A single-page website is one of the most popular web designs on the planet for many good reasons. It’s easy to navigate, it looks great on mobile, the user experience is fantastic, and it’s a far lot easier to manage than a multi-page website.
However, despite a slew of things that make a single-page website outstanding, there are certain things that may be an issue for you. The greatest one is related to Search Engine Optimization or SEO.
Here’s how things become complicated. See, in a multi-page website, you have different web pages. You can use each of those pages to rank for a specific keyword on the search engine. For example, you can rank web page A for the keyword “travel destinations”, then webpage B for “travel gears”.
On a single-page website, you only have one page (albeit divided into multiple sections with corresponding menus). What this means is that you have to rank that page for multiple keywords. And there are thousands, even millions of keywords out there for just one specific topic.
Now that we have a grasp of how tough SEO is on a single page design, it’s necessary that you don’t feel disheartened at this point yet. SEO is absolutely possible for a single-page website, and it may even boost your website into bigger online successes.
Curious to see how SEO works on a single-page website? Let us walk you through a journey of SEO tips and tricks that you can use to drive better quality traffic to your site.
What Is a Single Page Website?
In addition to the short description we mentioned earlier, a single-page website is a type of website where all the content of a page is compiled in one page. This is a kind of web design distinguished by a single-scroll navigation.
A one-page website is a lot like going through a virtual treadmill. You scroll down until you get to the bottom of the page, then just scroll back up again. The process repeats until you get the information you need from the website.
Benefits of a Single-Page Website
Despite a few SEO drawbacks we mentioned earlier, a single page design still carries many benefits that are essential for both website owners and users. Here are some benefits of a single-page website that would convince you to try it out yourself:
1. A Single-Page Website Is Fantastic on Mobile
With most users now relying on their smartphones to make quick searches, it comes as no surprise that a single-page website is beneficial. The mobile responsiveness of a one page website remains unrivaled. The navigation is smooth, flawless, and considerably fast.
Compared to a multi-page website, a single page website loads faster on mobile. Loading time is extremely essential. Why? Because a slow load time might lead to a higher bounce rate (the rate at which a visitor “bounces” back to the search engine after opening your site), and that’s bad for your website. You need to make web visitors stay on your website.
What you need are higher session times. And we all know that users spend a lot of time browsing the web on their phones. A single-page website’s mobile responsiveness will surely guarantee a better user experience for your web visitors.
2. Single-Page Websites are Great for Targeting a Specific Niche
A great factor that drives SEO is specificity. If the content is tailored for a specific audience, it is much better for SEO. For example, if your target niche is first-time mountain hikers, you can specifically design your content based on keywords that they would use on the search engine. Maybe they’ll look for hiking boots, top hiking trails, safety measures, etc. You can make your website revolve around these keywords.
A single-page website makes this possible by making all information readily available at a glance. No need for them to go through various pages to find what they want, it’s already there on the first page.
3. The Simplicity of the Design is Unmatched
One of the best advantages of a one-page website is its simplicity. A multi-page website is more elaborate, making it a bit more complex, and at times, difficult to navigate. On the other hand, a single-page website doesn’t even need to try. The single-scroll navigation remains one the easiest ways to can content. It’s also a sure-fire way to keep a user engaged and focused on your content.
In web design, the principles of simplicity are always observed. Website users don’t want a website that pushes them into a cobweb of confusing links and menus. Users appreciate it more when a website makes it easy for them to absorb information and content.
4. There’s Better Link Authority on a Single-Page Website
Another benefit of a single-page website is better link authority. In SEO the search engine generates organic search results by assessing the originality and relevance of the content. Apart from that, it also gauges the authorities of the links on the page. Link authority, to put it simply, is the quality of the links you add to your website.
A one page website is great for this, particularly in digital marketing, since all promotions lead back to the main URL. Through this, you won’t have to convince other website authors to use your link and embed it into their content.
SEO Tips and Tricks to Optimize a Single-Page Website
Now that we went through the benefits of a single page website here are some SEO tip and tricks you need to use to make your website SEO-ready:
1. Make Your Site Title Descriptive
Image taken from Strikingly product
Your single-page website's title alone should be optimized for search engines. Having a one page website means you have limited SEO capabilities, but having a descriptive title can help maximize your SEO efforts.
The title of your website is like a home's welcome mat. It influences their decision whether to enter or leave. Make it attractive, original, and unique.
Using your single page website with Strikingly, go to your "Settings", then go to "Basic Info". From there, you'll see "Site Title". Make sure to create one that's good for SEO.
2. Don’t Forget to Add Meta Descriptions
Image taken from Strikingly product
A meta description is a snippet that appears on the search engine. This provides a searcher with an idea of what the content contains.
Make your meta description specific and relevant to the actual content you're showing.
From the "Settings", go to "Basic Info", then add "Site Description". This part should tell significant details about your website, what you do, and where can people find you.
3. Include Keywords to Headings
Image taken from Strikingly product
Headings are also essential in SEO. It's best to also add keywords to your headings. This gives you higher chances of appearing on the organic search results.
Look at the image above. Those sections enclosed in a red box can be edited. You can use those headings to add keywords that you're targeting.
4. Produce Original and Relevant Content
Image taken from Strikingly product
The best way to produce original and relevant content is by adding a blog section to your single-page website. Writing blogs drive the best traffic as your content can be added with relevant keywords.
Just remember not to oversaturate your blogs with too many keywords. Search engines demote this kind of activity. Also, make sure that your blogs are not copied anywhere. Plagiarized content makes it harder to rank on the organic search results.
To add a blog section to your site, click on "Add New Section*. Then, choose "Blog". Once you've added this section, you can now produce content for your readers.
5. Connect Your Domain
Image taken from Strikingly product
Your single-page website needs a domain too. Having a domain name is a great SEO practice for your one-page website.
To connect a domain, first, make sure that you are using a Pro account on Strikingly. Then, from "Settings", go to "Domain", then go to "Custom Domain/Subdomain". Hit "Update" once you're done.
6. Use Analytics
Image taken from Strikingly product
Finally, the best SEO practice you can do is use Strikingly’s built-in analytics to make informed decisions. Through this tool, you can see how well your single-page website is performing. Using this, you can see important data that tells how many people have visited your site at various date intervals.
To access this, just go to “Analytics” in your website editor. You can also access this on your dashboard. Make sure to use the data you’ll get wisely.
Single-Page Website vs. Multi-Page Website
Want to know the differences between single page website and a multi page website? Here are some quick comparisons:
A Single-Page Website Is Great For:
- Storytelling
- Intuitive use
- Mobile users
- Content sharing
- Aesthetics on multiple devices
- Best for creating an online portfolio or events website
A Multi-Page Website Is Great For:
- Scalability
- Great UX
Which one you’ll use depends largely on what your business needs. If you want a website that implies all content into a single page, go for a one-page website. After all, it provides plenty of benefits you can use.
SEO tips and tricks are essential to make your single-page website succeed in the online world. Create a Strikingly account today, so you can make your first single-page website.
