Landing Page vs. Website: Key Differences & When To Use Each
April 13, 2025
FERMÀT powers some of the world’s most forward-thinking commerce experiences—partnering with brands that believe product discovery should happen where and how people shop today. From headless infrastructure to shoppable storytelling, we give marketers and creators the tools to launch performance-driven pages without developer bottlenecks or platform limitations.
The lines between marketing and commerce have blurred. Brands are expected to meet consumers in-channel, in-context, and in-flow—with content that not only informs but converts. That’s why it’s critical to understand the distinction between landing pages and websites. Both are foundational to digital strategy, but they serve very different purposes. Whether you’re launching a limited-time drop or scaling a multi-product catalog, choosing the right format can make or break the user experience.
In this piece, we’ll break down the key differences between landing pages and websites, when to use each, and how FERMÀT helps you bring both to life with speed and flexibility.
A landing page is a standalone web page created specifically for a marketing or advertising campaign. Unlike full websites, which include multiple pages and serve various purposes, a landing page is singular in focus. Its primary goal is to guide visitors toward a specific action, such as filling out a form, downloading a resource, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase.
The term “landing” comes from the idea that users land on this page after clicking on a link in an ad, email, or social media post. Because it’s often the first impression someone gets of a brand or offer, the page is designed to be visually engaging, clear, and action-oriented.
Most landing pages are free from distractions like navigation menus or multiple calls to action. Instead, they hone in on one clear conversion goal—this simplicity is what makes them so effective.
Landing pages are designed with purpose and precision. Their power lies in their simplicity and ability to convert. Here are the core features that make landing pages effective:
Every landing page revolves around one primary action—whether it’s signing up, purchasing, or downloading. There’s no confusion about what the user should do next.
To keep users focused, most landing pages remove standard website navigation, footers, and multiple links. This minimizes distractions and boosts conversion rates.
The content on a landing page is tailored to a specific audience and often aligns with a campaign message, making it feel relevant and personalized to the user.
Strong visuals—like product images, videos, or trust badges—play a big role in grabbing attention and building credibility quickly.
Landing page copy is short, sharp, and persuasive. It highlights benefits, uses emotional triggers, and gets straight to the point.
Many landing pages include forms that are short and simple—asking for only the essentials to avoid overwhelming the user.
Landing pages shine when you need to drive focused user action. Because they’re optimized for conversions, they’re ideal for situations where your goal is clear and specific. Here are some of the best times to use a landing page:
Running ads on Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn? Directing traffic to a tailored landing page ensures your messaging matches the offer and encourages clicks to convert.
If you’re running a limited-time deal, launching a new product, or offering a downloadable resource, a landing page lets you pitch that offer without the clutter of a full website.
Landing pages are a go-to for collecting user information via forms. Think email subscriptions, webinar sign-ups, or ebook downloads.
They’re perfect for testing headlines, CTAs, layouts, or offers because their isolated design allows for cleaner analytics and easier optimization.
Planning a webinar, conference, or live demo? A landing page is the best way to drive sign-ups and keep attendees focused on the action you want them to take.
A website is a multi-page digital presence that serves as the central hub for your brand or business online. Unlike a landing page, which is built for a single purpose, a website offers a broad view of your company—its values, products, services, story, and more.
Websites are usually structured with multiple interconnected pages, such as:
They are designed for exploration and education, allowing visitors to learn about your brand, browse offerings, and build trust over time. While they can include CTAs and conversion elements, the experience is often more navigational and less focused than a landing page.
Websites also play a critical role in SEO, long-term digital visibility, and credibility. For businesses looking to establish themselves and attract organic traffic, a well-designed website is essential.
A website is much more than just a digital business card—it’s a comprehensive online platform built to inform, engage, and convert visitors over time. Here are the core features that define a strong website:
Websites are organized with multiple pages linked together through menus and navigation. This allows users to browse and explore based on their interests and needs.
Unlike landing pages, websites provide menus or header links so visitors can move between pages like "Home," "About," "Contact," and more. This encourages exploration.
Websites provide space to share your brand’s mission, values, team, and history, helping to build long-term trust and authority.
Websites are built to be indexed by search engines. With blog content, metadata, and internal linking, they’re the primary drivers of organic traffic over time.
From blogs and FAQs to product listings and customer testimonials, websites allow for regular content updates, keeping visitors engaged and boosting SEO.
Websites can host everything from email opt-ins and chatbots to appointment schedulers and interactive content, helping to move leads through the sales funnel.
