Do I need a website if I have a Facebook page?
Lots of small businesses start with a Facebook page, and plenty get work from it. So is a website worth paying for? Here’s an honest look at what each one does, and where a Facebook page falls short.
What a Facebook page is good at
A Facebook page is free, quick to set up and great for staying in touch with people who already know you: posting new work, offers, events and updates. If your customers are mostly regulars and friends of friends, it does a lot.
Where a Facebook page falls short
People searching Google don’t find you. When someone who has never heard of you searches “electrician in Stoke” or “nail salon near me”, Google shows a map of Google Business Profiles and a list of websites. A Facebook page often isn’t what they find.
You don’t own it. Facebook decides how many people see your posts, what your page looks like and what you’re allowed to do. If your account is hacked or restricted, your shop window disappears overnight.
Not everyone uses Facebook. Some customers don’t have an account, and some won’t click into one to find your prices or opening hours.
It’s hard to look established. A page looks like everyone else’s page. A website with your own name, photos and domain makes a small business look like a proper business, which matters most for bigger jobs and business customers.
What a website adds
- A place that shows up on Google for the services and towns you cover.
- Your prices, services, areas and opening hours, laid out clearly in one place.
- A contact or quote form that sends enquiries straight to you.
- Your own domain and email address, which look more professional.
- Something you control, however the social media apps change.
When a Facebook page alone is enough
If you’re fully booked from word of mouth, or you’re just testing an idea, a Facebook page and a free Google Business Profile may be all you need for now. When you want new customers who don’t already know you, a website is the next step.
The best answer: both
Use Facebook to stay in touch, and a website to be found and to look established. Link them together: your website on your Facebook page, and your Facebook on your website. Our checklist covers what your website needs, and our Starter package is a one-page website for £400, then £25 a month.
