What is a one-page website?
A one-page website (also called a single-page website) puts everything on one long scroll. The menu links jump to sections on the same page: services, prices, about, hours, contact. Visitors never load a second page.
It suits businesses where the customer's question is simple. Is the bakery open? What does a haircut cost? When is the event? What is the plumber's number?
What is a multi-page website?
A multi-page website splits content into separate pages, each with its own address, title and description. A roofer might have pages for roof replacement, repairs, storm damage, gutters and each town it serves.
That matters for search. Search engines rank pages, not websites. A page about "storm damage roof inspection" has a far better chance of matching that search than one section halfway down a home page.
A quick way to decide
Count the things people search for separately.
| If customers search for... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Your name, one main service and your town | One page |
| Three to five services by name | Multi-page, one page per service |
| Your services in several towns | Multi-page, with town pages that say something specific about each place |
| News, listings, events or guides you post often | Multi-page with a news or listings section |
| A launch date, wedding or single event | One page |
You can also use our free site planner, which asks four questions and suggests a page plan.
Examples by business type
Usually one page: bakeries and cafes, barbers, personal trainers, coaches, photographers starting out, events, weddings, coming soon pages.
Usually multi-page: contractors, law firms, dental and medical practices, real estate agents, agencies, nonprofits with several programs, and any home service business covering many towns.
Could be either: restaurants (one page is often perfect, until you add private dining and catering), HVAC and plumbing companies (one page to start, multi-page once you want to rank for each service).
What about SEO on a one-page site?
A focused one-page site can rank well for your business name and your main service in your area. It struggles when you want to appear for many different searches, because one page can only have one title and one main topic.
A sensible path for many owners is to start with one page, get live quickly, and switch to multi-page when the business or the content grows. On PHP Site Manager the same content can be shown either way, so switching does not mean rebuilding.
The sections every small business site needs
Whichever you choose, make sure these are easy to find:
- What you do, in one sentence a stranger would understand
- Services or menu, with prices or starting prices where you can
- Where you work, and your hours
- Why people choose you, in specifics rather than slogans
- Answers to the questions customers ask before they call
- A phone number and a short form
