Landing Page vs. Website: What’s The Difference?
A landing page is a one-single website designed for conversion, for example, collecting emails and selling products. On the contrary, a website includes a homepage, legal pages, and various web pages, depending on the type of website. Building a website requires web hosting and a CMS (or website builder), but marketing automation software allows you to create a landing page.
A landing page minimizes distractions with a minimalist layout and fewer navigation options. On the contrary, websites have menus, a header, a footer, a sidebar, and other interlinks to help visitors navigate the website. On the other hand, websites can have various goals, including improving brand awareness, educating visitors, lead generation, and establishing an online presence.
| Criteria | Landing page | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Created for a specific marketing campaign and focusing on conversion. | Help to establish an online presence. Inspire visitors to stay on the website using menus and other navigation options. |
| Content | Short and targeted copy, including a call-to-action. | It can cover various types of search intent and topics. Tone, length, and writing style change depending on the page. |
| Which platforms to use | Landing page builder, marketing software, CMSs, and website builders. | Website builders and CMSs (require a domain name and web hosting) |
| Navigation | Limited, with minimal links or options. No header or footer. | Extensive navigation options and menus. Custom header and footer. |
| Design and layout | Minimalist design to avoid distraction and ensure faster loading time. | Potentially complex: branded websites include logo, favicon, slogan, and theme color. |
| Traffic | Mostly paid, social media, email marketing, and referral traffic. | Any time of traffic, including search engine rankings. |
| Conversion rate | A landing page conversion rate is about 2.35%, with 1 out of 4 landing pages converting at 5.31% or above. | Lower conversion rate but higher traffic potential. |
| SEO | Long-form and text landing pages give you the best chances to work on Google for a specific keyword. | Blog posts, categories, and other web pages are optimized for SEO. Legal pages and homepages are not usually optimized for rankings. |
Websites can be for individuals looking to create a personal blog or for any business. Each webpage can be optimized for a specific purpose as part of a broader content strategy. In contrast, landing pages are specifically for marketing purposes.
What is a website? And why do people need it?
A website is a comprehensive collection of related web pages hosted by a web hosting provider under the same domain name. Website content is usually organized into categories, pages, and blog posts. The web host allocates server space to store the files, codes, and images you use on any web page.
Each page usually has its URL (like ww.companyname.com/product) that people can visit directly. A website is like an online hub where people can find all your content in one place—for business or personal use.
Here are 10 reasons why individuals and companies need websites:
- Improve online presence
- Credibility and trust
- Branding and differentiation
- Customer engagement and communication
- Marketing and promotion
- Sales and e-commerce opportunities
- Information and resource hub
- Professional portfolio or resume
- Accessibility and convenience
- Adaptability and growth
A website is the primary way to establish an online presence while having maximum control over your content.
What is a landing page? And why do people need it?
In online marketing, a landing page is an autonomous web page built to maximize conversion in a marketing campaign. Marketers prefer landing pages over websites in paid advertising. They are excellent for collecting leads while offering a free trial or a lead magnet.
Here are 8 reasons why marketers and companies need landing pages:
- Conversion focus
- Targeted messaging
- Lead generation
- Alignment with ad campaigns
- Testing and optimization
- Data and analytics
- Cost-effectiveness
- Scalability and flexibility
Landing pages are dedicated conversion-driven pages that give marketers a better ROI.
Website and landing page content & anatomy
The landing page content follows copywriting methods like FOMO and the Problem-Agitate-Solution to maximize conversion. Landing page copies are not optimized for SEO and ranking on search engines. But website content can have various goals and formatting depending on the page. An informational blog post will follow a different structure than a service page.
Here is a table of comparison displaying various elements you can include in a landing page or a website
| Elements of a landing page | Elements of a website |
|---|---|
| Logo H1 heading Short introduction paragraph copy Video Infographics Bullet points Form including button and CTA Testimonials Follow-up paragraph Final call-to-action Legal disclaimer | Logo, Site Title, slogan Navigation: header, footer, menus, Search Bar, sidebar Hero section Site Map & RSS Feed Homepage, About & Contact Us Pages Disclaimers and legal pages Services/Products Page Blog, Blog Categories, Archive Testimonials, FAQ, Image Gallery, comments Buttons & CTA Video/Audio Player Interactive Maps Event Calendar Careers/Job Listings Customer Reviews/Ratings Social Media Icons Forms & Newsletter Subscription Online Store/Shopping Cart Payment Gateway User Login/Registration Live Chat/Support Feature |
The anatomy of a landing page mainly differs from other web pages regarding website navigation and how you organize the elements. Here are some popular high-converting landing page ideas:
- video landing page
- data-driven landing page
- simple landing page
- infographic landing page
Regardless of your option, the goal is to make visitors complete a specific action.
Website and landing page creation
You need a domain name and web hosting to get a website, but most landing page builders can host your content without a custom domain name.
Landing page creation process
Here are a few common steps to creating a landing page:
- Create or log in to your account.
- Select make/create a new landing.
- Pick a template.
- Customize: add text, infographics, form, and logo.
- Configure settings: form integration, list, thank-you page, and tracking.
- Test and preview.
- Publish your landing page.
I use Getresponse and Aweber to create my landing pages and for email marketing.
Website creation process
Here are 13 steps to creating a website:
- Choose a domain name and hosting.
- Install a CMS or a website builder.
- Pick a theme.
- Install plugins and add-ons.
- Customize logo, colors, fonts, etc.
- Plan your content strategy.
- Create a homepage, blog, and essential pages.
- Work on the website’s structure and navigation.
- Add content regularly.
- Perform on-page SEO.
- Create a sitemap.
- Submit sitemap to search engines.
- Update the content regularly.
I use SiteGround, WordPress, block editor, and Astra themes on most websites.
What are the differences between website design and landing page design?
Website design and landing page design differ in purpose, structure, and design approach.
Website design helps to create a comprehensive online platform representing a company or an individual. It considers the site’s overall user experience, navigation, and consistency of branding. It encompasses a broader strategy to engage visitors, convey the brand’s identity, and cater to user needs.
In contrast, landing page design aims to eliminate distractions, simplify the user experience, and optimize for conversions. It often involves strategically placing persuasive elements like headlines, visuals, forms, and buttons to guide visitors toward the desired action. Unlike websites, landing pages typically have minimal navigation options.
What are the differences between a homepage and a landing page?
A homepage and a landing page both focus on conversion.
However, a homepage should speak to a broader audience. It aims to keep people on your website by displaying what you offer straightforwardly. A homepage provides an overview and ways to access categories, blogs, and other important web pages.
Landing pages use copywriting skills to keep visitors on the page until they accomplish a required action. But a homepage delivers a more generic message suitable for cold and warm traffic, enticing people to visit another page of your website.
Conclusion
A website is designed for exploration and leads people through multiple levels of information before directing them to action. In contrast, a landing page has one purpose: getting people to take immediate action. In brief, a landing page is a single web page optimized for conversion and part of a specific marketing campaign. On the other hand, a website includes multiple pages and blog articles.
In addition, a website gets traffic from various sources. A landing page gets visitors mostly from paid ads and social media marketing.
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