benifits of one page website
There is an ongoing debate about which type of website is better – one-page or multi-page. While they both have their pros and cons, today we will delve into the advantages of one-page websites.
What is a one-page website? Simply put, a one-page website has only one HTML page. All the content is fully loaded on that one page that generally comes with a traditional long-scrolling layout.
Together with reputable web design services, we came up with a list of 6 proven benefits of one-page websites and some additional useful information to help you decide if it is the right fit for you.
- Mobile-friendliness
- Faster loading time
- Simplified navigation
- Improves user engagement
- Great for storytelling
- Easy maintenance and cost-effectiveness
1. Mobile-friendliness
All businesses have to adapt to the ever-rising mobile device usage. Having a one-page website will give you an edge. This is because scrolling on mobile devices is easy, natural, and faster than waiting for new pages to load.
Due to their simple design, one-page websites are easier to optimize for smaller screens.
Most templates for one-page websites are made to be responsive by default and require no additional zooming.
2. Faster loading time
Many argue that one-page websites require more time to load since all of their content is on one page. This is somewhat true, but if you implement “lazy loading” on your website, your loading time will be shortened.
“Lazy loading” enables loading only the content that is displayed on the screen, while the rest of the content is loaded as the user scrolls down. This will not only reduce the loading time but will ensure that no freezes or crashes happen on devices with limited memory.
Since one-page websites are all about scrolling, “lazy loading” is a natural solution that will benefit your loading time reduction greatly.
3. Simplified navigation
Scrolling endlessly can make your users feel lost at times, but this is an easy fix.
All you have to do is to implement a menu bar at the top of your page. This will help your users jump straight to the desired part of your content.
You can also include icons in the left or right sidebar. This way, your users will have the option to browse your page by selecting one of its sections and get there easily by smooth scrolling.
4. Improves user engagement
With one-page websites, you can deliver your message faster. As the attention span is getting shorter, you want your visitors to take the desired action as fast as possible.
The linear pattern that is specific to one-page websites will allow you to control the consumption of your content.
It easily steers your users towards a call-to-action, and you won’t have to worry that they will jump from one page to another missing the desired action completely.
5. Great for storytelling
One-page websites are great for storytelling as they are centered around one main idea. Their linear narrative guides the readers through a story, keeping them engaged with the content for longer.
6. Easy maintenance and cost-effectiveness
Adding, removing, fixing, or adjusting your website is a much easier task when it is done on one page only.
Other one-page website design benefits include:
- Lower costs for website design
- Less time spent on website design
- Less coding and fewer potential bugs
- Straightforward structure and features
The most popular disadvantage of one-page website design is that it is bad for SEO. But this isn’t entirely true. There are some ways in which you can optimize your one-page website:
- Optimize each section of your page – use subheadings, H1, H2, and H3 tags. This will help you better optimize your keywords.
- Group keywords that are in specific sections – for instance, one section can be “women’s clothing” and the other can be “men’s clothing.”
- Use your main keyword in your URL – people are more inclined to click on your site if they see the keyword they are searching for in your URL.
- Update your content regularly – adding new content, images, and videos and deleting old ones will show Google that you are updating your content regularly. This will help you rank higher in the long run.
If you have decided that a one-page website is the right choice for you, the next thing you would probably want to know is how to build it. Here are the steps you need to take:
- Create a content strategy
- Choose a template and a layout
- Break your content into sections
- Create a menu to link each section
- Include a strong call-to-action
- Integrate your social media accounts
The next step in this journey would be to choose a website builder that best fits your needs.
Here, we will provide you with the top 5 one-page website bulders:
1. Wix
Wix, with over 200 million users, is the most popular website builder. It offers an easy website-building platform that allows its users to create a modern website at a minimal cost.
You can choose between a limited free subscription and paid plans that start at $14 per month.
Wix strong points include:
- A choice between a standard and Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) editor
- Beautiful templates
- A great number of integrations
- A functional free plan
2. Strikingly
Strikingly is a website builder focused on mobile-optimized one-page websites from the very beginning. It also offers a limited free plan, while its paid monthly plans start from $8, or $16 if you choose to have full feature access.
Strikingly’s strong points include:
- Features that are easy to use
- A generous free plan
- A great mobile site editing app
3. Site123
Site123 is another website builder with the main focus on one-page website creation. It focuses on products and includes an editor that will guide you through the whole website creation process.
Much like other website builders, it offers a free subscription plan, while paid plans start at $10.80 per month.
Site123 strong points include:
- Clear and easy to use
- Great multilingual features for site creation
- The best integrations for bands and musicians
4. Squarespace
Squarespace is regarded as the most stylish website builder in the market. It offers great aesthetic quality and is the best choice for creating a modern website with a “wow” factor.
Squarespace doesn’t have the option for a free plan. It offers paid subscription plans that start at $26 per month.
Squarespace’s strong points include:
- Stylish templates
- Excellent design tools
- Free 14-day trial
5. Ucraft
Ucraft is a website builder best suited for building an attractive and functional website. It offers both block-based website creation and more refined editing.
Ucraft offers a free website plan, while the paid plans start at $10 per month.
Ucraft’s strong points include:
- Great public reputation
- Free plan
- Multi-skilled editor
- Excellent customer service
Lastly, we want to show you four examples of one-page websites to help you get a better perspective on this website format.
1. The Rafael
[Source: screenshot- getresponse.com]
Here, we can see a one-page website focused on one central idea. This product-based property website is divided into seven sections where we can learn all about the property, where it is located, floor plans, etc.
It also provides very clear information about the leasing agent contact for any additional inquiries
2. Arroyo
[source:zyro.com]
Here we can see a simple layout with a vivid, full-page image. A call-to-action is presented right away and as you scroll down, you will find information about the event, frequently asked questions, and links to the relevant social media accounts.
3. Epic
[Source: invisionapp.com]
Here, we can see a website used for publishing stories from talented writers.
Every story is displayed on one page, but the anchor links allow you to find exactly what you want without having to scroll endlessly.
4. Bugatti Smartwatches
[Source:seedprod com]
Bugatti created this one-page website to promote their first lineup of smartwatches. By scrolling down, you will find high-quality images of their watches, cleverly painted in the French flag colors.
At the end of the page, you will find a large call-to-action button together with the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.
This is a great example of a one-page website used for promoting and launching new products.
5. Smart Diet
[Source:screenshot-wix.com]
Here, we can see a one-page website created for personalized nutrition consultancy.
What is amazing about Smart Diet’s website, is that it managed to convey a complex message through easy-to-digest content displayed on one page.
Clever design that includes arrows pointing down, a clean layout, and soft colors, adds to a beautiful aesthetic that captures the readers’ attention.
Summary
Your website doesn’t have to be complex to be effective. A well-designed one-page website can be user-friendly, simple to navigate, and a great platform for transmitting your message.
We’ve covered the benefits of one-page websites, we’ve given you some SEO optimization tips and we compared the best website building platforms now.
Lastly, we featured some of the best examples of one-page websites and we hope we managed to help you decide whether a one-page website is a perfect fit for your brand.
Author bio
Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for Seo Turnover.
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