One-Page Websites
How to create an effective one page website that converts visitors to buyers
In today’s fast-paced digital world, websites are the new business card.
One-page websites have become increasingly popular for business who are overwhelmed at the thought of a full site with all the bells and whistles. To be honest, I don’t always recommend people have websites 🤷🏼♀️ If you don’t invest in something t
Having all necessary information on a single page is the way for people who want to make it & forget about it. You don’t need to maintain this. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
So who needs a one-page website?
This is the perfect solution for small businesses, freelancers, and local businesses who don’t want a full site. This tool can be especially powerful for those who want to create a straightforward user experience without overwhelming visitors with multiple pages.
In this post, I’ll dive into the essentials of one-page websites, from strategy to best practices and what NOT to do, so that anyone who feels this is a fit can make sure its as effective as possible.
What is a One-Page Website?
A one-page website is a single web page that covers all the essential information about your business or project. Unlike traditional multi-page websites, all content is presented in a continuous scroll, making it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for without navigating through multiple pages. These sites typically include sections for a hero image or video, about information, services or products, testimonials, and contact details, all laid out in a cohesive and visually appealing manner.
Benefits of One-Page Websites
Simplicity and Ease of Navigation: One-page websites eliminate the need for complicated navigation menus, allowing users to scroll through the content seamlessly. This simplicity enhances the user experience, reducing bounce rates and keeping visitors engaged longer.
Mobile Friendliness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, one-page websites offer a significant advantage. Their straightforward design and scrolling feature are perfect for mobile users, ensuring your site looks and works great on any device.
Improved User Engagement: By presenting all your information on a single page, you can create a narrative that guides visitors through your content. This structured flow can improve user engagement and lead to higher conversion rates.
Cost-Effective: One-page websites are generally quicker and cheaper to build than multi-page sites, making them an ideal choice for small businesses and startups with limited budgets.
Essential Elements of a One-Page Website
Hero Section: The hero section is the first thing visitors see. This is the section typically referred to as ‘above the fold’ that includes a captivating headline, a sub-headline that provides more context, and a strong call-to-action (CTA) that directs users to take the next step.
About Section: Provide a brief overview of your business or project. Highlight what makes you unique and why visitors should care. Usually on a full site, I recommend this section be placed farther down. But on a single page site, I think of this as a place to introduce yourself, welcome visitors to your page and tell them what you can do for them.
The About page on a full site is often the most clicked on page. I mean, we’re nosy 🧐 The key to an effective about section is creating a connection with your client, telling their desires back to them, and reassuring them you can help. It’s not really ‘about you’ at all. 😉
Services or Products Section: Clearly outline what you offer. Use visuals and descriptions to share your services or products effectively. It’s fine if you have more than one offer. On a normal website, you would have an entire page dedicated to this section, so you want to be very concise and clear about what you share. Use bullet points for the deliverables and a price (or start point) for each over.
Testimonials or Reviews: Include quotes or testimonials from satisfied clients or customers. Social proof can significantly enhance credibility and trust. You can sprinkle this in multiple places, but place the first one right after the offers is a powerful place. Especially if you have one that overcomes objections.
Processes: People like to know what to expect. Outline what happens when someone contacts you, what it’s like to work with you, what kind of support they’ll get, etc. Keep it simple here.
FAQ’s: Don’t skip this section or think you don’t need it on a ‘mini’ sized site. This is crucial for overcoming objections and eliminating fears. Most people won’t dive into anything blindly, so this is your chance to give them ALL the information you can possibly think of in a condensed space.
Contact Section: Make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. Include a contact form, email address, phone number, and physical address if applicable. This can be at the bottom of your page, or (this is the only section I would suggest this for)— you can make a separate page for this. The only reason you might want to consider breaking this into it’s own page is if your form slows the page down. (Dubsado, I love you but I’m talking about you here 👀)
If you decide to keep your contact form or scheduler on the single page, then you can add anchor links to all your buttons above. If someone clicks one of them, it will drop them straight to this section.
