It used to be commonplace for companies to have what could best be described as a “Business Card” website – a single web page that provided visitors with basic contact information. These websites served businesses well when the internet was young and the competition was slim. One-page websites have made a comeback over the past several years but, like the internet itself, they have evolved to look and behave vastly different than their predecessors.

Today’s one-page sites are sleek and dynamic, showcasing all the important aspects of a business on a single page and begging for a call-to-action. Rather than navigating between pages, visitors are bounced vertically around a single page that deliciously showcases the products and services offered. These pages can be visually stunning and perfectly suited for mobile platforms where simple navigation rules.

Any business without a web presence today is isolating itself from a huge segment of its market niche. A simple one-page website might do the trick and, with the bones in place, the website could easily morph into something more as the business grows.

Here are the links to two websites that are rocking one page. While they both happen to be in the hospitality industry, one-page websites are suitable for any business particularly if they have lesser content to share.

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With over one billion live websites on the internet today – it is a feat to stand out among the competition. Today, visitors need to be wowed when they land on your website otherwise they will click the back button and check out the competition within a matter of seconds because, well, because they can! Business owners should answer yes to five simple questions about their company website if they want to be real players in an online games.

Is our website engaging and usable?

Your company website is your showroom. Potential customers must be able to find what they are looking for easily without rifling through the clutter. Clean, uncluttered pages with clear headers and easy to read information is a must.

Do your own eyes glaze over when you read the content?

My motto has always been less is more in just about every category. It’s always better to leave a potential customer wanted just a little bit more in order to prompt a call to action. When selecting pieces for your online portfolio, only showcase the work that you are most proud of.

Is your URL memorable?

Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts when you are searching for a domain name.

1. DO Whenever possible use your brand name
2. DO make .com your first pick with .net as a runner up … if they are both taken, pick another name. Seriously. Your tagline.com would make a great choice.
3. In print DO consider capitalizing the first letter of each word in the URL.
4. DON’T use acronyms, hyphens, dashes, or underscores
5. DO try to keep them short
6. DON’T use all caps
7. DON’T use a subdomain

Do you ask for the sale?

Your website must have a clear Call to Action or CTA – Ask visitors to take the next step – whether it is to pick up the phone or click a button to formalize your budding relationship.

Is your website mobile responsive?

Is your website as easy to read and navigate on a smartphone or tablet as it is on a desktop computer? That means that the user doesn’t need to zoom in on the text or scroll sideways to see the other half of a sentence. With 40% of internet time spent on mobile devices, you can’t afford to have a website that is designed on a fluid grid.

The word mobile-friendly or responsive is now part of our daily vocabulary – but what exactly does it mean?

A website that is ‘mobile responsive’ is designed to provide an optimal viewing experience in all browsers. This means that rather than simply re-sizing the entire site to fit proportionately into a browser window, a responsive site will creatively reorganize the elements in a way that promotes easy reading, navigation, and scrolling in order to optimize the user experience. All of the elements are placed on a flexible grid and simultaneously resize accordingly as the browser window changes. Photos, for example, may realign themselves from a row to a column for a better viewing experience. To witness the effect, try dragging the handlebars on the browser window on your desktop computer or just compare the difference in the appearance of a website as it appears on different devices.

With more than 50% of online traffic coming from mobile devices – mobile responsiveness is a trend that is not going away. In fact, Google is penalizing those websites that have not adopted a responsive theme. I have included images below from a site that I recently upgraded from a WordPress theme that was not behaving well on mobile platforms. Open Meadow Homes now has a thumbs up from Google.

A view of the homepage of Open Meadow Homes on a desktop computer. Notice that the navigation menu spans across the width of the page. As the user scrolls down the page the next section features three widgets side by each.

Lastly, here’s an example of a view of the home page of Open Meadow Homes as seen on an iPhone 6 plus. Virtually all of the items have moved to a vertical position on the grid.

1. Header

   The header is the face of a website and the most important section as it is the cornerstone of your branding. It typically contains the company logo and tagline which, at the very least, should tell readers who the business is and what they do.

2. Good Navigation

   The navigation bar is the map of a website. All the material should be organized and labeled so that visitors can easily and logically navigate to the information that they are looking for without getting lost in their travels.

3. Stylized Content

   Compelling readable content with headlines that sell is a must. Brands have a matter of seconds to capture the attention of net surfing guests so it is important to engage them with valuable content.

4. Memory Hooks

   Statistics show that photos and videos are more memorable than content alone. Make the most of the available real estate on your web page and showcase products and services in the best light possible with high-quality images and informative videos.

5. Trust Symbols

   Visitors look for signs that a company has a solid reputation and is socially acceptable. Reviews, blog feeds, social media icons, contact information, and industry affiliations all help to build trust with potential clients.