How to Design a One-Page Website
One thing the internet has made essential for designers is simplicity. With so many things vying for customers’ attention, your client’s brand has mere seconds to make an impact.
That's why one-page websites have become so popular. They're highly visual, to the point, and deliver high value, regardless of their size.
What is a one-page website?
A one-page website is a website that has been optimized to provide a seamless, single-page experience, instead of isolating information onto different pages.
By creating a one-page website, you eliminate the friction of visitors having to click through several pages to find what they want. A visitor can cover a site in seconds, understanding what a brand is about and gaining key information about a product or service. This promotes clarity and action.
Contact forms and other transaction elements are built right into the layout, so someone can land, learn, and convert in a single visit.
Key features of a one-page website
There are many potential features of a one-page website. The following elements appear most frequently.
Linear, concise content
Everything visitors need to know to take action is provided in bite-size sections and contained on a single scrolling page. This removes clutter and possible confusion from the user journey.
Optimized user experience
The one-page website design is meant to deliver a seamless experience to every visitor, as there are no additional steps they need to take once they’ve landed on the page.
Clear call to action (CTA)
With clearly defined next steps, the CTA is the visual centerpiece of a one-page site that encourages clients to convert quickly.
Key features of a multi-page website
On the flip side, traditional multi-page websites carry benefits such as:
Grouped content
Multi-page sites are a better fit when there are key details about a product or service that differentiate it from your client’s other offerings. For example, an online clothing store has several categories, each with unique sub-categories. A clothing website functions best with multiple pages.
Unique URLs
Unique URLs are good for search engine optimization (SEO), as search engines like to rank unique pages for specific searches. Unique URLs can also help your client manage sales and advertising more effectively.
Content hierarchy
If your client has a content-heavy website, a multi-page website makes more sense for establishing an effective online presence. In this instance, you can avoid packing too much information onto a one-page layout, which can overwhelm users.
Who benefits from a one-page website?
One-page websites have a linear structure of content, meaning content appears in a logical sequence that leads to a specific CTA.
Professionals who can benefit from having one-page websites include:
Artists
Speakers
Photographers
New freelancers
New launches of a product, community, or course
Graphic designers
Politicians
Web designers
Musicians
App developers
Additionally, one-page websites are great for events like weddings, festivals, and professional engagement and conferences.
Ultimately, one-page websites work best for clients who want a straightforward website with a clear CTA.
Charging for a one-page website
Custom one-page websites can range from $1,500 to $3,000 for a one-page build. You can determine the final price during the initial consultation.
As you scope a project for a one-page website, consider the following.
1. Develop a pre-launch plan
Have a process in place that ensures a smooth launch. This can include a video consultation with your client, questionnaires, or a form that collects details about their site and preferences.
2. Consider the number of sections
To make the greatest impact, a one-page website has 5 to 10 sections. You want to include enough space for all of the necessary details, but avoid building a site that has a seemingly infinite scroll with no clear end goal.
3. Factor in brand extensions
Determine how much work you will need to do to develop the visual elements. This includes whether you or your client will select colors, fonts, icons, and imagery.
4. Don’t overlook content creation
If you are writing content for the site, this will entail more work and research. Factor this into your final price.
Learn more about adding copywriting to your web design services.
5. Include responsive design
Ensure you optimize all sections of the page to look beautiful on mobile, tablet, and desktop screens. Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor, Fluid Engine, makes it possible for you to customize how desktop and mobile content looks, feels, and is organized.
When it comes to what you charge, there are two formulas you can use to determine your rate for building one-page websites.
1. Multiply the number of expected hours by your hourly rate.
2. Choose a value-based price that supports your business goals.
Additional deliverables to consider as you price a one-page website project include post-launch support, training, and customizations such as CSS, animations, graphics, and SEO services.
Designing a one-page website
To develop an effective one-page website, your client’s central CTA should inform everything about its design.
Today’s websites are directional, not just informational, so your client’s site content should lead to a specific prompt. One-page website sections should carry visitors from point A to point B, providing only the most relevant details along the way.
Tips for planning an effective layout
As you design a one-page website, you’ll want to include defining sections. The following are some of the most common sections of a one-page website.
Header
This includes your client’s logo, headline text, navigation points, and CTA.
