ARK Blog
Utilizing Homepages vs. Landing Pages
(Yes, there’s a difference! ????)
You’re not alone if you’ve just read the headline and you’re thinking to yourself, “Hey, I totally didn’t realize there’s a difference between a homepage and a landing page. Are you sure they are not the same?” Yes, my friend, we are sure that they are not the same. After all, many come to us for web development needs, and it’s our job to educate our clients on how to best utilize homepages vs. landing pages. Here are a few distinguishing factors to help put things into perspective.
In short, a homepage and a landing page have two different goals:
HOMEPAGE:
A homepage is the first impression of your brand for web visitors, accessed by your direct domain.
LANDING PAGE:
Designed for a specific purpose. It’s often used to direct visitors to a specific call-to-action.
HOMEPAGE BASICS:
What Makes An Effective Homepage?
Once a user types your website URL into their search bar, they are immediately taken to your homepage. A successful homepage should have:
AN INTRICATE OVERVIEW:
This is your first and only chance to make a good impression and dazzle visitors with what makes your business so great. Your homepage should house all links to critical content that would aid them in the decision-making process.
COMPELLING DESIGN:
Your homepage should have a compelling design and thoughtful messaging built to intrigue a visitor to venture throughout your site.
CONTACT INFO:
Make sure your contact information, including your address (if applicable), phone number, and email are prominent and easy to be found. Make sure your social media icons are visible so followers can easily access your other channels.
Common Uses:
- If you’re listing important information such as your contact info, office hours, business address, etc., a well-written homepage is a perfect fit!
- If you’re wanting to update your web visitors with important information like a recent move or a new offer, a homepage can do the job.
LANDING PAGE BASICS:
What Makes A Stellar Landing Page?
A landing page is often accessed by a direct link used to convey more information or close a deal. Here’s what you should keep in mind when designing it.
AD LIKE DESIGN:
Think of your landing page as an ad with eye-catching graphics and a strong call-to-action.
FOCUSED:
Try to keep the focus on the intent of the landing page. Feel free to add an offer or coupon for a discount to help further incentivize your audience.
LIMIT NAVIGATION:
Limit your navigation, but strategically point your visitors to a contact page or an action that gets you closer to a sale. The last thing you want is visitors clicking out of the page, distracted by other things.
Common Uses:
- If you’re running a paid social or search campaign, creating a custom landing page is always a good idea. Consider adding an incentive like a discount, freebie, BOGO offer, or limited time discount for best results.
- Launching a new product or service? Create a landing page with a custom URL to convey all the specifics of your new offering. Use that URL when promoting on social media so customers can get to your content with one click.
We hope we’ve been able to clear up how you think about a homepage vs. landing page. Check back soon for more useful tips on how to leverage your small business in a big world of competition. If you need help managing certain aspects of your small business or you’d like to know more about the services ARK Marketing has to offer, contact us or comment below! Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram for industry news, inspiration, and helpful tidbits for finding small business success.
Sincerely,
