Landing Page vs. Homepage

One common mixup when it comes to website lingo has to do with a landing page vs. a homepage. It’s easy to get the two confused. Why? Main reason – because the first thing visitors tend to land on is a homepage, so it’s super easy to want to call it a landing page. But, that is still the homepage, not a landing page.  

Now why is this important? One, if you’re working with someone, it gets rid of any possible confusion. Two: when you know the difference, not only is it empowering, it also can lead to some great strategy implementations.

The Homepage

Your homepage is the starting place that is meant to give a new visitor an overview of what you do or what you offer. That’s why home pages have introductions or excerpts from the interior pages throughout in order to get your visitors to click through to information they’d like. Usually, there’s an option overview, an about me section, brief overview of your services or products.  

Another way to think of a homepage: Think of a GPS system and adding in directions to a new place. After you type in your location, you usually will get a few different route options to choose from. That essentially is the idea behind your homepage. It is still meant to get your visitors to the right place, but it gives them options to choose from in how they get there.

The Landing Page

A landing page is meant for a specific purpose and only talks about that purpose. Typically, it’s used as a page to share information about your free opt-in in order to get more email subscribers. You can keep the information short and sweet or take the time to give more information, that’s up to you. Landing pages rarely show the navigation bar, and the point is to get you from point A (looking at your website) to point B (signing up for your emailing list).

Another way to think of a landing page: Again, with my GPS example. If a homepage is where you give route options, the landing page is essentially the route you chose. That route has clear directions and is going a specific way in order to get to the desired location. It’s clear of distractions and the entire point is to get you from where you are (point A) to where you want to be (point B). Just like a landing page.

You said something about strategy?

Yes! So glad you were listening –

Again, most people direct new visitors to their homepage because it gives new visitors a chance to get an overview of what you do and then pick their own path. Now, you do that in the hopes that along the way, they sign up for your emailing list or freebie so you have the opportunity to stay in touch. You also hope that they will find what they are looking for on their own. So this is where the strategy comes in and why you should start creating landing pages. Once you have a landing page, you can direct someone to that page instead. That way, instead of hoping that your visitors find what they’re looking for, you can say, I have it, it’s here for you, sign up to get it. That will result in more sign ups, which leads to more communication, and generally more sales.