About
People don’t just buy what your client sells, they buy why your client sells. The about section should tell the why behind the what and share the brand story and message.
Testimonials
Social proof adds credibility to your client’s site and can range from years of experience to customer testimonials or logos of brands they’ve worked with.
Services or products
Share important details about your client’s product or service offering. If they are a service-based business, build trust with visitors by sharing insight into their unique process.
Pricing
Offering clear pricing is an act of transparency and honesty. It helps visitors decide whether your client’s products or services are within their budget.
Pro tip: You can simplify your client’s website layout by merging pricing with the service or product section.
FAQ
Include at least five frequently asked questions and responses to address the most common questions your client receives from customers.
CTA
Sum it all up with a clear CTA and resources to take the next steps, such as a contact form or “buy now” button.
Designing a one-page website for an event, wedding, or conference
If you’re building a website for your client’s event, you’ll want to follow a “who, what, where, when” structure. Defined sections of this type of one-page website include:
Header
This includes headline text, the date, location, navigation, and CTA. If the website is for a wedding, there can be a visual element highlighting the couple. Or, if the website is for an event, there can be visual elements representing the venue or target audience.
What
Similar to an about section, this section includes an event description that highlights its purpose.
Where
Provide information about the venue, location, and accommodations.
Who
For a wedding website, introduce the couple and share photos of them. If the website is for another type of event, you’ll want to include speakers, entertainment, and whoever else may be featured.
When
Include the date and time, and, if pertinent, schedule details.
Engagement
Capture visitors’ attention with beautiful imagery and relevant visuals.
FAQ
Answer common questions about the event and address inquiries about directions, reservation deadlines, and check-in.
Next steps
This is the CTA. Tell users how to take your client’s desired action, such as purchasing a ticket, booking a seat, making a reservation, or sending an RSVP.
Sponsors (optional)
If your client is throwing an event with sponsors, you can provide information about the companies sponsoring the event. This can include company logos or blurbs about each business.
Best practices for designing one-page websites
1. Keep text short and concise
This type of website is designed to be efficient and deliver maximum impact with minimal words.
2. Lean heavily on visuals and imagery
One-page websites are great at illustrating value through visuals. They also help create breaks between sections and support smooth transitions between them.
3. Clearly define sections
Although they may all come together to form one website, each section should have its own clear purpose.
Pro tip: As always, use good SEO practices. This includes writing keyword-optimized content, writing a strong title and meta description, and creating a hierarchy with headings like H2s and H3s.
What makes a one-page website pop?
One common struggle web designers may encounter when building a one-page website is that it can feel thrown together. There are a few elements you can incorporate to help you avoid this.
Anchor links
The first thing you can do is ensure you have a main navigation with anchor links. Added with a code block, anchor links tie the page together and make it possible for visitors to jump to any section. Anchor links also make the site feel comprehensive.
Scroll-to-top button
Another feature to consider adding is a scroll-to-top button. This streamlines navigation and is especially important with a page that has more than seven sections.
CTA
You’ll want to have a clear CTA that is centered around your client’s goals. Conducting a thorough consultation before you begin designing is important because it ensures you know exactly what your client wants to achieve. In designing the website around this goal, visitors should walk away feeling motivated to take action.
Animations
You can enhance the site and promote visitor engagement with visual features like built-in animations or scrolling text. These elements add multidimensionality to the site, making it feel vibrant and engaging.
Responsive layout
Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to ensure the site is mobile-friendly. The one-page website layout should scale across all screen sizes and provide a great user experience, no matter what device someone is using.
Remember that one-page websites aren’t entirely one-page. There are other pages you may need to design, such as:
A thank you page
A purchase confirmation page
A 404 page
A download page
A terms and conditions page
A privacy policy page
One-page websites help clients achieve their goals with a streamlined, mobile-friendly design. They can be more budget-friendly and manageable than multi-page websites. By defining sections and taking a CTA-centered approach, you can design striking one-page websites that are both effective and eye-catching.
Want more?
Check out Squarespace Circle, Squarespace’s program for professional web designers, developers, digital entrepreneurs, and creatives. Along with exclusive content, discounts, and other perks, Circle brings professionals together from all across the globe to exchange advice while connecting with new clients and collaborators.
