Building a Marketing Site and Web App in the Same Next.js Codebase: A Practical Guide

Building a Marketing Site and Web App in the Same Next.js Codebase: A Practical Guide

Introduction

Maintaining separate codebases for your marketing site and web app wastes time, creates inconsistent branding, and slows product launches. Combining both in a single Next.js project fixes that.

In this article you’ll learn the practical reasons to unify, how to plan your project structure, key deployment tips, and simple best practices so your team can ship faster with fewer headaches.

The problem: duplicated work and slow launches

Many startups run two repositories: one for the public marketing pages that bring leads, and one for the product/dashboard where customers log in. That split causes: - Duplicated UI components and styles. - Different deployment pipelines and more room for error. - Higher maintenance costs when features or branding change.

Next.js lets you host both public (SEO-focused) pages and protected, dynamic app pages in the same codebase—so you get consistency and speed.

Why a single Next.js project makes sense

Here are the main benefits of combining your marketing site and web app in one Next.js repo: - Consistency: share a design system, components, and assets. - Efficiency: one CI/CD pipeline, one set of environment configs. - Faster releases: update marketing and app together. - Better SEO options: server-side rendering (SSR) or static generation for marketing pages. - Simpler hosting: one platform to manage.

If you want to see a complete example and deeper walkthrough, read the full breakdown at https://prateeksha.com/blog/nextjs-marketing-site-web-app-same-codebase or browse more resources at https://prateeksha.com/blog.

Planning your project structure (practical approach)

Start with a clear folder convention so marketing and app logic never collide. A common pattern: - Public marketing pages at the root (/, /about, /pricing). - App routes grouped under a base like /app or /dashboard for all protected pages. - Shared UI and utilities in /components and /lib so both sides reuse the same code.

Keep components small and purpose-driven. Shared pieces (navbar, buttons, modals) should live in one place so a brand tweak is applied everywhere.

Routing, auth, and SEO: what to think about

Routing is simple with Next.js’ file-based system. A couple of practical rules: - Use /app or /dashboard as the base path for protected pages to avoid route conflicts. - Protect app routes with middleware or server checks and redirect unauthenticated visitors to a login page. - Use static generation (SSG) or SSR for marketing pages to optimize SEO and load times; block indexing of dashboard pages with proper meta tags and robots rules.

Briefly: SSR/SSG means you can generate marketing content on the server (good for SEO) while serving dynamic, user-only content for the app.

Deployment — keep it simple

Popular platforms like Vercel, Netlify, and AWS Amplify support mixed sites. A straightforward deployment plan: 1. Push your single repo to GitHub or GitLab. 2. Connect the repo to Vercel (recommended for Next.js) or your chosen host. 3. Set environment variables (API keys, secrets) and preview branches. 4. Configure domains/subdomains (e.g., www.yoursite.com for marketing and app.yoursite.com for the dashboard). 5. Test preview deployments before merging to main.

Use preview deployments to catch routing or authentication issues on a live URL.

Practical tips and best practices

Follow these to avoid common pitfalls: - Use TypeScript for safer refactors and fewer runtime errors. - Keep naming consistent (pages, components, and routes). - Limit shared state between marketing and app code—only share UI and helpers. - Set up automated tests for critical app flows and core marketing pages. - Consider a monorepo approach only if your project grows large and teams need isolation.

Example folder layout (simple)

  • /app or /pages — marketing pages (/, /about, /pricing)
  • /app/dashboard — app pages (/app/dashboard, /app/settings)
  • /components — shared UI (Navbar, Footer, Buttons)
  • /lib — shared utilities
  • /public — images and static assets

This layout keeps marketing and app logic clearly separated but easily reusable.

Conclusion — get consistent, ship faster

Combining your marketing site and web app in one Next.js codebase reduces duplication, speeds up launches, and creates a consistent brand experience. If you’re not sure where to start, explore resources at https://prateeksha.com and read more case studies on the blog at https://prateeksha.com/blog.

Ready to upgrade your web stack? If you'd rather hand this off, experts can do the heavy lifting—see how we help startups build unified Next.js sites at https://prateeksha.com/blog/nextjs-marketing-site-web-app-same-codebase or contact a developer to get a tailored plan for your business.

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