Website vs Landing Page: All You Need To Know

Introduction

If you are a business owner, marketer, or entrepreneur, you might have heard of the terms website and landing page. But do you know what they are, how they differ, and when to use them? In this blog post, we will explain everything you need to know about website vs landing page, and help you choose the best option for your online presence.

A website is a collection of web pages that provide information about a company, brand, product, service, or topic. A website usually has a homepage, an about page, a contact page, and other pages that showcase the features, benefits, and value proposition of the offer. A website is designed to be informative, engaging, and interactive, and to build trust and credibility with the visitors.

A landing page is a single web page that is focused on a specific goal or action. A landing page usually has a headline, a subheadline, a brief introduction, a list of benefits, a call to action, and a form or a button. A landing page is designed to be persuasive, concise, and clear, and to convert the visitors into leads or customers.

The Purpose of a Website vs a Landing Page

The main difference between a website and a landing page is the purpose. A website is meant to educate, inform, and entertain the visitors, while a landing page is meant to persuade, convince, and convert them.

A website is a general platform that serves multiple purposes and audiences. It can be used to:

• Increase brand awareness and recognition
• Establish authority and expertise
• Provide valuable and relevant content
• Generate organic traffic and SEO ranking
• Build relationships and loyalty with the visitors
• Encourage social sharing and referrals

A landing page is a specific tool that serves a single purpose and audience. It can be used to:

• Generate leads and grow an email list
• Sell a product or service
• Promote a special offer or a discount
• Launch a new feature or a campaign
• Register for a webinar or an event
• Download a free resource or a trial

The Design of a Website vs a Landing Page

Another difference between a website and a landing page is the design. A website is more complex and diverse, while a landing page is more simple and focused.

A website has multiple pages, sections, and elements that create a rich and varied user experience. A website typically has:

• A navigation menu that allows the visitors to explore different pages and topics
• A footer that contains links to important pages and information
• A logo that represents the brand identity and links to the homepage
• A search bar that enables the visitors to find what they are looking for
• A sidebar that displays additional content and offers
• A blog that provides fresh and relevant content
• A testimonial section that showcases social proof and customer satisfaction
• A contact section that invites the visitors to get in touch with the business

A landing page has a single page, section, and element that create a focused and streamlined user experience. A landing page typically has:

• A headline that captures the attention and interest of the visitors
• A subheadline that elaborates on the main message and value proposition
• A hero image or a video that illustrates the offer and its benefits
• A list of benefits that highlight the features and advantages of the offer
• A call to action that tells the visitors what to do next and how to do it
• A form or a button that collects the contact information and triggers the conversion
• A social proof section that displays logos, testimonials, or statistics that validate the offer and its credibility
• A scarcity or urgency section that creates a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and motivates the visitors to act fast

The Traffic Source of a Website vs a Landing Page

A third difference between a website and a landing page is the traffic source. A website is more organic and natural, while a landing page is more paid and targeted.

A website attracts visitors from various sources and channels, such as:

• Search engines, such as Google or Bing, that rank the website based on keywords and relevance
• Social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, that share the website content and generate engagement
• Email newsletters, such as Mailchimp or ConvertKit, that deliver the website content and offers to the subscribers
• Word of mouth, such as referrals or recommendations, that spread the website reputation and trust

A landing page attracts visitors from specific sources and channels, such as:

• Paid ads, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, that display the landing page offer and link to the landing page URL
• Email campaigns, such as Drip or ActiveCampaign, that send the landing page offer and link to the landing page URL
• Social media posts, such as Instagram or LinkedIn, that promote the landing page offer and link to the landing page URL
• Landing page platforms, such as Unbounce or Leadpages, that host the landing page and provide analytics and optimization tools

The Conversion Rate of a Website vs a Landing Page

A fourth difference between a website and a landing page is the conversion rate. A website is more informative and passive, while a landing page is more persuasive and active.

A website has a lower conversion rate, because:

• It has multiple pages, sections, and elements that distract and confuse the visitors
• It has multiple purposes and audiences that dilute and weaken the message
• It has multiple calls to action that compete and conflict with each other
• It has a longer and more complex user journey that requires more time and effort from the visitors

A landing page has a higher conversion rate, because:

• It has a single page, section, and element that focus and guide the visitors
• It has a single purpose and audience that clarify and strengthen the message
• It has a single call to action that stands out and aligns with the goal
• It has a shorter and more simple user journey that requires less time and effort from the visitors

The Examples of a Website vs a Landing Page

A fifth difference between a website and a landing page is the examples. A website is more common and generic, while a landing page is more rare and specific.

