One-Page vs Multi-Page: Which Website Do You Actually Need?

Most people start by thinking about layout or aesthetics. But the first thing you should ask is: What kind of decisions do I want the user to make? Fewer decisions = one-page. More complexity = multi-page.

- You’re launching a new service or offer - Your goal is clarity, not content - You want a mobile-first, fast-loading site - You’re driving traffic from social or email - You don’t need deep SEO right now Think of a one-pager like a landing page: it guides people toward one clear action. No distractions. No fluff.

- You have multiple services, case studies, or content types - You care about long-term SEO and search visibility - You serve multiple user groups (e.g. customers + partners) - You need built-in navigation, filtering, or booking flows - Your site will act as a content hub, not just a flyer Multi-page sites let users browse, explore, and self-select. Great for complex businesses or larger audiences.

What’s the main action you want from the visitor? If you can answer that in one sentence and don’t need a ton of context to explain it, you probably need a one-pager. If your answer is layered or audience-specific, go multi-page. Bonus tip: You can always start with a one-page and expand later. That’s what I recommend to most of my early-stage clients.

The right website isn’t just the one that looks good—it’s the one you’ll actually keep updated. A simple one-pager that’s alive is better than a bloated site that dies in 6 months. Choose based on what you can manage, not what looks cool on someone else's site.