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Hello! We’re John and Brian, and we’ve been designing websites for small businesses from our office in Preston, Lancashire since 2009. Good web design is all about meeting your visitors’ needs while showing off your business at its best. Grabbing attention is only half the battle: you then need to hold it. That’s what one-page scrolling websites set out to do. But are they right for your business? Here are the advantages and disadvantages of one-page scrolling websites.
What is a one-page scrolling website?
A one-page scrolling website puts all of its content on a single long page. Instead of clicking through to separate pages, visitors scroll down through sections. A typical multi-page website might have a homepage, an About page, a services page and a Contact page. On a one-page website, these become sections of the same page, and the menu links jump down to each section.
In short: one-page websites suit simple, focused offers. If you offer several services and want to be found in Google for each of them, a multi-page website is usually the better choice.
What are the advantages of one-page scrolling websites?
- Engaging. Scrolling through a well-designed page can feel more natural and interactive than clicking through menus, and it lets you tell your story from start to finish.
- You control the order. Because visitors scroll through each section in turn, you decide what they see and when. You can’t make them read it, but you can make sure it’s in front of them.
- Mobile-friendly. People are used to scrolling on their phones, through social media feeds and much more, so a single scrolling page feels familiar on a small screen.
- Focused. With fewer distractions and one clear call to action, a one-page website can work very well for a single product, event, launch or campaign.
- Simpler to build and update. With less content and fewer pages, there’s less to create and maintain.
What are the disadvantages of one-page scrolling websites?
- Limited SEO. Each page of a typical website can be optimised for a different topic or search phrase. With only one page, it’s much harder to rank for more than one main topic. Google also generally treats the sections of a single page as one page, because it doesn’t usually support URL fragments (the part of a link after a #) as separate pages.
- Not suited to a range of services. If you offer lots of products or services, visitors need to get straight to the one they want. Making them scroll past things that aren’t relevant isn’t a good experience.
- Slower loading. Putting everything on one page can mean lots of images and video loading at once, unless the page is carefully optimised.
- Harder to measure. With one page, it’s harder to see which parts of your content interest people most without extra analytics set-up.
- Easy to get lost. On a very long page, visitors can lose track of where they are, especially if the menu disappears as they scroll.
One-page or multi-page: which is right for you?
| A one-page website suits… | A multi-page website suits… |
|---|---|
| A single product, service or event | Several services or product ranges |
| A launch, campaign or portfolio | Businesses that want to be found for lots of searches |
| A small amount of content | Lots of information, a blog or an online shop |
| Getting online quickly and simply | Growing the website over time |
Many small businesses get the best of both: a long, scrolling homepage that tells the whole story, linking to separate pages for each service. That gives visitors the engaging scroll and gives each service its own chance to rank in Google.
Who do one-page websites suit?
One-page websites tend to work well for:
- New businesses that want to get online quickly with a simple, professional presence
- Events, launches and seasonal campaigns
- Single products or services with one clear call to action
- Portfolios for freelancers, artists and photographers
They’re less suited to businesses with a range of services, several locations, an online shop or plans to publish regular blog content.
Tips for a one-page website that works
- Keep the menu visible as people scroll, with links that jump to each section.
- Give each section a clear heading, so visitors and search engines understand the structure.
- Add a “back to top” link on long pages.
- Load images efficiently so the page stays fast.
- Repeat your call to action in several sections.
- Avoid effects that take over the scrolling, which can confuse visitors and cause problems for people with motion sensitivity.
- Make sure the menu links work with a keyboard as well as a mouse.
One-page website FAQs
Are one-page websites bad for SEO?
Not bad, but limited. A one-page website can rank for one main topic, such as your business name and core service. It’s much harder for it to rank for lots of different services or locations.
Is a one-page website cheaper?
Usually, because there’s less to design and write. With us, a simple 2-page website starts from £499 + VAT. Our guide to how much a website costs has the details.
Can I add more pages later?
Yes. Many businesses start small and add pages, blog posts and new ideas over time as they grow.
Not sure which is right for you?
If you’d like advice on whether a one-page or multi-page website suits your business, or how to get found in Google with our SEO services, give John and Brian a call on 01772 822626 or get in touch online. You’re welcome to pop into our Preston office for a coffee too.