Landing page integration with web app product?
Apologies if this is a really dumb question, but is it common to keep the landing page separate from the web app product itself, code-wise? If so, how do you even link between the two if someone were to sign up on the landing page?
For example, I see that lots of people use landing pages built by another company (e.g., Landen), perhaps since they're already SEO optimized. But they use the landing page for a web app that they built themselves, which may have a front-end built in a different programming language. How does the link between the two happen?
Not sure if this makes sense, and totally call me out if I'm clearly missing something. I have some experience in full-stack web development, but this is a concept that I'm having a hard time grasping.
You're not missing anything. This can sometimes get more complex than it needs to be.
There are many different ways you can build and support landing pages with an app. Here are just some options:
In my opinion, any of those could be the right answer depending on your use case.
Some of the main factors are:
Personally, I am a developer, so for one project I have everything in one app with all custom code. That works because I want to customize everything and I have thousands of custom data-driven pages.
For another project, I'm using a separate app that gets content from a headless CMS. The code is in the same codebase as the main project, but it's deployed on a separate server.
I hope that helps a bit. If it seems overwhelming, then just start with the easiest option and adjust as you grow. I've tried many different options and they all can work for the right situation. Feel free to email me if you want more help or advice. (kday33@gmail.com)
Edit: To answer your question about linking the signups, in most cases you would only have one account creation page that sits in your main app like normal. Other pages would just collect email addresses or link to the registration page. In a more advanced use case, I have let my email service provider (Drip) POST to a webhook in my app to auto create an account in the background. Then I email people to have them set a password. That's another way to do it.
This is super helpful - thank you for this! Now I don't feel so lost.
Definitely gave me a lot to think about. For the short term, I'll likely stick with the current setup (proxied custom landing page hosted by Landen) and build my app separately until I figure out which approach I want to take for the long term.
Again, thank you for this!
You're welcome! Good luck.
I was just searching the same thing this morning.
I'm used to the landing page living at naked domain, and the app living at app.domain.
I looked for some examples of how larger products do it. Canva, for example has the landing page and app live at the same address. That allows them to have a sign up / sign in form directly on the landing page, and not behind a link.
I think I'd prefer do do it that way...
Ha, well I don't feel so dumb for wondering about this then!
I keep going back and forth between keeping it all on the same address or keeping them separately (fortunately not a decision that I need to make right now). The development isn't the issue since I've got experience in both back- and front-end, but my concern relies in the design and SEO optimization of it. I suppose I could learn about SEO optimization and pay someone to do the design work for me as a way to mitigate those concerns.
Ha, same here...
Though I've recently really gotten into Figma, and for the design it's not that hard to copy and remix an existing landing page you like...
That's what I'm doing...
@kday gave a nice detailed answer :)
The only reason I would have a marketing site on the same domain would be if user generated content could rank on google, otherwise stick to having them separate makes life a lot easier.
Sign up wise just send them over to the app.example.com, no need to collect email and then sign them up.
Aha, that's where the link happens! I was always curious about it but couldn't figure it out.
Thanks for the insight. I'll probably stick with keeping the two separate, especially since I'm more of a back-end developer and probably couldn't do the landing page any justice if I were to develop it myself.
Thanks!
No problem if you need a free landing page to start have a look at https://cruip.com/
If you're pre revenue I can give you a deal for https://versoly.com/
This comment was deleted 7 years ago
Nice, that's a pretty sweet product!