The Benefits of Creating a One-Page Site<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You might be wondering why you\u2019d ever want to cram so much information into a single page. Good question! Before moving on, let\u2019s look at some of the main benefits of using a one-page site<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obviously, one-page designs aren\u2019t ideal for every site. For example, any site that requires a complex structure or frequent updates, such as blogs, stores, or community sites, would not work well on a single page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, sites such as business sites, freelance portfolios, and product showcases are perfect for this type of design. This is because they let you focus your message and highlight all your relevant information without losing your visitors\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve come to the conclusion that a one-page site is exactly what you need, it\u2019s time to get planning. Before you start putting together your site, you need to carefully consider exactly what you need to include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you along, we’re going to cover a few of the major considerations you need to make before and during the creation of your site. Naturally, your site\u2019s requirements will affect what type of content you need, but the following points will apply to nearly every one-page site. Let\u2019s get to it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good way to think of your one-page site is as a story. As such, it\u2019s important to consider the story you want to tell, whether the site is for you as a person, a brand, a business, or a specific product. In this sense, a one-page site is almost literally a conversion funnel. You build awareness and desire at the top, before drilling down to the specifics the further down you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defining your site\u2019s narrative first makes it much easier to decide what content you need, and how it should be laid out. For instance, you could use the design to literally tell a story, like this amazing example from Every Last Drop<\/a>, which changes as you scroll further:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the remaining sections, we\u2019ll discuss some examples of how you can do this more specifically. However, you should naturally make sure that your site\u2019s structure and story match your specific requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First impressions are extremely important. If you don\u2019t manage to catch your visitors\u2019 attention, they\u2019re likely to simply bounce off your site<\/a>, never to return. A strong, attention-grabbing header section is a mandatory aspect of any one-page site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a good header that will make people want to keep scrolling is an art form in itself, but a high-quality and attractive hero image is a good place to start. A good example is this illustration from Angry Bear<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should try to keep the text to a minimum here, and focus on communicating a single, powerful core message. You need to make it clear what your site is, what the benefits to the user are, and give them a reason to keep scrolling. Sergio Pedercini\u2019s<\/a> site shows how this can be done:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is also a good place to include a Call To Action (CTA). Adding a CTA to the header makes it more visible and increases the likelihood of click-throughs. You\u2019ll want the CTA itself to stand out visually, while the message should be clear. For a good example on how to accomplish this, check out Brandy<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This stands out without clashing with the rest of the design. Implementing a CTA like this one will be massively helpful for increasing your conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you only have a single page at your disposal, it\u2019s important to use the space well. This means no matter what your site is dedicated to, you\u2019ll want to showcase it clearly. For example, if you\u2019re a freelance web designer, you\u2019ll want to highlight your design skills and previous projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, if you sell chocolate bars, you\u2019ll want to showcase them in all their glory, like KitKat<\/a> does on their site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to do this is naturally to include visuals, such as images and videos. The KitKat site also uses dynamic elements that change as you scroll, which adds extra flair, and makes it more fun to interact with the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important to add relevant information throughout. A terrific example of this is the 100 Years of National Parks Service<\/a> site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, this page uses short, clean paragraphs that explain everything you need to know without getting too wordy or cluttered. By sticking to these shorter snippets, you can still communicate all relevant details without boring the user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People trust people, so while it\u2019s important to show off your work and accomplishments, you also need to include some human elements. This could mean including a section on you or your team members, like Central Coast Elite:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also a good idea to show off your current and past clients. This example from Playground Digital Agency<\/a> shows how this can be done:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it\u2019s usually an even better idea to include client testimonials from those you\u2019ve previously worked with. Purple Orange<\/a> shows how this can be done by simply adding quotations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These may seem like small touches, but they help to make your site more trustworthy and personal. At the end of the day, visitors are more likely to get in touch if they have a sense of the people behind the brand. Speaking of which, let\u2019s look at that next!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the user has devoured your entire site, they\u2019ll hopefully be keen to reach out to you. Whether it\u2019s to ask you a question or inquire about your services, you need to make it as easy as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
How to Create a One-Page Site (and What it Should Include)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Create a Strong Narrative<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image10.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Add an Attention-Grabbing Header<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image6.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Sergio](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image3.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Brandy's](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image8.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Showcase Your Products or Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"KitKat's](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image5.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"100](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Include Human Elements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Central](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image7.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Playground](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image1.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image4.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Implement a Contact Form<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Contact](\"https:\/\/getflywheel.com\/layout\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/image9.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n