Do I need a website if I have a Facebook page?
You can get by without one, and plenty of small businesses do. But a Facebook page is not a website, and it is not really yours. Here is an honest look at what a page does well, where it falls short, and the least a small business website needs.
What a Facebook page does well
- It is free and quick. You can be up and running in an evening, and you probably know how to use it already.
- It suits day-to-day news. Today's special, a cancelled class, a photo of a finished job or a Christmas opening notice all work well as posts.
- Regulars can find you and message you. If most of your customers already follow you, a page does a lot of the work.
Where it falls short
- Not everyone has an account. Some people have never used Facebook, and others have left. Visitors who are not logged in can be met with a prompt to sign in or sign up, which is a poor first impression for a stranger who only wanted your opening hours.
- Google treats it differently. A page can appear in search, but you have little say over how it is titled or described, and the useful facts are buried under a stream of posts. If someone searches for what you do in York, a page with a few posts is rarely the best answer to show.
- You do not own it. Facebook sets the rules, and it can change the layout, change who sees your posts, or lock an account. If that happens, your followers and your history go with it. A website on your own domain stays yours.
- Prices and details get lost. A post from March with your prices in it is hard to find in October. A website puts the answer on one page.
- It looks like everyone else's. You cannot choose a layout, so there is little to set you apart from the business down the road.
When Facebook alone is enough
If you are just starting out, trade entirely by word of mouth, or run a small stall or hobby business with a loyal following, a page may be all you need for now. Even then, claim your free Google Business Profile, because that is what people see when they search for you on Google and Maps.
When you do need a website
- New customers search for what you do, such as "plumber near me" or "cafe in Easingwold", before they ask anyone.
- You get the same questions again and again about prices, hours or where you are.
- You want people to book, ask for a quote or send photos of the job.
- Losing your Facebook page would hurt, and you have no other way to reach customers.
The best answer is usually both
Use Facebook for chat and news, and use a website as the home base that holds the facts. Link the two so that each sends people to the other.
What a minimal website needs
It does not need ten pages or a blog. One good page, or a handful, can do the job if it has these:
- What you do and where, in plain words, with your town names.
- A phone number that people can tap to call.
- Opening hours that are right, including bank holidays.
- Your address with a map, or the area you cover.
- A few real photos of your work or premises.
- Prices, or "from" prices, as readable text rather than a picture.
- A simple contact form or booking link.
- A link to your Facebook page, and your business details at the bottom of the page.
- A domain registered in your name, so the address is yours to keep.
You can check any site against this list with the 12-point phone checklist. A simple site from me is £350, with no monthly hosting fee, and the typical price range is covered in the cost guide.
Questions people ask
Is a Facebook page a website?
No. A page lives inside Facebook, on their address, under their rules. A website is on a domain you register, so you decide what it looks like and where it lives.
Will a website replace my Facebook page?
It does not need to. Most small businesses do best with both: Facebook for news and chat, and a website for the facts that do not change often.
Can people find a Facebook page on Google?
Sometimes, but you have limited control over how it appears. A Google Business Profile and a website give you much more say in what people see.
What if my customers are all on Facebook already?
Then you may be fine for now. Think about new customers, though. People who have never heard of you will often search first, and a website gives them something to find.
If you are not sure whether you need a site yet, the free check shows what people see when they look for you, and I will tell you honestly if a page and a Google listing are enough. I cover York, Harrogate, Thirsk and the rest of North Yorkshire.
Prefer to talk? Ring or WhatsApp 07356 082474, or email [email protected].