shared where it makes sense.
This approach can work particularly well for organisations managing multiple brands, businesses, regions or websites that have similar technical requirements. Rather than building and maintaining each website completely independently, a multi-site architecture provides a common platform that can evolve as the wider digital estate grows.
Multiple websites can be built and maintained from a common codebase, reducing duplicated development and making it easier to introduce improvements across the platform.
Features, components and integrations that are common to multiple websites can be developed once and reused, while still allowing individual sites to have their own specific functionality where required.
Content, users, configuration and other aspects of the platform can be managed centrally, providing a consistent approach to administration and ongoing maintenance across multiple websites.
Each website can have its own branding, content, navigation and presentation, allowing different brands, organisations or regions to maintain their own identity and audience experience.
A single Umbraco platform can support multiple domains and language versions, making it possible to manage regional or multilingual websites from a shared technical foundation.
A well-designed multi-site architecture makes it easier to add new websites as requirements change, reusing the underlying platform while providing each new site with the configuration and functionality it needs.
A successful multi-site Umbraco platform needs more than simply putting several websites into the same installation. The architecture needs to establish what should be shared across the platform and what should remain specific to each site, from content structures and components through to branding, configuration and integrations.
I design multi-site solutions around those boundaries from the outset, creating a shared technical foundation without forcing every website into exactly the same model. This makes it possible to reuse common functionality and development while retaining the flexibility each site needs.
Common code, components, integrations and platform functionality can be developed once and reused across multiple websites. This provides consistency and reduces the effort involved in maintaining the same functionality in several separate codebases.
Each website can have its own domain, branding, content structure, navigation and configuration. The architecture needs to make these differences explicit rather than creating a collection of exceptions within an otherwise shared codebase.
The content model needs to reflect both the shared and independent aspects of the sites. Common content and functionality can be structured for reuse, while each website can maintain its own content hierarchy, navigation and editorial requirements.
A shared platform changes the way development, testing and deployment need to be managed. Changes to common functionality can affect multiple websites, so a well-structured development and release process is important for maintaining stability as the platform evolves.
Building a multi-site Umbraco platform involves more than configuring multiple websites within the same installation. I can help with the architecture, development and technical decisions needed to create a shared platform while keeping each site flexible and independently manageable.
Designing the overall technical architecture for multiple websites, including what should be shared across the platform and what should remain specific to each site.
Designing content models that support shared structures and reusable content while allowing each website to maintain its own hierarchy, navigation and editorial requirements.
Configuring individual websites within the shared platform, including site settings, functionality and other requirements that need to remain independent.
Creating flexible templates and presentation layers that allow each website to have its own branding, visual identity and user experience while sharing common components and functionality.
Configuring multiple domains and routing rules so each website can operate independently while being managed from the same Umbraco platform.
Structuring users, permissions and editorial workflows around the needs of different websites and teams, while maintaining appropriate control across the shared platform.
Planning development, testing and production environments and establishing deployment processes that allow changes to shared functionality to be tested and released safely across the wider platform.
Designing and optimising the platform to perform reliably as the number of websites, content, users and traffic grows, including caching, database performance, infrastructure and other considerations that affect the wider platform.
Real-world Umbraco Multi-site experience
TWO WEBSITES. ONE UMBRACO PLATFORM
Designed and developed a multi-site Umbraco solution supporting Container Sales (UK) Ltd and> Orange Box Self Storage from a single Umbraco installation. Each website has its own branding, content structure, navigation and user experience, while sharing the underlying technical foundation and common functionality.
The result allowed both businesses to operate independently while benefiting from a shared platform, without forcing them into the same design or content model.
Umbraco provides the flexibility to manage multiple websites and language versions from a shared technical foundation, while allowing each site and market to retain the structure and content it needs.
Umbraco can support multiple websites and languages from a shared platform, making it suitable for organisations operating across different brands, markets or regions. Sites can share common functionality and content structures where appropriate while maintaining their own domains, navigation, branding and editorial requirements.
For multilingual platforms, content can be structured and managed across different language versions while allowing each site or market to have its own requirements. I provide technical expertise across the content architecture, language structure and implementation so the platform remains manageable as the number of sites and languages grows.
I designed and developed a multilingual Umbraco platform for Henley College Coventry, working with the marketing and IT teams to create a scalable digital solution. The platform brought together the public website, course and vacancies catalogues, staff intranet and learner hub within a single centrally managed solution.
Scalable content structures and editorial workflows allowed non-technical teams to manage content efficiently while supporting different audiences and languages across the organisation.
Whether you’re planning a new multi-site platform, bringing existing websites together or looking to improve an existing Umbraco multi-site solution, I can provide the technical expertise to help shape the right approach.
From architecture and content modelling through to development, integrations, deployment and ongoing evolution, I work with businesses, agencies and in-house teams to build Umbraco platforms that provide a shared technical foundation without compromising the needs of individual websites.
Let’s talk about your project.
Tell me a little about what you’re looking to achieve using the form below, and I’ll get back to you to discuss the requirements and the most practical way forward.
