Ern Berck Digital

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One-page websites

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A one-page website can be an effective solution for certain purposes, but they’re not suitable for every type of business or content strategy.

What is a one-page website?

A “one-page website” is a type of website that presents all of its content on a single HTML page, unlike a traditional website that may have dozens (or hundreds) of pages linked together through other pages and navigation menus.

This type of website typically contains sections that users can vertically scroll through to access different content areas such as about, services, portfolio, contact, etc. Each section is usually clearly highlighted and may have its own distinct design elements.

One-page websites are often developed to be simple, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, providing a streamlined user experience. They’re most commonly used for artist portfolios, personal websites, event pages, product launches, landing pages, and promotional purposes where the content can be effectively communicated in a concise format without the need for complex navigation structures.

What are the advantages of one-page websites?

01. Simplicity

One-page websites are often simple and straightforward, providing an efficient user experience without the complexity of navigating multiple pages.

02. Easy to navigate

Users can easily scroll through all the content without having to click through different pages, making navigation intuitive and seamless.

03. Engagement

With all the content presented on a single page, users are more likely to engage with the entirety of the content, leading to higher retention rates.

04. Mobile-friendly

One-page websites are typically responsive and work well on mobile devices, providing a consistent experience across different screen sizes.

05. Faster load times

Since one-page websites have fewer assets and only need to load once, they often have faster load times compared to multi-page websites. This can improve user satisfaction and search engine optimization (SEO) rankings.

What are the disadvantages of one-page websites?

01. Limited content

One-page websites may not be suitable for websites with a large amount of content or complex information that requires organization into multiple sections or pages.

02. Search engine optimization (SEO) challenges

It’s usually more challenging to optimize a one-page website for search engines compared to multi-page websites. This is because there is less opportunity to target specific keywords and create distinct URLs for different content sections.

03. Scalability

One-page websites don’t scale well as the amount of content grows over time. Adding more content just makes the page longer and more difficult to navigate, potentially compromising the user experience.

04. Less flexibility

One-page websites may have limitations in terms of design and functionality compared to multi-page websites, as all the content needs to fit within a single layout.

05. Navigation problems

Users may have difficulty finding specific information on a one-page website, especially if the navigation is not clearly organized, or if they’re looking for content that is buried within a long-scrolling page.

My View

I love the idea of one-page websites. Short, simple, focused, and easy to manage. Plus, you can’t get lost and you can always find your way home because you never leave.

Unfortunately, one-page sites never turn out that way. I wind up spending hours just trying to coax images, boxes, columns, disclosures, and forms into a comprehensible layout. It’s just so much easier to build a traditional multi-page site.

To clarify, I’m not talking about promotional landing pages. Those are concentrated, single-topic sales messages and are a completely different animal.

One of my clients (a venture capitalist) once insisted that I build him a one-page website for a new project. So I did. It didn’t go well. Our final conversation — before switching to a multi-page site — went something like this:

Client: I love it, but it seems really long.
Me: Yeah, it is long.

Client: You have to scroll a lot.
Me: Yeah, you do.

Client: Is there any way to fix that?
Me: Sure. Add pages and links.

Client: Oh wow. You can do that?
Me: Uh-huh.

If you think you’re going to save a bunch of time and money by building a one-page website, you’ll likely be disappointed. Trying to figure out how to cram a dozen pages into one is just not an efficient use of limited resources. Sometimes, just clicking a link is much easier than scrolling.

What about legal pages, disclosures, and disclaimers?

One-page websites can still include any necessary legal pages such as privacy policies, terms of use, and disclaimers by incorporating them into the single-page layout. Here are some ways one-page websites can address the legal requirements:

01. Footer section

One common approach is to include links to legal pages in the footer section of the one-page website. This sort of defeats the “one-page” goal, but can provide easy access to these pages without making a mess out of the main content area.

02. Modal windows or popups

Another option is to include links to legal pages that open in modal windows or popup overlays when clicked. This keeps the main page uncluttered while still providing access to any required legal information.

03. Accordion or dropdown sections

One-page websites can use interactive elements like accordions or dropdown sections to include legal content within the main page layout. Users can expand and collapse these sections to view the legal information as needed.

04. Separate section with anchors

Depending on the length of the disclosures, one-page websites can dedicate a separate section to legal information and include anchor links in the footer or navigation menu to scroll directly to this section. This keeps the legal content easily accessible without disrupting the flow of the main page.

Are one-page websites cheaper to build and maintain?

The cost of building and maintaining a one-page website compared to a multi-page website can vary depending on various factors. Here are some considerations:

01. Building costs

Design complexity: One-page websites are generally simpler in design and structure compared to multi-page websites, which can lead to lower design costs. However, if the design requires intricate graphics, animations, or custom functionality, the cost may increase.

Content creation: One-page websites typically require less content creation since all the information is condensed into a single page. This can result in lower costs for content development, including copywriting, photography, and graphic design.

Development time: Since one-page websites involve fewer pages and typically have simpler navigation and functionality, development time may be shorter compared to multi-page websites. As a result, development costs could be lower.

02. Maintenance costs

Updates and changes: One-page websites may require fewer updates and changes over time since all the content is contained on a single page. This can result in lower ongoing maintenance costs compared to multi-page websites, where updates may be needed for multiple pages.

Hosting costs: Hosting costs for one-page websites are generally lower compared to multi-page websites since they typically require less server space and bandwidth.

SEO and marketing: One-page websites may require more focused SEO efforts since all the content is consolidated onto a single page. This can result in lower ongoing marketing costs compared to multi-page websites, where SEO efforts may need to be spread across multiple pages.

Summary

One-page websites offer simplicity, easy navigation, and potentially lower costs in design, development, and maintenance compared to multi-page websites. They are suitable for presenting concise content and can often be designed to include legal pages effectively.

However, they may have limitations in scalability, SEO, and content organization, and may not be suitable for all types of websites. Ultimately, the decision to use a one-page or multi-page website depends on the specific needs, goals, and budget of the project.

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