Do you need a simple, one-page website for your business? This post explains why single-page sites are popular and how to build one.
Why are Single-Page Websites Popular?
There are multiple reasons that one-page websites are popular among site visitors. For one, visitors who look at websites on their phones prefer to scroll one page instead of waiting for subpages to load or clicking around on a menu.
Single-page websites also load faster than multi-page sites. Visitors can start reading the first section of the website while the rest of the page loads in the background. By the time visitors scroll, the content is there. The experience feels seamless and instant. They don’t have to wait for the next page to load.
For a site owner, it’s easier to maintain a single-page website. You can easily rearrange content, replace images, and rewrite copy. This means you deal with a lot less cognitive load each time you update your site.
Related reading: Top 13 Ecommerce Trends to Watch for in 2022 >>
In summary, one-page websites are super easy to navigate. They allow visitors to quickly find out about your services, work, or products. They also keep irrelevant content from distracting visitors. Calls to action on one-page websites are clear, and your inbound marketing efforts only target one URL.
What Businesses Benefit from One-Page Websites?
A single product or service business benefits most from a single-page website. They don’t have many items to present. Additionally, companies that don't depend on Google search results for lead generation benefit from one-page websites. They receive business from referrals, business networking, or affiliates. So, they don’t need to rank for many keywords.
Examples of businesses that benefit from one-page websites include:
- Freelance artists, developers, and photographers who want to showcase their portfolios and stay in touch with people they meet.
- Real estate agents who want to show off a property or single project through a unique URL.
- Restaurants that want to display their menu and photos.
- One-off events, like concerts or lectures.
How to Create a One-Page Website
Now you understand who might use a one-page website and why. Is this type of site right for your brand? If so, follow the nine steps below to create a single-page website.
The nine steps to create a one-page website are:
- Secure a web host and domain name.
- Install WordPress.
- Choose and install a one-page website theme.
- Plan the content and divide it into sections.
- Write your page’s content.
- Add a logo.
- Add content.
- Create a strong Call-To-Action.
- Launch.
1. Secure a Web Host and Secure a Domain Name
A web host connects your content to the internet, making it available to the world. A domain name is like your house address. It’s necessary to point visitors to the website you build.
Building a single-page website doesn’t mean you should skimp on hosting or choose the cheapest option. You still need your site to be fast loading, especially on mobile networks, which can be spotty. You also need your site shielded from harm through malicious code and hackers. So even for a one-page website, you should consider managed hosting companies.
You are focused on building your business, not building a server. Managed hosting services provide you with speed and a scalable web operation. Your site can grow as your business does. Managed hosting engineers keep your site secure and updated, allowing you and your customers to feel comfortable with making monetary transactions on the site. There are a lot of managed hosting services out there, so you’ll want to know what to look for when choosing one.
When it comes to your domain name, save your creativity. Make your domain name as short and close to the product name or your brand as possible. You also want it to be easy to pronounce on video and audio.
Many hosting companies provide domain name registration services together with the website spaces. This one-stop shopping makes the process easier for you.
2. Install WordPress
Most hosting companies offer WordPress pre-installed on your account. WordPress is the most used page builder, with 42% of the internet using it.
Depending on the nature of your business, you could use an online store builder that walks you through the initial setup to get started. Nexcess’s StoreBuilder helps you create a unique online store in minutes, taking the guesswork out of selling your products and services online. Using a store builder helps you avoid searching out and installing a bunch of plugins to get your site to function properly. But plugins are also an option.
Besides the vastness of the WordPress ecosystem with thousands of plugins and themes, the software also comes with built-in search engine optimization. That means you can enter the few keywords you want to be associated with your brand easily.
WordPress also has excellent plugins available to optimize your social network outreach and provide superior social sharing capabilities. These plugins include sharing on all major social mediums, including built-in embedding for YouTube or Vimeo videos.
WordPress has an easy-to-use form builder plugin that allows you to collect visitor information. You can use this information for further outreach or email newsletters.
For online ordering, you’ll find a plugin to provide your customers with a one-click payment process. This plugin makes it easy for visitors to purchase from your site.
3. Choose and Install a One-Page Website Theme
Choosing a theme for your website is a daunting task for a lot of site owners. The possibilities can be overwhelming. And some people worry that they're making an irreversible decision. While this isn’t necessarily true, you do want to make informed decisions from the beginning.
For a one-page website, you don’t need a ton of bells and whistles in the theme. Your theme should provide you with a skin for the site. Plugins will provide the features you need.
Your site's theme should include:
- Header. The site should have a header section to display your branding. The header will include your site’s title and tagline. It also may consist of your brand’s logo.
- Copy. You’ll need copy to explain your products or services to visitors. Your site should have a hero section with a space to add copy.
- Brand Colors. Choose and theme with colors that suit your brand or alter the color palette to match your brand’s image.
- Fitting Fonts. Choose a site theme with typography that you like working in and reading.
WordPress provides multiple one-page theme options. Again, look for the theme that best fits your brand’s aesthetics or one that you can adjust to fit.
One-page themes available from WordPress.org include:
4. Plan the Content and Divide it into Sections
Every business is different. You'll need to approach your website's content in whatever way makes the most sense for your business.
When you think about the content for your one-page website, consider what you know about your target audience. You want to write content directly to them.
Visitors likely will come to your one-page site from a mobile phone. That means information flow and readability on a mobile phone are of the utmost importance.
Consider these one-page sites for content inspiration:
Possible content sections for your one-page website include:
- About Us. This section tells who you are as a brand and owner.
- Services. Tells what you do and what services or products you provide.
- Customers. Who do your products serve? This section makes sure that the person visiting your site is your target audience. Think: We serve people like you.
