Plenty of small businesses run happily on a Facebook page. It’s free, it’s familiar, and your customers are already there. So is a website really worth it? For most businesses that want new customers, yes. Here’s why.
What Facebook does well
- Keeping in touch with existing customers
- Sharing news, specials and photos quickly
- Reviews and messages in one place
- Building a local community around your business
None of that goes away. The question is whether Facebook alone helps new customers find you.
Where a Facebook page falls short
You’re renting, not owning. Facebook decides how your page looks, who sees your posts and what the rules are. If your page is restricted or the platform changes, there’s nothing you can do.
Not everyone can see it properly. Some people don’t use Facebook at all, and others get interrupted by sign-in prompts when they visit.
Search engines and AI rely on websites. When someone asks Google or an AI tool for a recommendation, the tools draw heavily on proper websites that clearly explain what a business does, where it works and why it’s trusted. A Facebook page gives them much less to work with.
It’s hard to explain your services properly. A website can have a page for each service, the areas you cover, your prices, FAQs and a clear way to book or enquire. Facebook squeezes it all into one feed.
It can look less established. Rightly or wrongly, many customers see a business with its own website as more professional.
The best of both
You don’t have to choose. Use your website as your home base, the one place online you own and control, and Facebook for community and conversation. Link them to each other, and keep your name, address, phone number and hours exactly the same on both.
When Facebook alone might be enough
If you’re a hobby business, already fully booked through word of mouth, or not looking for new customers, a Facebook page may do the job for now. But if you want to be found by people who’ve never heard of you, a website is the foundation.
Getting started doesn’t have to be big
A simple, well-built site with a handful of clear pages is enough to start. Our new website plans start at $299 upfront, and we write the words with you. Or see what AI says about your business today with a free AI Visibility Check.