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Do I Need a Website If I Already Have a Facebook Page?

By Colin Pemberton. Updated . 2 minute read.

Yes, most local businesses should have both. A Facebook page is a good place to share updates and talk with customers, but you don't own it, and plenty of people who are looking for a business like yours will never see it. A simple website gives you a home base you control, with your services, hours, and phone number in one place that works for everyone.

What does a Facebook page do well?

Facebook is useful, and it's worth giving it credit.

  • Quick updates. Post a new special, a weather closure, or a photo of today's catch in a minute.
  • Conversation. Customers can message you, comment, and tag friends.
  • Community. Local groups and shares can spread the word fast.
  • It's free to start. There's no cost to set up a page.

If you post regularly and your customers are active there, keep doing it.

Where does a Facebook page fall short?

The trouble is that the page isn't really yours.

  • You don't control the reach. Facebook decides who sees your posts, and that can change at any time.
  • You don't own the page. Your account can be locked, hacked, or changed by rules you didn't write.
  • Not everyone is on Facebook. Some customers don't use it, and some won't log in just to look you up.
  • It's hard to lay out the basics. Services, prices, service area, and policies get buried under a stream of posts.
  • It can look unfinished. A business with only a social page can look less established than one with its own site, even when it isn't.

What does a website add?

A website fills the gaps a social page leaves.

  • Your own address. A domain with your business name on it, which you keep no matter what happens to any social platform.
  • A clear page for each service. Customers can see exactly what you do and where you do it.
  • Easy contact. Tap-to-call on phones, and a contact form that sends new leads straight to your phone.
  • One place to send people. Your Facebook page, your Google Business Profile, your business cards, and your truck can all point to the same site.
  • Credibility. A clean, current site tells a customer you're a real, established business before they ever call.

Wondering what that costs? We break it down in how much does a small business website cost in North Carolina?

How do a website and Facebook work together?

Think of your website as home and your social pages as the front porch.

  1. Keep posting on Facebook where your customers already are.
  2. Link to your website in your Facebook profile and in posts that need more detail.
  3. Keep your details identical everywhere: the same business name, phone number, hours, and service area on Facebook, your website, and your Google Business Profile.
  4. Send people to the site for the things that don't fit in a post: full service lists, policies, and how to book.

When everything matches and points back to one place, customers can find you and trust what they find.

Is a simple website enough?

For most local businesses, yes. You don't need a complicated site. You need one that looks credible, works well on a phone, and makes it easy to call. That's what we build, and you can see yours for free before you decide. Take a look at our plans and pricing when you're ready.

Questions

Can a Facebook page replace a website?

It can work for a while, but it isn't a full replacement. You don't own the page or control who sees your posts, and customers who don't use Facebook may never find it. A website gives you a home base you control.

Should I stop posting on Facebook if I get a website?

No. Keep posting where your customers already are, and link back to your website for the details: services, hours, service area, and how to reach you.

Does a simple website really help a small local business?

A simple site that works on a phone, shows your services and hours, and makes it easy to call gives customers a clear, credible place to check you out. For most local businesses, simple is enough.

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