Landing Page vs Website What’s The Difference?

Published May 14, 2025 | By Matt

Not all web pages are created equal. If you’re trying to grow your business online, you’ve likely come across two terms: landing pages and websites. They may seem similar, but they serve very different roles.

In this guide, we’ll break down what each one does, when to use them, how they affect your traffic sources (like SEO vs. ads), and why the difference can save you time and money.

What Is a Website?

A website is your brand’s digital home. It’s made up of multiple pages that help people explore who you are, what you offer, and how to connect with you.

Common traffic sources for websites:

Google search (SEO)
Direct visits (typing in your URL)
Referral links from other websites

Websites are designed for exploration. They include navigation menus, about pages, blog posts, contact forms, service lists, and more.

What Is a Landing Page?

A landing page is a single, focused page with one goal — to get the visitor to take action.

Common traffic sources for landing pages:

Paid ads (Google, Facebook, etc.)
Email campaigns
Influencer or affiliate links

Unlike websites, landing pages eliminate distractions. There’s usually no menu, no sidebars — just a headline, a short pitch, and a call to action (CTA).

Key Differences: Landing Page vs Website

Feature	Website	Landing Page
Purpose	Share brand info, support SEO	Drive a single conversion
Navigation	Full menus and multiple links	Minimal or no navigation
Traffic Source	Organic search, direct, referrals	Paid ads, email, campaigns
Audience	Broad visitors with various intents	Specific audience for one offer
Ideal For	Branding, education, long-term growth	Lead gen, product launches, testing

When to Use a Landing Page

You’re running paid ads and want conversions
You’re offering a free download, webinar, or limited deal
You want to A/B test headlines, CTAs, or page layouts
You’re targeting a specific group of people with one message

When to Use a Website

You want to grow your long-term online presence with SEO
You need to show multiple services or product options
You’re providing educational content (blog, FAQ, tutorials)
You want to build brand trust and answer different user needs

SEO vs. Direct Traffic: Why It Matters

Websites are built for long-term organic traffic. With blogs and internal links, they rank on Google and bring in visitors steadily over time.

Landing pages are built for campaigns. They rely on paid or direct traffic to work, and are designed for speed — not scale.

In short:

If you want to grow steadily, build a great website.
If you want fast results, run ads to a landing page.

For best results, use both: your website builds trust, and your landing page drives the action.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to choose one over the other. Think of your website as the digital storefront and your landing page as the checkout counter for a specific promotion.

Use your website to educate, inform, and support. Use landing pages to convert.

Together, they form the foundation of a smart digital strategy.