In a world buzzing with constant news, notifications and social media updates, it’s easy to feel fatigued by information overload. When it comes to building your website, simplicity is key. Enter the one-page website: a simple, user-friendly option that keeps things clear and engaging.
Once viewed as a design trend, one-page websites have become a staple in web design. Instead of leading website visitors through a maze of pages, all your content is presented in a smooth, scrolling layout, making navigation effortless and intuitive.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to plan a website and show you how to create a one-page design that drives website traffic to your business.
Building a website for your business, passion project or side hustle should be easy and exciting. With Wix, you can customize and launch a professional website in minutes, no coding needed. We’re all about simplifying the process so you can focus on what matters most–bringing your ideas to life. So why wait? Let’s get started on creating the website you’ve always wanted.
Is a one-page website right for you?
Let’s break it down–web design typically falls into two main categories: one-page websites and the classic multi-page structure. A one-page website keeps everything organized, presenting your content on a single, scrollable web page. With this format, you can add as many images, videos, testimonials and social proof as you’d like, all in a clean and easy-to-follow way. One of the biggest perks? You control the flow, guiding visitors through your content in the exact order you want them to see it. Plus, it’s easy to maintain and works beautifully on mobile devices and apps.
Classic websites, on the other hand, is how most people would envision the different parts of a site: a homepage linking to other pages, such as a contact page, a service page and an FAQ page. Yet, long-scrolling websites are one of the best website layouts available, as it allows you to control the order in which visitors see your web content. Both of these website types have their place, but the question is–which style fits your needs?
Learn more: Multi page website vs single page website
Reasons to create a one-page website
A one-page website isn’t just simple–it’s smart. Here’s why it might be the perfect choice for you:
You’re working with short-form content, like landing pages, CVs, photography portfolios, wedding websites, personal web pages or any event-related site.
You have a clear goal for your users. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, booking a service or making a purchase, a one-page design keeps the focus sharp.
You’re short on time and resources and need to create a website quickly.
You want universal compatibility across a range of devices and browsers.
Your content fits on one linear page.
You prioritize speed and performance and want a faster-loading page and better website performance.
You want to save time and investment on website development resources.
However, if your site requires more detailed content–like product or service pages in an online store–a classic multi-page website may be a better fit. This format allows for dedicated pages and in-depth descriptions, making it ideal for creating a blog or businesses with many offerings.
Ready to get started? Use a website builder like Wix, or explore these one-page website templates.
How to create a one-page website
01. Choose a one page website template
Ready-to-use templates make building a one-page website super easy. They come with pre-designed sections that you can customize to fit your needs. Best of all, these templates are entirely no-code and require zero technical skills–or the expense of hiring designers or developers. With their user-friendly setup, pre-made templates are perfect for beginners looking to create a professional site quickly and easily.
To start on the right foot, you’ll need to choose a website template that includes the essential one-page website elements–like an anchored menu, social bar and rich footer, as well as strips and columns.
Wix’s team of dedicated designers have created hundreds of fully customizable one-page website templates, perfect for any type of business.
Want your site to feel on-brand? No problem. Match your logo, fonts and color scheme to your branding guidelines for a polished, professional look.
Pro tip: Start with a blank, ready-made section and customize it to fit your content. Wix’s new Editor will sync it with your website's overall design, keeping everything cohesive and visually stunning.
Learn more: How to make a website with AI
02. Plan your content layout and define key sections
For a one-page website to shine, organizing your content into clear, scrollable sections is important. With everything on one page, your layout needs to be intuitive, guiding visitors seamlessly through your story.
Start by mapping out your website structure. Think about your visitors’ journey–what do they need to see first? Position your most important messages “above the fold” to capture attention before they scroll, then arrange the rest of your content by priority.
Every one-page website should include essential selections like About and Contact Information. Beyond that, customize your layout based on your goals. You might add sections for:
Your offerings
Meet the team
Services and products
Testimonials
FAQs
A photo gallery
Keep your content simple and visually appealing. Cut out any unnecessary details and focus on clear, to-the-point text that complements your design and keeps visitors interested.
03. Add scrolling effects
Scrolling effects can bring your one-page website to life. Features like fade-ins, slide-ins, scroll-triggered animations, infinite scrolling and smooth transitions make your site more dynamic. When done right, these effects can highlight key sections, keep visitors engaged and encourage them to stick around–leaving a lasting impression.
The truth is, without some visual interest, a one-page site might fall a bit short. That’s where tools like parallax scrolling come in. The popular scroll effect creates a 3D illusion, with background and foreground layers moving at different speeds as users scroll. It’s subtle but incredibly effective at capturing attention and boosting engagement.
Pro tip: Want to master parallax effects? Start by adding simple animations like zoom-ins, reveals and fades to your sections. Small details like these can make your site feel polished and professional.
04. Create an anchor menu to link each section
One-page websites follow a flat architecture, where each menu item links to a specific section on the same page, rather than to a page of its own.
To make this happen, you’ll need to define your sections and add anchors. Here’s a quick three-step guide to building an anchor menu:
Add an anchor: Anchors let visitors jump straight to specific sections of your single-page website. Many templates come with built-in anchors that you can rename, move or delete to fit your layout. Be thoughtful about your anchor text–clear labels improve navigation and enhance the user experience.
Link your site’s menu to anchors: Connect each menu item to its corresponding anchor. This way, when visitors click a menu option, they’re taken directly to that section of the page. It’s an easy way to keep navigation smooth and intuitive.