- Testimonials. This section minimizes the risk of trying your product or service. It tells readers that other people, not just you, think it’s great.
- Contact. Include a contact form so visitors can leave messages.
- Image. You want a hero image of your site’s products or services that sets the site's tone.
You'll want the information on your site to flow from most important to least important. Remember that your visitor is most likely on their phone; they want to learn as much as they can about your business.
With the WordPress block editor, you can combine various content types into one page.
Consider designing your site in this order:
- A cover image with a text and button on top.
- A paragraph about your business.
- A three-column section with the services you offer.
- A strong Call-to-Action, perhaps featuring a call-out image.
Here is an example of a three-column pattern for a team, services, or product page.
Here is an example of a call-out image with headline copy and button.
Step 4 is one of the most creative phases in the website creation process. You want to strike a balance between being creative and conveying the correct information.
Read our blog for some home page ideas to consider >>
5. Write Your Page’s Content
Step 5 is when you find the right words to describe your business. When you decide on the sections and their layout, you also implicitly determine the length of the text. Now you'll write to fill the space.
Most visitors on the internet are skimmers. They skim the text while scrolling. They only stop to dig deeper when something catches their eye and, therefore, their interest. If you write to speak directly to your target consumer, the text should keep them on the page. They’ll want to know more.
When writing content, consider:
- Blocking. Use headlines, subheads, and short text to draw more readers in. Then provide details in additional steps or points. You want your site to be easy to read and understand, even from the visitor’s phone.
- Bulleting. Break up text into bullet points. Put the two most important thoughts in the first two bullets and the tertiary bullet at the end. Usability researchers found that’s how people read a bulleted list. We read the first two, then go to the last.
- Getting Help. Not everyone is a writer. Consider whether you should hire a freelancer to write the text for your site. A freelance writer can help you clarify what you want to communicate. They also can focus the message on your target audience, enticing them to keep reading.
6. Add a Logo
Your company’s logo represents your brand visually. It helps visitors immediately identify who your site belongs to and connects all of your brand’s communication.
You'll need a company logo to go on your website. Your website tool will provide you with a feature to upload branding to your website. The logo typically goes at the top of the site in the header, although the specific location depends on the theme.
The logo may need to follow specific size and format requirements. This information is in the section of your theme where you upload the logo. You may need to work with a graphic designer to adjust your logo's size or to create one if you don't already have one.
If you need a designer to create a logo and branding for your business, you have a choice of certain online services that connect you with graphic designers around the world. Crowdspring is one of the oldest services with thousands of designers. Fiverr is a similar marketplace with freelancers for various services. You also can work with a local graphic designer.
Regardless, you want your logo to look sharp and crisp, representing your brand visually at the top of your site.
7. Add Content
Once you have the components, it’s time to assemble your one-page website. Assembly means creating content blocks and filling them with your copy and media like photos, graphics, and videos.
Remember that you want people to stop scrolling on their phones, click on your site, then stay there to convert. To accomplish conversion, you need to have more than just blocks of text on your site. All of the elements need to work together to create a well-rounded experience for visitors.
You need to optimize and scale down images for faster loading. For example, you don’t need a 5 MB picture if you only display it on a screen. You can use a free graphic program like Gimp or Irfanview to resize the picture and change the compression for computer viewing.
You also can use low-cost browser-based graphic programs, like Canva or Pixlr, to help you build graphics.
Media also can be audio files or videos uploaded to other sites, like Soundcloud or YouTube.
The important thing is that you mix copy, images, and videos to create the best possible user experience for your site visitors. They don’t want to just see text. Make your site a visual multimedia experience for them.
8. Create Strong Call-to-Action
The biggest mistake businesses and other organizations make on multi-page websites is that they give visitors too many choices. As a result, people experience decision paralysis because they don't know what they're supposed to do next. After all of the hard work to get the visitor to the site, decision paralysis is the worst outcome.
With your single-page website, you already help your visitors by streamlining your content for their needs. Your website provides a seamless browsing experience and gives instant information.
Finish your website-building journey with a strong call-to-action that your visitors can't resist.
A Call-To-Action tells your visitor what their next step is. What do you want the visitor to do as a result of reading your page? Your specific CTA depends on your business model and your page's goals. Visually, a CTA typically includes a text link or button.
CTAs may include:
- Subscription Requests. Asking readers to subscribe to an e-newsletter is a common CTA. The button or link would lead them to the subscription form for your email marketing provider.
- Call Link. This CTA encourages the visitor to call for an appointment. The button opens their phone for a call with your brand’s number already ready. They just have to hit “call.”
- Purchasing. “Buy now” buttons lead the visitors to the product’s checkout page or pop-up.
- Access. “Get early access” CTAs provide access to a new product with the button link to an account creation page.
9. Launch
Before you can launch your one-page website, you want to proofread the copy and test the links and payment processes one more time. You don’t want visitors to your site to experience any glitches.
Once you're ready to launch, your hosting service has a process to connect your domain name with your website to the internet. It also enables the HTTPS feature to keep the connection with your visitors secure and configures the Content Delivery Network for fast load times.
It takes a few hours to propagate your new domain to the world's internet service providers.
The fastest way to let the people in your network know about your new website is to use the domain in your email signature and add it to your social media profiles.
Use Nexcess for Your One-Page Website
There are a lot of reasons that a business might want a simple, one-page website.
For example, they don’t have a lot of products or services, or they don’t rely on search for a lot of their traffic. Creating a one-page website may be easier than making a multi-page site, but it’s still not simple.
Luckily, there is an easier solution. To get your one-page website store online quickly without coding, check out StoreBuilder by Nexcess today.
