You know I’m a lover of websites.
And the more pages you have on the website? The more chances you have to rank on Google, the more specific you can be about your offers, and the more robust your online presence can be.
But sometimes? You just need a basic site done really freaking well.
Enter: the 1-page website.
A 1-page website can feel like a sigh of relief, but it can also feel like a gamble. Simplicity is great, but is that enough to give people the information they need to actually buy from you?
I’m going to give you my honest opinion on when you need a 1-page website. As a website copywriter, I want you to have the full picture on if this is the right move for you (because it definitely can be!)
Let’s dig in.
First, can’t skip a trusty pros-and-cons list:
The pros of having a 1-page website
When you’re staring down the barrel of a huge website, it can feel intimidating. Luckily, keeping things simple with a 1-page website comes with a lot of pros, including, but not limited to:
✓ You’ll save money on copy and design:
Investing in professional copy and design is a big deal, especially if you need that 1-pager to convert? Doing it professionally will definitely give it the boost it needs to be as effective as possible.
Investing in both custom copy and design for a full website with multiple pages will easily come with a 5-figure price tag. But keeping it to one stunning, effective, professional page? That could save you some cash while still being effective at making you sales.
✓ Everything is in one place:
No need to worry about shuffling through links, creating a messy linktree, or making people click through multiple pages to find what they’re looking for. A 1-page website done well means that everything people need to work with you can be found within a few scrolls.
✓ It comes across as extremely confident:
You know what a 1-page website definitely is? Confident.
There can be something super magnetic about keeping your business to one page, not overexplaining yourself, and giving an exclusive vibe. Done correctly, a 1-page website will always leave people wanting more (in the best possible way.)
✓ It’s better than no website at all:
Sometimes you may be considering a 1-page website because… it’s either that, or nothing!
No shame there. If you know that you only have the time, mental energy, or budget for one page, that is much better than no website at all (or the dreaded “coming soon” page that you leave up for way too long.)
No shame if you just need something up, functional, and converting. You can always build it out more later.
But… it’s not all sunshine and simplicity in 1-pager land…
The cons of having a 1-page website
Perhaps you’ve noticed that my website is more than one page. That’s because the cons of having a 1-page website can be pretty steep if it’s not a strategic choice for your business or offer.
✓ You’ll miss out on SEO points:
Every page of your website is an opportunity to rank on Google. The more pages you have, the more chances you have at ranking.
When you only have one page? That’s only one chance at ranking, AND you’ll likely be competing with other websites that have more detailed sitemaps and trust with Google.
So, while simplicity is nice, so is SEO (aka, free traffic.)
✓ It’s not amazing for building your brand long-term:
Simply put: none of the businesses you admire have a 1-page website (probably.)
Just like each page is a chance to rank on Google, different pages of your site can serve different purposes for your business. Take an About page for example: the whole purpose of this page is to build trust with your reader, so they’ll be more compelled to hire you.
Only one page? Not great for building a brand that people trust over the long term.
✓ It’s harder to add more offers to a 1-page website:
Ideally, a 1-page website is great when you have an amazing offer.
But what if you want to try out a new offer? Maybe a membership or a course?
You’re gonna need more pages for that, especially if you’re new to creating your offer and are still working out the kinks. Having a 1-page website, and shoving your existing offer onto that page can make it feel like a bit of an afterthought.
✓ You can’t do fun stuff like blogging or resource libraries:
Free resources are a great way to build your brand and become a trusted resource for your target audience. But keeping everything to a 1-page website? It limits your opportunities to be a wealth of knowledge (and therefore trustworthy) resource for your audience.
Blogging is a great tool for any business, and the benefits go far beyond SEO, so this is a definite miss in my book.
How to know if you need a 1-page website
So, you’re aware of the pros and cons of having a 1-pager, but you’re still wondering if it’s the right move for you and your particular business.
As a website copywriter, here’s what I’d be looking at if my client came to me wondering if a 1-page website was right for them:
1. Your target audience is a fast decision maker
If your target audience needs a lot of reassurance, will go back and forth on their options, and are probably looking at some competitor websites as well? Maybe a 1-pager isn’t for you.
But, you know your target audience makes decisions quickly, a 1-pager could be the right move because you’re outlining all the information they need in one place.
Perhaps your offer is something really simple, like fixing tech issues within a day, interior car detailing, or 24/7 legal advice. It might make sense to have the short website reflect the short decision-making process they have.
But for longer engagements? Like interior designing your entire home, coaching you through a divorce, or scaling your business? They’ll want more information before working with you.
2. Your audience has a lot of awareness of what they need before they click
A 1-page website isn’t the place to try something new, experimental, or complex. Since you only have a page, make your offers really clear.
If you do social media management packages? Just say that, and don’t try to come up with a clever name for your packages or reframe them to be “different” from other social media management packages out there. Be super clear with what you do and what people are getting, because you can assume they already have some awareness of social media once they land on your site.
3. This 1-pager is for a sub-brand of your bigger business
Sometimes, you already have a brand, but you’re creating something that’s a slight departure from that brand.
Instead of confusing your current audience, or building out a whole new brand and website for your new venture, a 1-page website could be the perfect move here.
This way, you can test out new offers, attract more of your new audience, and run the new arm of your business without confusing anybody.
4. You have a signature offer that’s irresistible
Maybe you do *one thing* super, super well. Maybe it’s so good, you really don’t have to explain it too much to people.
In that case, a 1-page website can be a way to give your offer the spotlight, without overexplaining yourself.
Like I said, a 1-page website done correctly can come across as super confident. If you know you’re the best at what you do or your offer is practically selling itself, a 1-page site sounds like a great fit.
5. You have a strong referral network
For some freelancers, contractors, or other specialists, they might want a 1-page website because their referral network is just so strong, they really only need one page to seal the deal.
A 1-page website can be the perfect thing to send to the people who are referring you work, because they’ll always have a clean, straightforward link to send their people when they want to connect with you, and you won’t have to go to the trouble of creating a whole website if your business only relies on referrals.
6. Working with you is an exclusive experience
Maybe you’re booked out for the next year or two (in that case, congrats!)
So, you don’t have time to take on more work, but you still want *something* to send people so you can continue to grow your brand or direct people towards your waitlist.
In this case, a well-done, informative 1-page website can help maintain your brand without making you seem super accessible.
Need a 1-page website? I can write it for you in a single day
Listen, I get it: even creating a 1-page website can feel like a big task. (Especially if you’re not a copywriter.)
But I am a copywriter. Writing high-converting websites is literally my full-time gig.
AAAaand I’m a copywriter who can write you a 1-page website in a single day.
That’s right, when you book a VIP Day with me, I can write your whole 1-page website in a day.
So, that huge task you’ve been putting off? (That you know will bring you more business and inquiries?) We can take care of that asap. Check out more about my VIP Days here to inquire.
Need more than a single page website? Check out my copywriting services here or inquire here for me to write your entire website.
