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

Lots of small businesses get started with just a Facebook page, and that makes sense. It’s free, it’s quick, and your customers are already there. But sooner or later most owners ask: do I really need a website if I already have a Facebook page? Here’s an honest look at what each one does well, and why the answer for most local businesses is “use both.”

What a Facebook page does well

• It’s free and fast to set up. You can have a page running in an afternoon.
• Your customers are already there. It’s an easy way to share news, specials and photos with people who follow you.
• It’s social. Comments, shares and messages make it easy for people to talk to you and spread the word.

Where a Facebook page falls short

• Not everyone uses Facebook. Some customers don’t have an account, and some pages and posts are hard to see without logging in.
• You don’t own it. Facebook sets the rules, decides who sees your posts and can change how pages work at any time. If your account is locked or hacked, your online presence can disappear overnight.
• Your posts get buried. Important information like your hours, prices and services slides down the page as you post, and only a portion of your followers see each post.
• It’s not built to be found on Google. When someone searches for what you do in your town, a clear website gives Google far more to work with than a social media page.
• It can look less established. For many customers, a business with its own website and email address simply looks more trustworthy.

What a website does that Facebook can’t

• It’s yours. Your website and your domain name belong to your business, and no one else decides what you can show.
• It’s open to everyone. No account or login needed to see your hours, menu, services or prices.
• It answers questions before people call. Services, prices, photos, directions and frequently asked questions all have a permanent home.
• It helps you show up on Google. Clear page titles, your town and your services help Google match you to local searches, and your website supports your Google Business Profile on Google Maps.
• It can do real work for you. Quote requests, online ordering, booking, donations and contact forms work around the clock.
• It comes with professional email. An address like you@yourbusiness.com looks better on a business card than a free email address. See business email.

Using both together

The best approach for most local businesses is both: your website is your permanent home base, and Facebook is where you have conversations and share what’s new.

1. Link them. Put your website address on your Facebook page, and a Facebook link on your website.
2. Post on Facebook, point to your website. Share a special or an event, and link to the page with the details.
3. Keep your details the same everywhere. Your business name, phone number and hours should match on your website, Facebook and Google.
4. Put the important things on your website. Services, prices, hours and contact information belong where they won’t get buried.

Getting started without spending a lot

A good small business website doesn’t have to be expensive. A clear, fast five-page site (home, services, about, photos and contact) is enough for most local businesses. We can even use the photos and information you’ve already posted on Facebook to build it.

At GreaterLink, websites start at $249, and hosting with free SSL starts at $7.99 a month. See websites we’ve built for local businesses, or read how much a small business website costs.

Frequently asked questions