It’s easy to get caught up in the belief that the bigger and more complex your website is, the more successful your business will be. It’s a tactic I’ve seen over and over—where companies feel pressured to build multi-page, feature-heavy websites that showcase everything they do, every service they offer, and every product they have in their portfolio. The more, the better, right?

Not necessarily.

In fact simplicity can often be more effective. It may seem counterintuitive, but focusing on a clean, streamlined website often leads to better results in terms of user experience, conversions, and long-term growth. I want to walk you through why this is and how you can use simplicity to your advantage.

The myth about complex websites

There’s a common narrative that a bigger, more intricate site somehow equals credibility or professionalism. In part, I think this comes from seeing what big corporations or product-heavy businesses are doing, and naturally, we want to replicate what seems to work for them. Large companies often have multi-page sites, sprawling menus, complex user flows, and loads of content—and for them, that’s necessary. They have massive product catalogs, diverse services, and content that needs to be organized across multiple departments or offerings.

But if you’re running a small, service-based business, like a consultancy, or offering local services, you don’t need to follow that outdated view. Think of it this way: if you’re offering a specific service, visitors are coming to your website for one reason—to see how you can help them. They don’t need ten different pages, multiple tabs, or a deep dive into every aspect of your business history.

Complexity for the sake of complexity can backfire. It can overwhelm your visitors, slow down their journey, and dilute your message. The truth is, a website with too many pages or unnecessary features can lead to confusion, frustration, and ultimately, a missed opportunity to connect with your audience.

How simplicity can enhance the user experience

One of the biggest advantages of a simple website is that it allows your visitors to find exactly what they need quickly, without feeling overwhelmed by too much content or choices.

Simple websites focus on the essentials—key web pages like Home, Services, and Contact. These core web pages guide your audience through your offering, explain what you do, and give them a way to take the next step. Instead of bombarding them with information, you’re giving them a clear and focused path.

For example, think of websites that use a minimalist approach. They aren’t cluttered with excessive content or too many navigation options. They have a clean design, clear call-to-action buttons, and concise messaging. The layout is intuitive and leads visitors to take action—whether that’s booking a consultation, filling out a contact form, or learning more about a specific service.
Simplicity also lends itself to faster loading times and less frustration for users, especially when they’re visiting your site from a mobile device. A streamlined site that loads quickly is always more effective than one that keeps users waiting, no matter how beautiful or feature-rich it might be.

Why less is more: avoiding information overload

Another issue that comes with complex websites is information overload. When there are too many pages, too much content, or too many options, visitors can get lost. You may have content that’s now outdated and obsolete. You might think that giving more information is better, but in reality, it often leads to confusion and decision fatigue.

When someone lands on your website, they’re likely looking for an answer to a specific question. If they have to wade through multiple pages of unnecessary content to find answers, you risk losing them.

Instead, limiting the number of pages forces you to focus on delivering your message clearly and concisely. You don’t need a page for every detail of your business. Instead, think about what your audience needs to know and design around that.

Best practices for this include creating easy-to-navigate pages that highlight your core offering, providing a clear and obvious next step (like booking a service or contacting you), and making sure your content is written with intention. There’s nothing wrong with keeping things simple, as long as you’re still delivering the value and trust your audience needs to make a decision.

Pros and Cons of large multi-page websites

Of course, there are pros and cons to both approaches—multi-page websites and simpler, more streamlined designs. It’s important to understand these so you can make the best decision for your business.

Large multi-page website Pros‍

More Content: Multi-landing pages websites are great for businesses that have a lot of content to showcase. If you’re selling multiple products, have different services, or need to include detailed information for various audiences, a multi-page site might be necessary.

Good for SEO: More landing pages can mean more opportunities to optimise for different keywords and improve your search engine ranking.
Showcase Large Portfolios: If you’re in an industry where a portfolio or gallery is important (like photography or architecture), having multiple pages to showcase your work may be necessary.

Large multi-page website Cons‍

Overwhelms Visitors: Too much content can be overwhelming. Visitors may not know where to start or how to find the information they need, leading to frustration.

Slower Load Times: More pages can mean a slower website, which negatively affects user experience and SEO rankings.

Higher Maintenance: The more pages you have, the more you have to maintain. This means regularly updating content, checking for broken links, and keeping everything running smoothly.

3-5 page Website Pros

Streamlined User Experience: 3-5 page website keeps things simple, guiding users through your story or offering in a clear, focused way. There’s no getting lost or clicking around multiple menus.

Faster Load Times: With less content to load, single-page sites tend to be faster, which improves user experience and SEO.

Focused Messaging: You’re forced to prioritize your content and deliver your message succinctly, without any distractions or unnecessary information.

3-5 Page Website Cons‍

May Limit SEO: With fewer pages, you have fewer opportunities to rank for multiple keywords. However, this can be offset by focusing on a strong SEO strategy for the existing content and writing blogs.

Content may feel like its not enough: If not designed well, 3 - 5 page site can feel cluttered or you may cramp in content, especially if you’re trying to fit too much information onto your site.

Embrace simplicity for greater results

At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is that your website’s primary purpose is to serve your business and your audience. Bigger isn’t always better. By embracing simplicity, you can create a website that focuses on the essentials—delivering a clear message, guiding visitors toward a specific action, and ultimately driving conversions.
A simpler website can often deliver better results, especially if you’re a small business or service provider. Instead of overwhelming your audience with unnecessary complexity, you can provide them with the information they need, in a way that’s easy to navigate and understand.

So, before you commit to building a massive, multi-page site, consider whether that complexity is really necessary. Focus on clarity, simplicity, and the user experience. When taking these things into consideration, you’ll likely find that your website becomes a more powerful tool for your business, driving the results you want without all the extra baggage.