Do I Need a Website Or Is a Facebook Page Enough?

A Factsheet from 

 Social media is useful but can’t always do the heavy lifting your business needs.

You’re busy, juggling jobs, clients, admin and life. When someone asks, “Do you have a website?”, it’s tempting to point them to your Facebook or Instagram page and say, “It’s all there.”

You post updates, take bookings, reply to messages. It’s free, fast and familiar but it’s possible that relying on a social media page instead of complimenting it with a simple website might be holding your business back more than you realise.

1. You don’t own your social media page.
   It’s their platform, their algorithm, their rules. One policy change, one hacked account, one suspension and your entire digital presence can vanish overnight. With a website, you own the space. You’re in control.
2. Your content gets buried.
   On social media, your opening hours, services, and pricing can disappear down the feed in minutes. On a website, they’re easy to find, clear and permanent. That’s the difference between being discovered and being scrolled past.
3. Customers expect legitimacy.
   A website, even a basic one, tells people you’re professional, established, and trustworthy. It’s your digital shopfront, even if your shop is your kitchen table. If a customer uses a search engine to find you and finds nothing that can erode confidence.
4. Not everyone is on social media.
   It’s easy to assume your customers are all on Facebook or Instagram but some won’t be, and others don’t use social media to search for services. A website gives you visibility beyond your immediate network and shows up in search engines.
5. A website works while you sleep.
   Customers want to browse, read FAQs, check testimonials, or place an order at all different times of day or night. Social media might connect you—but it doesn’t always convert. A website does the heavy lifting: informing, building trust, taking payments.

However, you don’t need and expensive, complicated site.

Keep it simple:
– A home page that explains what you do
– A services/products page with clear pricing
– Contact info: phone, email, maybe a form
– Testimonials or case studies
– Optional extras: a booking system, blog, gallery, or shop.

You can build a decent starter site on platforms like Wix, Squarespace or WordPress for less than £10/month, or ask a local web designer to help for a one-off fee. There are even grants in some regions for digital development. Check your local Growth Hub or council.

If you’re getting all your business via Facebook, think about diversifying. Keep the social presence but back it up with a simple website. Use your posts to drive traffic to it. Think of social media as your market stall and the website is your bricks and mortar.

When platforms change, crash or lose popularity, you’ll be glad your online presence doesn’t vanish with them.

A social media page is a brilliant tool, but it’s not a substitute for a space that belongs to you. You want your customers and potential customers to find you, understand you clearly, and trust you instantly. Give them every option to do that easily.

Register at http://www.business111.com for more factsheets By Liz Barclay