Do You Need a Landing Page or a Website?

One is for testing. One is for scaling. Know the difference.

Author

Adam Goetz
September 09, 2025 • Reading Time: 3 minutes

When you’re starting something new, it’s easy to default to building a full website or get stuck on the question: “Do I need a website or just a landing page?”

The truth is, that’s not the real decision. The better question is: “What’s my most important goal right now?”

Websites and landing pages serve very different purposes.

Landing pages are designed for speed and focus—perfect for testing a single idea, offer, or campaign.

Websites, on the other hand, are built for depth and long-term growth, showcasing everything your business has to offer.

Choosing the wrong one at the wrong stage can slow you down or waste your budget.

Deciding Between a Landing Page and a Website

Think of it like this:

  • Landing pages are for sprints: they’re built quickly, often within a week or two, and focus on just one promise. Their job is to validate ideas, test demand, or drive a very specific action such as signups, demos, or purchases. Because they cut out distractions, they give you clean data fast.

  • Websites are for marathons: they take more time and investment to build, but they give your business room to grow. A website can showcase multiple products or services, provide resources for existing customers, improve search visibility through SEO, and establish credibility for the long run.

This can be treated like a progression. First, start lean with a landing page and use it to collect data about if people are clicking, signing up, or buying.

If the answer is yes, that’s your signal to move forward. Once demand is validated, then it makes sense to expand into a full website that supports long-term growth and brand building.

🚀 Actionable Tip

If you’re pre-revenue or exploring a new market, don’t jump straight into building a full site. Launch a simple landing page around your single best offer. Run a small ad campaign or share it directly with your audience. Track the results, then use that data to decide if it’s time to invest in a full website.

Why This Matters

  • Faster Validation: Landing pages let you test ideas in days instead of months.

  • Smarter Spend: Avoid sinking money into a full site before you’ve proven demand.

  • Clarity of Message: A single page forces you to sharpen your value proposition.

  • Sustainable Growth: Once validated, a website gives you the foundation to scale with confidence.