A website is a standard and expected online presence for any business, brand, product, service, or topic. Some examples of websites are:

• Amazon, an e-commerce website that sells a variety of products and services
• Netflix, an entertainment website that streams movies and shows
• Wikipedia, an educational website that provides information and knowledge
• Medium, a content website that publishes articles and stories

A landing page is a unique and customized online presence for a specific goal or action. Some examples of landing pages are:

• Dropbox, a landing page that offers a free trial of a cloud storage service
• Shopify, a landing page that offers a free trial of an e-commerce platform
• HubSpot, a landing page that registers for a webinar on how to create a high-converting landing page
• Airbnb, a landing page that invites to become a host on a travel platform

The Pros and Cons of a Website vs a Landing Page

A sixth difference between a website and a landing page is the pros and cons. A website has some advantages and disadvantages, while a landing page has some benefits and drawbacks.

A website has the following pros and cons:

• Pros:
  • It provides more information and content to the visitors
  • It builds more trust and credibility with the visitors
  • It generates more organic traffic and SEO ranking
  • It creates more relationships and loyalty with the visitors
• Cons:
  • It requires more time and resources to create and maintain
  • It has more complexity and diversity to manage and optimize
  • It has more distractions and confusions to avoid and eliminate
  • It has a lower conversion rate and ROI

A landing page has the following pros and cons:

• Pros:
  • It requires less time and resources to create and maintain
  • It has less complexity and diversity to manage and optimize
  • It has less distractions and confusions to avoid and eliminate
  • It has a higher conversion rate and ROI
• Cons:
  • It provides less information and content to the visitors
  • It builds less trust and credibility with the visitors
  • It generates less organic traffic and SEO ranking
  • It creates less relationships and loyalty with the visitors

The Best Practices of a Website vs a Landing Page

A seventh difference between a website and a landing page is the best practices. A website has some dos and don’ts, while a landing page has some tips and tricks.

A website has the following best practices:

• Do:
  • Use a clear and consistent navigation menu
  • Use a responsive and mobile-friendly design
  • Use a fast and secure hosting service
  • Use a catchy and memorable domain name
  • Use a relevant and attractive logo
  • Use a simple and intuitive search bar
  • Use a helpful and friendly chatbot
  • Use a compelling and valuable blog
  • Use a persuasive and authentic testimonial section
  • Use a visible and accessible contact section
• Don’t:
  • Use too many pages, sections, and elements
  • Use too much text, images, and videos
  • Use too many colors and fonts
  • Use too many pop-ups, banners, and ads
  • Use outdated and inaccurate information
  • Use broken and dead links
  • Use generic and boring content
  • Use plagiarized and copied content

A landing page has the following best practices:

• Do:
  • Use a catchy and relevant headline
  • Use a clear and concise subheadline
  • Use a high-quality and relevant hero image or video
  • Use a bullet-point list of benefits
  • Use a prominent and compelling call to action
  • Use a short and simple form or button
  • Use a social proof section with logos, testimonials, or statistics
  • Use a scarcity or urgency section with countdown timers, limited stock, or exclusive offers
  • Use a landing page platform that provides templates, analytics, and optimization tools
• Don’t:
  • Use a vague and generic headline
  • Use a long and complex subheadline
  • Use a low-quality and irrelevant hero image or video
  • Use a paragraph of features
  • Use a hidden and weak call to action
  • Use a long and complicated form or button
  • Use a fake or exaggerated social proof section with logos, testimonials, or statistics
  • Use a false or unnecessary scarcity or urgency section with countdown timers, limited stock, or exclusive offers
  • Use a DIY landing page that lacks templates, analytics, and optimization tools

The Conclusion of a Website vs a Landing Page

An eighth difference between a website and a landing page is the conclusion. A website is more open-ended and ongoing, while a landing page is more closed-ended and final.

A website does not have a clear and definite conclusion, because:

• It has multiple pages, sections, and elements that offer more information and content to the visitors
• It has multiple purposes and audiences that cater to different needs and interests of the visitors
• It has multiple calls to action that provide more options and choices to the visitors
• It has a longer and more complex user journey that requires more time and effort from the visitors

A landing page has a clear and definite conclusion, because:

• It has a single page, section, and element that offer less information and content to the visitors
• It has a single purpose and audience that cater to a specific need and interest of the visitor
• It has a single call to action that provide a single option and choice to the visitor
• It has a shorter and more simple user journey that requires less time and effort from the visitor

The Summary

 A website is more comprehensive and detailed, while a landing page is more concise and focused. A website is a collection of web pages that provide information about a company, brand, product, service, or topic. A website is designed to be informative, engaging, and interactive, and to build trust and credibility with the visitors. A website is meant to educate, inform, and entertain the visitors, while a landing page is meant to persuade, convince, and convert them.

A landing page is a single web page that is focused on a specific goal or action. A landing page is designed to be persuasive, concise, and clear, and to convert the visitors into leads or customers. A landing page is a specific tool that serves a single purpose and audience. A landing page is meant to persuade, convince, and convert the visitors, while a website is meant to educate, inform, and entertain them.