Every business must have a functional website, but every business doesn’t need to have a multi-page website.
Modern internet users face content saturation. There’s just too much to read and explore online, so much so that most users barely skim what they read. Did you know that there are 24 blog posts published every second?
In this world of saturation, the simplicity of a one-page website is very appealing.
Creating a single-page site isn’t as easy as it looks because you still need to provide users with a valuable experience. This article explores some tips that might help.
1. Is it For You?
A one-page website isn’t the right choice for everybody. If you have a lot of content or multiple products/services to showcase, this website format might not be the right choice for you. The one-page format is suitable if:
- You require an image heavy website.
- Don’t need several long-form content pieces.
- Your industry doesn’t rely excessively on written content.
- You need a portfolio website to showcase your artwork, freelance work, photography, etc.
- You own a small business with a limited number of products and services.
Businesses with small brick and mortar shops or restaurants can also choose a one-page website instead of a multi-page platform.
These sites are easier to manage, reliable, and clean in design. That means they offer a good user experience, which has a positive impact on customers.
2. Plan the Content
Most people create a website and then add the content whenever they need it. That strategy doesn’t work on single-page websites. You have a limited amount of space to provide information in a clean, organized manner. Planning the content before developing a website is crucial.
The only way to create impactful content is to make a note of your priorities. Decide what you want prospective customers to know before creating content. Once you have a long list of content options, create a smaller list of options. Less is more in this situation.
Follow the less is more approach to the content as well. Make sure there are no fillers or unnecessary bits of information. It can be challenging to insert some personality and uniqueness in short form content, but it is important to keep things brief.
3. Order of Presenting Information
The order of presenting information is also an important factor to consider. A one-page website is divided into different sections. Every section is important and should be planned carefully. Here are some tips to help with presenting information:
- Share the most important information above the fold. This section is the first thing people see when they open a website. It should give a strong impression of your brand’s identity and the website’s purpose.
- Divide the page up in clear sections. You can use different background colors in different sections just to ensure there’s a distinction. This also has a positive impact on a person’s user experience.
- Don’t pack large text blocks into these sections. Use bullet points and short sentences for the best effect.
Your content structure needs to have a logical flow and layout. This ensures your visitors have a good user experience.
4. Include a Powerful Header
As mentioned in the previous point, it is important to include a powerful message above the fold. This starts with a powerful header.
The header sets the tone for the entire website. In the past, the header used to take up a small amount of space at the top of the screen. It included the company logo, navigation menus, and maybe a search bar.
Modern websites have massive header images or animations with hero messages. This immediately creates an immersive feel. You might have heard the idiom, “a picture speaks a thousand words.” The same principle applies here.
5. Add an Anchor Menu To Different Sections
No one wants to scroll up and down the website repeatedly to find the content they need. That can be a time-consuming and frustrating experience for everyone involved.
Fortunately, anchor menu buttons are a great way to overcome this problem. You just need to add on to every section. This allows users to jump from one section to another without having to scroll continuously.
6. Add a Back to the Top Button
This button will also help improve the navigation experience, especially on long one-page websites.
The button will take the user directly to the top of the website page quickly so they don’t have to scroll up. This button is essential on one-page websites, but should also be used on long pages in traditional websites.
7. Provide An Information-Rich Footer Section
Most people expect the footer section to have information about the company and contact details. This is a consistent design choice for all kinds of websites. Make sure your footer page has all the information a user might need.
Studies indicate that footers are highly visible and users don’t hesitate to scroll down that far to get the information they need.
8. Make Sure It is Mobile-Friendly and SEO Optimized
The clean design and easy navigation make this type of web design very mobile and SEO friendly. However, it is still important to make sure the platform is optimized for mobile.
One of the most important things to consider is the mobile load times. As single-page websites often have a lot of images and pictures, they can be slow to load. Optimize your images and videos to improve load times.
9. Don’t Forget a Powerful CTA
Your website must include a powerful CTA that will compel people to take action. Make sure the CTA is highly visible without disrupting the flow of design.
Most experienced website designers will A/B test different versions of the CTA to find the best fit for their client’s website. It is also a good idea to add scroll-triggered CTA at different sections of the website.
10. Use a Minimalist Theme
A minimalist theme will allow people to focus on the content and information presented to them. You don’t want your website to look cluttered, especially on small mobile phone screens.
A minimalist theme will suit modern tastes and help you reach a wide range of audiences in any location.
These points will help you create a compelling, easy-to-use single-page website.
If you’re looking for inspiration, look at some of the best single-page websites available online today. Such websites will give you a fair idea of how single-page platforms should function.
Author Bio:
Smith Andrew is a Jr. Content writer working with Ranking by SEO. In his corporate life, he writes many blogs and articles on SEO, Link building, SMO and many more.