Are you exploring website builders and wondering if a one-page website suits your business needs?
Single-page websites are gaining popularity for their streamlined, focused design and easy navigation. Visitors judge your website in a mere 50 milliseconds, influencing their decision to stay or leave. That's why clear navigation can make a positive impression and boost conversions.
Rather than directing visitors through a series of pages, a one-page site presents all your content in an easy-to-navigate, scrollable format. I'll guide you through the key components for creating an effective one-page website that enhances user engagement and drives higher conversions.
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What Is a One-Page Website?
A one-page website does just what its name suggests: it puts all the information and ideas for a specific goal on a single page. It gives you just the right amount of information to make quick decisions and take action.
That's why they're popular for high-converting landing pages, portfolios, and event websites. You don't need to navigate through menus; your browser takes you directly to the relevant section, making the experience smooth and intuitive.
5 Advantages of a One-Page Website
1. Simplified User Experience
Single-page websites guide your visitors seamlessly from start to finish. There's no need to click through multiple pages. You present all your key information in one place, making it super easy for your audience to absorb your content without distractions.
2. Faster Loading Speeds
These websites have fewer pages to load, which means faster loading times. This reduces "bounce rates"—where users immediately leave your website without clicking further—and ensures that visitors don't abandon your site due to slow loading.
3. Engaging Storytelling
With a single page, you can craft a compelling narrative. Start with an attention-grabbing banner and unfold your story as visitors scroll down. This will capture their interest and keep them hooked, increasing the chances of them taking the desired action.
4. Cost-Effective Solution
If you're conscious of your budget, these websites are a smart choice. They often cost less to develop and maintain compared to multi-page sites. You'll get your message across effectively without the need for extra pages.
5. Mobile-Friendly Design
One-page websites are inherently mobile-friendly, adapting to various screen sizes, and ensuring your content looks good on smartphones, tablets, and desktops. Thanks to their fast loading speed and user-friendly navigation, they're considered essential elements for an optimal mobile user experience.
Building an Optimal One-Page Website in 10 Steps
1. Use a Website Builder
Wix is a popular website builder known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, making it an excellent choice for beginners and those seeking a hassle-free way to create a visually appealing and responsive one-pager. It has templates specifically designed for one-page sites and an extensive app marketplace.
Wix also includes built-in eCommerce features, making it a user-friendly choice for launching an online store.
2. Choose a One-Page Template
Start by selecting a template that aligns with your brand's guidelines to establish a cohesive online presence. Define the purpose of your one-page website to shape your storytelling approach. It can be for a sales campaign, showcasing your work in a portfolio, or a product launch.
Customize the template to maintain brand consistency and reflect your brand identity. Additionally, prioritize responsiveness to ensure your one-page site looks and functions effectively on all screens.
» Check out our top picks for the best Wix templates.
3. Consider Layout for Visual Appeal and User-Friendly Navigation
Start by defining clear sections on your site to enhance the overall user experience. You can do this by using distinct calls-to-action (CTAs) and eye-catching color schemes that guide visitors through the content.
While empty "whitespace" can be effective for creating a clean and uncluttered look, you have to strike the right balance. Avoid excessive whitespace that can make your website appear empty. Instead, optimize the available space with meaningful content that engages your audience.
Your one-page website should align with your brand identity, using consistent colors, fonts, and visual elements to reinforce your company's image and message.
4. Focus on these UX Design Principles and Elements
You've got to focus on simplicity with one-page websites. Keep the message clear by aligning images, videos, and graphic assets with written content. You also need to be consistent—start with a banner, followed by text and multimedia, to ensure a unified design approach.
When it comes to navigation, position different design elements in a way that creates a seamless user movement within the site. Place your CTAs strategically to align with your message and encourage user engagement.
5. Prioritize Key Information
Highlight your main services, products, and key offerings. Boost credibility by adding testimonials or showcasing past clients.
Ensure the contact section stands out, as one-page websites often aim for lead generation. Enhance user engagement with your campaign by including a clear and accessible contact form.
6. Where to Place Your CTAs on a One-Page Website
In marketing, the rule is to usually put your call to action at the top of the page, but that's not always best. Sometimes, having only one CTA at the top can be too early for the user to convert. Michael Aagaard, a conversion expert, increased a landing page's conversion rate by 304% by placing the CTA at the bottom of the page.
Follow these principles for effective CTAs:
- Immediate Visibility: Ensure your CTAs are immediately visible to users by placing them at the top of the page, in the prominent hero banner at the page's beginning, and within the introduction section.
- Enhance Accessibility: Improve accessibility by adding CTAs like "Contact Us" or "Book a Call" to the menu at the top of your site.
- Relevant CTAs: Use relevant CTAs within sections that describe your services or products. Include buttons that guide users to product pages and incorporate CTAs like "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart."
7. Make Site Navigation Easier
To make your website easier to navigate, I recommend using a sticky menu bar. This means the menu stays visible at the top or side of the page even when you scroll. Make sure to use clear and descriptive labels for each section.
Whether you place them on the left or at the top, these labels should guide users to the right information. This will improve the user experience and make it simple to move around your one-page website.
8. What to Include in the Footer
Just like any regular website, a one-page site should have some key elements in the footer. This includes contact info, social media links, and copyright details. It's also a good idea to add links like "Top of Page" or "Go Back to Top" to help users navigate easily.
If you have privacy policies or other important documents, you can put them in the footer, too. Having a complete footer with these essential links and info makes your one-page website more user-friendly.
9. SEO Strategies for One-Page Websites
When it comes to SEO for a one-page website, the strategy is quite similar. You still need to pay attention to keywords and do thorough keyword research to improve your site's visibility in search results.
Make sure your meta tags are descriptive and cover what your one-page website offers. It's also important to optimize for mobile users to provide a smooth experience, which helps your users and boosts your site's chances of being found on search engines like Google.
» Boost your visibility with our best website builders for SEO.
10. Strategies to Optimize Loading Speed
You should talk to your team about whether animations align with your campaign goals. When it comes to loading times, animations have an impact, especially for campaign-focused one-page websites.
If you decide to use animations, use them wisely to prevent slow loading. To speed up loading times, remember to optimize your images, avoid using too many plugins, and minimize things like chats and popups. Using browser caching is also a smart way to keep your page consistently fast and responsive.
One-Page Websites: Designing for Impact and Conversion
Crafting the perfect one-page website is a dynamic blend of art and science. It's about capturing your audience's attention within moments, guiding them seamlessly through your content, and driving them to take action.
By prioritizing visual appeal, user-friendly navigation, strategic CTA placement, and concise yet impactful content, you can create a one-page website that not only impresses but also converts.
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