Should Your Google Ads Landing Page Link to Your Main Website?
One of the most common questions in Google Ads is whether a landing page should link to your main website.
You may have heard this advice before:
“Do not let users leave your landing page.”
This idea comes from conversion rate optimization theory, but in real campaigns, the answer is not always that simple.
The correct answer is:
It depends on your business and user intent.
Why Many Landing Pages Do Not Link Out
The traditional approach focuses on attention ratio.
A high-performing landing page usually has:
- One goal
- One main call to action
For example:
Click ad → landing page → request a quote
When you add navigation links like Home, About, or Blog, users get more choices. More choices often mean lower conversions.
This approach works best for:
- Emergency services
- Low-cost services
- High-intent searches
Examples include locksmiths, plumbers, or towing services.
These users want fast answers, not explanations.
For these cases, keeping the landing page simple and focused usually performs better.
Why Linking Can Actually Help Conversions
User behavior has changed.
Many users today want to verify that your business is real before contacting you. When a landing page has no links at all, it can feel untrustworthy.
Heatmap data shows that users often try to click the company logo. They are not trying to leave, they are checking credibility.
If they cannot verify your business, they do not stay.
They click the back button and return to Google.
At that point, they are very likely to click a competitor’s ad.
Allowing a controlled link to your main website can reduce bounce rates and protect your ad spend.
When a Single Landing Page Is Not Enough
For high-ticket services, one page is often not enough to build trust.
Examples include:
- Renovation services
- B2B services
- Consulting or custom projects
These users need more information before contacting you. Forcing them to stay on one page can reduce confidence instead of increasing focus.
A better solution is a small conversion-focused site, usually with:
- A main landing page
- An about page focused on trust
- A process or pricing explanation
- Case studies or project examples
This allows users to explore while staying within a conversion-optimized structure.
Best Practices for Linking Safely
If you decide to link to your main site, do it carefully.
Use anchor links
Navigation buttons that scroll to sections on the same page help users find information without leaving.
Make the logo clickable
Linking the logo to your homepage allows trust-seeking users to verify your business.
Keep footer links minimal
Legal pages and a quiet homepage link in the footer are usually enough.
Avoid adding a full website menu to your landing page.
So, Should You Link or Not?
For emergency or low-cost services, it is usually better to keep the landing page focused and avoid linking out to the main website. Users in these situations have high intent and want a fast solution. Extra links often slow down decision-making and reduce conversions.
For high-ticket or trust-based services, linking strategically can actually improve performance. These users need more reassurance before taking action, and allowing them to explore your brand, process, or past work helps build confidence instead of pushing them away.
There is no universal rule that works for every business. The best landing page setup depends on how your customers think, how they make decisions, and how much trust they need before contacting you.
At OneStopMaker, we do not reuse the same landing page structure for every Google Ads campaign. We design landing pages based on user intent, trust level, and buying behavior, not theory alone.
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