How you design your website makes a huge difference in the way your potential customers perceive your business. A website is a representation of your brand and your level of professionalism. Also, it’s one of the first things about your business that your visitors get to know. This is why you have to invest the energy into creating a website that’s going to make your visitors enjoy exploring and come back for more. One of the best choices you can make is to design a one-page website.
One-page websites offer the power of simplicity and the beauty of minimalism. With a simple UI that allows intuitive scrolling and simple information presentation, you can’t go wrong with a one-page website. This is why you have to consider a one-page website for your business.
Let’s take a closer look at what exactly is a one-page website and explore the 7 pro tips for designing one.
What Is a One-Page Website?
Before we dig any deeper, let’s make it clear what exactly a one-page website is.
As the name suggests a one-page website only has one page for your users to scroll through to find what they’re looking for. Although it may sound simple, there’s actually more to it.
The most precise way to define single-page websites would be to say:
- single page website only contain one HTML page
Other typical characteristics are the following:
- users scroll through them to find information
- it has a long-scrolling layout
- navigation links take users up or down the page
- it has different content sections
The whole point of using a single-page website is to offer your users a simple UI. But, if you don’t know how to design it, you might do more harm than good.
This is why you have to learn about the tips for designing a killer one-page design. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s break it down together and take a look at the 7 essential tips for designing one-page websites for a brand or a business.
#1. Choose a Simple Template
When it comes to designing a website, the options are endless. Business owners and web designers have thousands of options ahead of them, and it might be hard to stay in the domain of simplicity.
However, you have to remember that one-page websites have to be simple and as smooth as possible. Otherwise, your users might get confused and your bounce rate could increase.
Templates could be a potential problem.
A complicated and complex template might cause troubles with one-page websites:
- confusion
- visitors feeling overwhelmed
- slow loading speed
- visitors having to invest too much effort to understand what is what
This is why it’s highly recommended that you use a simple template which can help you create a better UX and UI:
- faster loading speed
- less confusion
- instant understanding of where to look for information
- a more relaxed and enjoyable experience
If your visitors have to think hard and feel like they’re solving a puzzle, they’ll leave. They’ll turn to your competition and never come back.
A simple template will definitely help you retain your visitors and motivate them to keep scrolling.
#2. Make Your Layout Logical And Intuitive
The next important thing we have to cover is the layout of your one-page website.
The way you arrange information and present them to your visitors will tell a lot about your business and professionalism.
Remember, you have to strategize:
- What are your most important goals?
- What do you want your visitors to do on your website?
- What do your visitors want to find and learn about?
Make sure that you do a lot of strategizing and testing before you settle for a specific layout. Make sure that it is:
- logical
- intuitive
- easy to comprehend
Arrange the sections in the way you find it most suitable for your visitors to go through. Analyze user behavior and use online tools that can show you what your visitors are doing on your website.
This will help you understand them better and make adjustments where needed.
#3. Clearly Differentiate Each Section
When you have a multi-page website, you use each separate page to present different sections. Visitors get to choose and click the section they want to visit.
With a single-page website, all sections are on the same page. Still, you have to make it easy for the visitors to differentiate them. Use:
- different background colors
- different background images
- different text and images arrangements
Make sure that your visitors notice the difference between sections as they scroll.
In addition, place navigation links to help them get back to a section they’ve missed or speed down to a section they need. It will make a huge difference for the entire UI.
#4. Use Images and Videos to Support Your Message
The visual aspect of your website is extremely important. This is because not all visitors like to read and follow your written instructions.
There are so many of those who prefer being delivered the information on a visual basis.
Therefore, you have to consider using images and videos in your one-page website design. It will help the visitors:
- receive information easier
- understand instructions
- find the section they need
- get a clear picture of what your business is about
It is as simple as that. People who are more visual will find this aspect of your one-page website valuable and it will contribute to their UX immensely.
#5. Choose Appropriate Background, Fonts, And Colors
As we’ve already mentioned, one-page websites are all about simplicity.
There’s a phenomenon in psychology called cognitive fluency which is based on the following belief:
- if you present information in a way that makes it easy to understand, the readers will find it more believable and trustworthy.
You definitely need to apply this principle to your one-page website. You’ll achieve this effect by following these guidelines:
- use clear fonts that are easy to read
- avoid decorative hard-to-read fonts
- combine colors to emphasize information
- use a background that will go well with the information you place on it
The way you combine backgrounds, fonts, and colors will determine the ease with which your visitors will interpret information.
Make sure it’s as clear and simple as possible.
#6. Stay Mobile Friendly
Did you know that in 2018, more than 52% of worldwide website traffic was generated through mobile phones?
More than half the people visiting the web are doing this via smartphones, tablets, or other mobile devices. This is a clear sign that you have to create a mobile-responsive design for your one-page website.
Here’s how to do it:
- adjust the design for all screen sizes
- adjust the images to fit all screens
- reduce the heaviness of the website to make it load fast on mobile devices as well
- test for all devices
“It’s absolutely crucial that your website works great on all desktop and mobile devices. Don’t neglect the power of a mobile-friendly interface and use it for your own advantage,” says Tara Pearson, a digital marketing expert and a writer for TrustMyPaper.
Stay mobile-friendly to stay inviting and welcoming for everyone.
#7. Utilize CTAs
Finally, there’s one last thing you have to incorporate in your one-page website design.
Call-to-action (CTA) buttons are key in getting your visitors to perform the desired actions and complete the goals you’ve set for yourself and your brand.
CTA’s have to be:
- clearly visible
- mid-screen
- carrying a strong message
- inviting
- intriguing
Also, pay attention to the visual aspect of your CTAs. They have to stand out and be the first thing your visitors notice upon scrolling to them.
To help the mobile users click them, make sure there’s nothing else surrounding them and they won’t have any trouble clicking.
CTAs will be extremely helpful to your audience since they’ll provide a faster way to get to their desired information. They won’t have to scroll as much and they’ll find what they’re looking for faster.
Final Thoughts
Your one-page website needs to be simple to use yet visually appealing. It also needs to have a fast loading time and a friendly interface. When all the elements come together, you’ll have more satisfied visitors and a website that’s reaching the goals you’ve set.
Use the tips above to create a powerful one-page website. Make sure you cover all the essentials and don’t settle for anything less. Start working on it today, and you’ll be more than happy with the results once you launch it.
Remember: stay simple.
