One-page or multi-page website: which fits you?

The short answer

Torn between a one-page or multi-page website? A one-page site is enough if you have one clear offer and most clients come through your network. If you want to be found for several services, or you have a lot to explain, go for multiple pages.

A one-page website, or one-pager, is a site that consists of a single long page. The menu jumps to the sections on that page. A multi-page website gives every topic its own page, with its own address.

In full honesty: I build both, and more pages means more work and a higher price for me. So I have a stake in this topic. I've still tried to write it as honestly as I can, including when the smallest package is all you need.

The advantages of a one-page website

A one-pager isn't a stopgap for people on a tight budget. For many freelancers it's simply the best choice. These are its strengths:

• Quick to build. There's only one page to write, design and check, so it can often be live within a week.
• Affordable. Fewer pages means less work, and so a lower price.
• A clear story. Visitors scroll from top to bottom: who you are, what you do, who it's for and how to get in touch. There's no way to get lost.
• Good on mobile. Scrolling comes naturally on a phone. Clicking through a menu takes more effort.
• Little maintenance. When something changes, you update one page.

The drawbacks of a one-pager

A single page has its limits too. You notice them mainly when your business grows, or when you want to win new clients through Google.

• Little room to explain. If you have five services that each need a proper explanation, the page becomes long and hard to scan.
• One story for everyone. If you serve different audiences, say consumers and businesses, they all get the same text.
• No room for case studies or articles. If you want to show what you know, with examples or expertise, you need extra pages.
• Harder to find in Google. That's the most important difference, so it gets its own section.

One-page or multi-page website: the difference in Google

Google doesn't rank websites, it ranks pages. Every page has one title and one short description in the search results. So a page is about one main topic, with a few related search terms around it.

That means a one-pager can rank perfectly well for your business name and for one main topic, such as 'career coach Breda'. If you also want to be found for 'outplacement', 'team coaching' and 'burnout support', it gets difficult. Those searches don't all fit under one title.

On a multi-page website, every service gets its own page, with its own title, its own text and its own address. That way you have a page that answers each search precisely. AI assistants such as ChatGPT work the same way: the more clearly you explain what you do per topic, the easier it is for them to mention you.

Do your clients mostly come through your network, LinkedIn or word of mouth? Then this difference matters less. Those people search for your name, and Google finds a one-pager for that just as well.

When is a one-page website enough?

A one-pager is a good fit if a few of these apply to you:

• You're a freelancer or a small business with one main service.
• Your clients mostly come through your network, and look at your website before they get in touch.
• You're just starting out and want to get online quickly and affordably.
• You need a site for one product, event or campaign.

When should you choose multiple pages?

Go for multiple pages if you offer several services that people search for separately. Or if you want to be found locally for what you do. Or if you want to share case studies, articles or frequently asked questions to show what you can do.

A multi-page business website gives you room for all of that. You don't have to decide for ever right now, by the way. Many business owners start with a one-pager and expand later. That's easy, for three reasons:

• Your homepage keeps the same address. Whatever you've built up in Google stays in place.
• The sections of your one-pager are already the foundation. Each block about a service can later become its own page, with more detail.
• If the one-pager is built cleanly, fast and with proper headings, you build on a solid base instead of starting over.

How I do it myself

At truck8.dev, a one-page website is my Starter package. It costs €795, with your story, your services and a contact form with spam protection. I write the copy with you, extra languages cost nothing extra and two feedback rounds are included. It's often live within a week, if copy and feedback are sorted quickly.

If you need more, Business is the next step: up to 8 pages for €1,495, with SEO per page and setup of Google Search Console and Bing. Every package includes everything from the one before. If you start with Starter and want to expand later, you get a price for the extra pages upfront. All prices exclude VAT and are listed on the pricing page.