How do you use anchor links? Here’s the code for that in Squarespace:
Add a code block and place it where you want the page to scroll to.
Enter this inside the code block: <div id="EXAMPLE"></div>
Link each button to this location: #EXAMPLE
Obvs, replace EXAMPLE with whatever you want it to say.
Opt-in Freebie: On full sites, I like this section to link to a mini landing page of it’s own, but some people will just add the form with a header and short description on a section of it’s own at the bottom of any page. That’s what you’re going for here. Optional, of course, for those who are into email marketing.
Footer: The footer should contain additional navigation options, social media links, and any other pertinent information like privacy policies or terms of service. If you have terms of purchase, link to it here too.
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Strategy Tips for One-Page Websites
Creating a one-page website isn’t just about cramming all your information onto a single page. It’s about strategic design and layout to ensure the site is both attractive and effective, so you can build it and then trust it to do it’s job.
Clear Hierarchy and Flow: Organize your content in a logical order. Start with the most important information at the top and lead visitors through your story. Use headings, subheadings, and sections to create a clear content hierarchy. You want your headings to include keywords of what internet users are searching for, and keep the fonts and sizes consistent throughout. (this is super easy with Squarespace)
Engaging Visuals: Utilize high-quality images, videos, and graphics to break up text and keep visitors engaged. Visuals should support your content and reinforce your message. If you have done branding, that’s great. If you’re a service provider, use images of you doing your thing.
Strong Call-to-Actions: Ensure your CTA is prominent and compelling. It should stand out on the page and encourage visitors to take the desired action, whether it’s contacting you, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. The key here is to only have ONE call to action. Every button and link needs to go to the same place.
Responsive Design: Your one-page website should look and function well on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. A responsive design ensures a positive user experience regardless of the device used. If you’re using Squarespace, you can toggle between desktop and mobile views to make sure it looks good on both. When I’m done, I always use the free Responsively App to check the layout on even more device sizes.
Fast Load Times: Speed is crucial. Optimize images, use efficient coding practices, and consider using a content delivery network (CDN) to ensure your site loads quickly. Slow load times can frustrate visitors and lead to higher bounce rates.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overloading with Content: While it’s essential to provide enough information, too much content can overwhelm visitors. Keep your messages clear and concise. By writing content that connects with your audience and taking them on a logical journey, you will help guide them to a decision. Keep it simple and skimmable. Leave out your autobiography (actually leave that out of your full size website too 😅)
Poor Navigation: Even —especially— on a one-page site, navigation is crucial. Pay careful attention that your sections follow a logical order and aren’t random. You don’t want to have a freebie offer at the top, or jump straight into your services without introducing yourself or making a connection to your visitors— either through pain points or desires.
Neglecting SEO: Just because it’s a single page doesn’t mean you should ignore SEO best practices. Use appropriate keywords, meta descriptions, and alt tags to improve your site’s ability to be found in search engines.
Ignoring User Experience: A beautiful design isn’t enough. Ensure that your site is intuitive and user-friendly. Test it with real users to gather feedback and make improvements. Ask your friends to look at it from a potential client’s point of view and make sure the layout and words make sense.
Lack of Clear Call-to-Action: Without a strong CTA, visitors might leave your site without taking any action. Make sure your CTAs are clear and encourage engagement. I can’t stress this enough— only have ONE call to action. It may be to fill out a contact form, schedule an appointment or make a purchase. But all buttons will point to this ONE thing.
One-page websites offer a streamlined and effective way to present your business or project online. By focusing on simplicity, user engagement, and strategic design, you can create a site that not only looks great but also drives results.
Remember to keep your content concise, your visuals engaging, and your CTAs clear. If you’re ready to take the plunge, consider using our one-page website template to get started. It’s designed with all these best practices in mind, helping you build a stunning and effective one-page website with ease.
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