Organize your menu: Make sure your menu items appear in the same order as your sections for clarity. For example, if “About” is the first section, it should also be the first menu item. To improve usability, keep your menu visible as visitors scroll. You can create a floating menu or freeze the header by turning on the “Freeze Header” option in your editor. This keeps navigation at their fingertips, even on long-scrolling pages.
05. Keep it short: writing concise text
Let’s be real–when it comes to a one-page website, every word needs to pull its weight. With limited space to make your point, it’s all about delivering clear, impactful messages that resonate. Start by zeroing in on your site’s main purpose. What do your visitors absolutely need to know? Focus on that and leave out the rest.
Use simple, straightforward language and break your content into bite-sized sections. Think: short paragraphs, bullet points and headers to guide your readers. No need for long-winded explainations–get straight to the point. Less is more, so aim to grab attention with short, punchy messages that reflect your brand’s personality. And don’t forget, every section on your page should have a clear purpose, helping visitors stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.
06. Make navigation easier
Help visitors get around your site easily by adding a ”Back-to-Top” button. This handy feature stays fixed on the page, so no matter how far down they scroll, visitors can instantly jump back to the top with a single click. This should help improve your site metrics, such as bounce rate.
07. Implement a strong CTA
Your one-page website should drive visitors toward your main goals. That’s where a strong call-to-action (CTA) comes in.
Place your CTA where it’ll get noticed–right above the fold–and make sure it stands out. For extra impact, connect it to an anchor that takes visitors straight to the section where they can take action. For example, a “Contact Me” button should lead directly to your “Contact” section. Keep it simple, clear and impossible to miss.
08. Bring your one-page site to life with visuals
When space is limited, high-quality visuals–like images, videos and graphics–become your best tool. They grab attention and communicate your message in an instant.
Start by picking visuals that reflect your brand and purpose. A bold hero image or a captivating background video can create a strong first impression, while icons, infographics or custom illustrations break up text and make your content easier to digest.
The key? Balance. Avoid overloading your page with visuals. Use whitespace to keep your design clean and give your content room to breathe. And don’t forget: optimized images are a must for fast loading times, especially on mobile.
Want to make your site even more dynamic? Add subtle animations or scroll-triggered effects to create an interactive experience that keeps visitors engaged.
09. Include a rich footer
Your website footer might sit at the bottom of the page, but it’s prime real estate for important details. Visitors typically scroll down to find contact information, so make sure to include up-to-date phone numbers, email addresses and links to your social media profiles. You can also add business hours, a privacy policy and terms and conditions if needed.
Running a brick-and-mortar? Adding a map to your footer makes it even easier for customers to find you. Think of your footer as a helpful mini-directory that ties everything together seamlessly.
10. Incorporate your social media accounts
Linking your social media accounts to your one-page website is a great way to create a cohesive online presence and to increase social media engagement. Here’s how to integrate them:
Add a social bar: A social bar features icons for your business’s social media accounts, making it easy for visitors to connect with you. With Wix, you can customize the design of these icons and link them to your social profiles. You can also pin the bar to the screen by right-clicking it in the Editor and selecting “Pin to Screen". This way, the icons stay visible as visitors scroll.
Add your Instagram feed: Give your audience a sneak peek into your latest posts by embedding your Instagram feed directly on your site. Choose from various customizable layouts to display your feed directly on your one-page site. It’s an effortless way to add a dynamic, personal touch.
11. Apply SEO best practices
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a must for getting your website noticed. It’s all about fine-tuning your site so it ranks higher on search engine results for specific keywords–bringing more traffic and potential customers your way.
Start by making sure your site is indexed on Google. Wix makes this step a breeze with built-in SEO features that help you get indexed quickly. Once that’s done, focus on targeting the right keywords. These are the terms your audience is searching for, and when used strategically, they can help your site rise to the top of search results. Don’t just create a site–make sure it’s seen.
"Google has become very good at understanding and analyzing the searchers behavior and knows when user intent is satisfied and when not. Therefore, creating high-quality and relevant content that satisfies user intent is essential for achieving high search rankings."
Leonie Schmid, Strategic Lead for Organic Growth at Wix
Pro tip: Want to dive deeper into SEO? Head over to the Wix SEO Learning Hub for expert tips and in-depth best practices to learn more.
12. Make your one-page website mobile-friendly
Let’s face it–most people browse the web on their smartphones, not desktops. And with Google’s mobile-first indexing, your site’s mobile version plays a huge role in determining your search ranking.
What does this mean for your website? Your one-page website needs to look and work just as smoothly on mobile as it does on desktop. Luckily, the streamlined design of one-page sites makes this easier than you might think.
Pro tip: Wix automatically creates a mobile version, optimized for any device. Simply head into the Editor, switch to Mobile Editor, and preview your mobile site. If you want to take your mobile design one-step further, build a fully responsive mobile site using Wix Studio, an advanced website creation platform from Wix. In addition, with Wix's adaptive technology, you can customize and edit the mobile version elements on your own, where you can hide certain content or rearrange it to better suit the small screen.
Improve your mobile experience with a quick action bar. Since the social bar doesn’t appear on mobile sites, this bar triggers readers to search your website for information such as your contact info.
Looking for inspiration for your one-page site? Check out these best one-page websites to help you get started. Or look to these website examples for further web design inspiration.
One-page website FAQ
Is a one-page website professional enough?
A one page website can be professional if it is well-designed and easy to use. The content should be relevant and concise, and the design should be consistent and visually appealing. The website should also be mobile-friendly and optimized for search engines.