Originally posted on July 7, 2015; Updated on December 24, 2021
Two of the most frequent questions we hear are “what is a landing page”, and “why do I need one when I already have a website?” They’re good
questions, as the term “landing page” can be confusing. Don’t visitors to your website “land” on different pages already?
Yes, but while all landing pages can technically be defined as web pages, not all of your site’s pages function as landing pages. As part of
your overall digital marketing strategy, landing pages exist solely to capture visitors’ information. Contact Smart WSI Marketing
to learn more about how an internet marketing company can help you create landing pages that convert.
What is a Landing Page?
Imagine your website and landing pages as buckets and the traffic that comes to them as water.
Your website bucket has many small holes in it, so the water that enters it flows in all directions, landing on different pages.
A landing page bucket has one hole in its bottom, so the water flows precisely where you want it to.
Put another way: Landing pages are accessible only from a link you or someone else provides, such as a call to action (CTA). They generally
fall into two categories, with a third type, known as a direct sales page, used by online stores like Amazon.
As lead generators. Also called “lead capture pages,” this type of landing page lets you gather pertinent
information about your visitors so you can use it in future targeted marketing. The sole focus of a lead-generating landing page
is to get a prospective buyer’s personal and contact info such as email address, name, location, and other demographics you’ll use
further down the road to connect with them. Most lead generating pages include reciprocal offers such as downloadable how-to
guides, eBooks, or newsletter sign-ups.
As short-form introductions. Rather than describing your entire business, landing pages use eye-catching images
and attention-grabbing content to highlight a single offer like a coupon, eBook, or contest entry. A slightly more advanced
internet marketing strategy, these types of landing pages are ideal for relationship building. They’re designed to nurture
prospective buyers by sharing a bit about your products and services. This “warming up” then helps guide leads into a sales funnel
on your site, thereby increasing your number of conversions.
To sum up: landing pages are used to sell products and services or capture leads. They give detailed information on one item, attract
visitors who are most interested in the offer, and offer limited navigation. Websites are designed to explain your business. They give
visitors multiple pieces of information, attract users with a general interest in your business, and make all website pages accessible.
Why Landing Pages Matter
When you optimize your website’s landing pages, you can significantly increase traffic and conversions. Successful landing pages are about
relevance, continuity, reinforcement, and, most importantly, value. An integral component of your online presence, they give visitors the
details they need about your products or services and reinforce the belief you offer the most relevant solution to their problem or need.
When to Use Landing Pages
Now let’s look at all the different ways you can use landing pages in your internet marketing strategy.
Advertising
When people click on the CTA link in one or more of your online ads, they expect the page they land on to give them the precise information
they’re looking for. While the design and branding on your landing pages should be similar to the rest of your website, the content needs to
respond to the exact need that made them click on your ad.
Landing pages are effective for all types of ad campaigns, including:
Pay-per-click or PPC ads that, because they appear higher up the page in search results, make it easier for users
to find what they’re searching for.
Social media campaigns that target users on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Banner ads that direct users to your landing page when clicked on other websites.
Lead Magnets
A lead magnet is a marketing term for a free item or service you give away in return for a user’s contact information. They’re an excellent
way to turn visitors into qualified business leads. People simply fill out a short opt-in form with their name and email address in exchange
for a freebie, usually a download or coupon.
Lead magnet landing pages are also referred to as lead capture pages. Since they’re more targeted than website pages, you can create any
number of them for different offers.
eBook downloads let you share your expertise on a specific topic.
Live or pre-recorded webinars cover important topics and answer questions about your industry and offerings.
Free trials can entice hesitant viewers and nurture them into paying customers.
User-Friendly Notices
Not all landing pages are about sales. They’re often used to notify people of something important, like a recent website update or change of
address. These types of landing pages can also be used to collect leads.
Custom login pages provide users with their own page where they can check out your products, services, social
media profiles, and more.
A “coming soon” page lets people know something new is on the way, and they can sign up to be notified when it’s
released.
Maintenance mode pages explain your website’s temporarily down. People can fill in their email address to be
notified of when it’s back up.
404 or error pages let people know they reached the domain they requested, but the page they landed on is
unavailable. If a link on your site is broken or dead, a 404 page redirects users to other areas on your site that might interest
them.
Testing New Ideas
Given that landing pages have a single focus, they’re much easier to test for things like conversion rates and results than entire websites
are. Continuous testing of your landing pages ensures they’re user-friendly and doing what they were designed to do - attract new leads.
Things you can test with your landing page include:
Copy and content. Test different headlines, writing styles, and copy length. For some niches, long pages with
lots of copy work great; for others, short, action-oriented copy is best.
Media content. Try out different types of images, graphics, and videos, including video testimonials which can be
much more engaging than text versions.
Page elements. Some brandslike putting their phone number or other contact
info on landing pages. Many digital marketing pros suggest leaving that type of content off of them. Try it both ways and see which
gets you the best results.
Can You Use a Landing Page as a Website?
It’s an excellent question with a simple answer. Yes, you can use a landing page to create a simple website. But (and it’s a big
but) that limits your marketing options and growth abilities, so you probably won’t get the results you hoped for. The bottom line is
websites and landing pages serve different purposes and have different audiences. You’ll get better results with a dedicated website that
describes who you are and what you do with landing pages that tie into your online marketing campaigns.
Good Landing Page Design
Working with a digital marketing agency is a wise decision when designing landing pages. They can help you select the perfect elements to
direct attention to precisely what potential leads are looking for. The best landing pages feature:
Minimal distractions, with only enough information needed to convince viewers to claim your offer and remove the
extras.
Powerful headlines that are short and immediately grab attention. They ideally show the value of what you’re
offering in return for a user’s contact information.
Social proof like reviews and positive testimonials that show people are using and enjoying your products or
services.
Trust and award badges for instilling trust in potential customers.
Mobile-friendly designs that make it easy for users to browse your landing page with a mobile device. Like your
website, your landing pages should work seamlessly on all devices.
Brief sign-up forms that ask only for the minimum information needed to verify a lead. In most cases, all you
need is a first name and email address.
Clear and creative calls to action (CTAs) that contain actionable copy like “Get Your Free Report” instead of
“Click Here” so users know exactly what they’re getting.
Landing Page Design with Success in Mind
You’ve done a terrific job building your brand and designing a website that represents it. To ensure all that hard work translates into
sales, landing pages are the way to go. They drive traffic, improve SEO, and build your brand and can be part of a successful PPC strategy.
Smart WSI Marketing is an Edmonton digital marketing agency that builds landing pages that make a solid first impression and grab your
audience’s attention. Talk to us today about how our engaging and interactive landing pages can help you boost conversions and your bottom
line!
Lynne Motkoski, Digital Marketing Strategist
Specialty: Digital Marketing
Strategies Education: MA Communications
& Technology, BComm [U Alberta]
Lynne is known for her strategic approach to marketing communications, technologies, and lead generation. She has a passion for education,
keeping up with current marketing trends and practices, and helping clients keep ahead of their competition.
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