Nothing says “less is more” like a single page website. While this is no new trend (one page websites have been around since forever), single page designs have been rapidly gaining popularity for many small businesses and personal websites who do not need multiple pages of content and information. If you are thinking about making a website for a small project of yours that has a limited amount of content, such as a portfolio or a product promotion, you might want to invest in a single page design. Not only is it easier to manage and update but allows you the creative freedom to design a clean and uncluttered site that makes a bold statement. For more on the benefits of having a single page website, read on.
It’s better for Google
Appearing on Google’s top ranks is no longer just a wish of any SEO agency or digital marketer. Increasing your Google rank is important for your visibility. And with single page design,optimizing your website your SEO can be much easier to accomplish. In a multi-page site, the links are distributed throughout the pages, but in a single page design links are concentrated in one place. Ranking for one page is easier to accomplish than trying to do so for several. One of the factors Google looks at for determining your page rank is the quality of links coming into your website, also known as backlinks or inbound links. Because you technically only have one page on your website, you only need to be linked to one page.
Gives you a chance to stand out
Part of the popularity of single page designs is because of the opportunity it gives your brand to stand out. A single page layout is all you have got, so making it visually stunning is a priority. Having a single page website is uncommon, and if it looks different, it can leave a lasting impression on the visitor. If you look at any single page website, it looks like no other. This can put a lot of pressure on the web designer, but also gives them an opportunity to showcase their creativity.
Its cheaper
A single page website saves you on cost because they require less web space and are smaller, which can save you on hosting prices. Single page designs require less bandwidth than a multi-page site. Having lower bandwidth not only decreases hosting prices, but are better for users as well. This is helpful for many users who are accessing your site on their devices with limited data plans (another reason why responsive design is so important). A website with a reduced bandwidth will load quicker for the user, which will improve your bounce rates and other factors that affect traffic to your site.
Read more: Why is Good Web Design Important?
Users prefer it
Visitors prefer seeing a stunning visual and minimal content than lots of text and no images on a webpage. 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual, a principle single page design embraces wholeheartedly. Single page designs are also easier to use. Everything is in one place, which makes the navigation process easier. Instead of browsing around multiple pages to find what they are looking for, users just need to know how to scroll. This avoids the problem of users not finding information or getting stuck somewhere in between your site. Scrolling is intuitive to a user, something Twitter and Facebook learnt early on and have adopted themselves.
Leads to more conversions
Single page websites are better at gaining conversions because of the nature of their design. One of the most important pages for gaining conversions are landing pages, and single page designs act similar to that. By keeping the design simple with a minimal number of links that would otherwise cause distraction, single page designs eliminate distractions and form a perfect scenario for placing a strong call-to-action. Another feature which makes single page designs a good place to gain conversions is because users only need to scroll down. Missing the call-to-action is more difficult to do than in other websites. It is then in the designer’s job to create interest throughout your page in order for the viewer to keep scrolling and take action.
Its easier to maintain
While this one may be a given, having a single page website is easier to manage. By restricting yourself to a single page, you are cutting your workload by half (or more than that). Just think about it this way: which is easier to maintain: a complex, multi-layered website with lots of content, or a single page site with limited content? Obviously the latter. With less content and pages to deal with on a single page site, there is less to fix and change. Maintenance is more streamlined and hassle free.
Single page websites give people and businesses the opportunity to create a strong yet simple site that leaves a lasting impact on the viewer. Similarly, it gives web designers the opportunity to unleash their creativity. While the benefits of having a single site are aplenty, it is not for everyone. It all depends on the type of site you want to make, and for what purpose. If you are looking to design your site and need some help, consider our web design services. Regardless of whether you want a single page design or a multi-page website, our Vancouver web design team will make sure your site is not only beautiful and visually stunning, but built to be seen – all for a very affordable price. Our plans start as low as $19/mo for web design.