While landing pages are ideal for short-term campaigns, a website is your digital foundation—best for building credibility, offering value over time, and supporting long-term growth. Here are the scenarios when a website is the smarter investment:
If you’re establishing a company, personal brand, or startup, a website serves as your central identity online. It communicates who you are, what you do, and why you matter.
Unlike a landing page, a website gives you space to showcase multiple offerings, categorize them clearly, and provide in-depth information for each.
A blog or resource center built into your website can help you rank in search engines, attract long-term traffic, and educate your audience with valuable content.
Websites support email opt-ins, lead magnets, and nurturing funnels, which are essential for businesses with longer sales cycles or complex products.
If you need to offer FAQs, contact forms, help centers, or even chat support, a website is the best place to consolidate these tools.
Visitors often check websites for social proof, testimonials, case studies, and certifications—elements that help legitimize your business.
Choosing between a landing page and a full website depends on your goals, timeline, and audience needs. Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
Example: You're running Facebook ads for a limited-time ebook download—perfect use case for a focused, no-frills landing page.
Example: You’re launching a new SaaS company and need a place to explain your product, host support content, and onboard customers—this calls for a full website.
Many successful businesses use both:
This gives you the best of both worlds—the depth and credibility of a website, plus the laser-focus and conversion power of landing pages.
Whether you're building a sleek landing page or scaling a full-featured website, FERMÀT gives you the tools to do it faster, smarter, and more effectively. Here’s how FERMÀT supports both flexibility and performance:
FERMÀT enables brands to create interactive, commerce-ready content that feels completely custom—without needing developers. Its no-code builder allows teams to craft beautiful, branded landing pages that tell a compelling product story while driving conversions.
FERMÀT is built for speed. Marketing teams can launch campaign-specific pages in hours instead of weeks, thanks to flexible templates and an intuitive interface that doesn’t require technical support.
Every element in FERMÀT is designed with performance in mind. From built-in A/B testing to detailed analytics and high-converting layouts, it provides the tools to iterate and improve results quickly and effectively.
FERMÀT integrates easily with major eCommerce platforms and CMS tools. This ensures your pages work within your existing systems, streamlining your workflow while enhancing your brand’s digital experience.
FERMÀT supports both focused and full-scale content strategies. You can use it to create high-performing landing pages for product launches or influencer campaigns and also to enrich your website with interactive modules and embeddable stories.
The debate between landing page vs website isn’t about which one is better—it’s about choosing the right tool for your specific goal.
If you're looking for quick wins, focused messaging, and high conversions, landing pages are your best bet. They’re agile, direct, and perfect for campaigns with a single call to action.
On the other hand, if you’re building a long-term presence, need to educate your audience, and want to support multiple customer journeys, a full website is essential. It becomes the cornerstone of your digital brand.
And here’s the best part—you don’t have to choose one over the other. Most high-performing brands use both strategically to meet short-term goals while supporting long-term growth.
With tools like FERMÀT, creating high-quality landing pages and enhancing your website experience becomes seamless. You’ll move faster, look sharper, and convert better—no dev team is required.
Yes, a landing page can live within a website’s domain but still operate as a standalone page focused on a single conversion goal. For example, you might have a special landing page for a seasonal promotion linked to from your homepage.
Not necessarily. Many tools like FERMÀT, Unbounce, or Instapage allow marketers to build and launch landing pages with no coding experience.
Paid ad traffic performs better when directed to a dedicated landing page. It creates a consistent message from the ad to the page and keeps users focused on one specific action.
There’s no limit. In fact, the more specific your campaigns, the better. Many businesses create multiple landing pages tailored to different audience segments, products, or funnel stages.
Technically yes, but it’s harder. Most landing pages lack enough content and internal linking to perform well in organic search. If SEO is a major goal, a full website or blog post is a better route.
A microsite is a small, branded website separate from your main site, often used for campaigns or events. It’s more expansive than a landing page but more focused than a full website.
Yes! Many landing pages are designed specifically for direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales and can include payment options, product photos, and testimonials to drive instant purchases.
Landing pages are generally faster and cheaper to build. Websites have more long-term value but require more investment upfront in time, content, and design.
Absolutely. Landing pages are often used to validate demand before a full launch. You can gauge interest, collect emails, or even pre-sell with minimal setup.
Often, yes. Use a website for brand awareness, credibility, and long-term growth—and landing pages for specific marketing efforts like waitlists, product launches, or paid ads.