A Facebook page is free and you can set one up before your tea goes cold. A website costs money and needs somebody to build it. So it’s a fair question, and the answer for some businesses is that Facebook will do for now.
For most, though, it won’t do for long. Here’s how to tell which camp you’re in.
When a Facebook page is enough
If you’re testing an idea, selling at a market stall, or running something on the side that fills up through friends and word of mouth, a Facebook page is a sensible place to start. It lets people message you, see your photos and check you’re real. Spend your money on the product first.
Where it starts costing you
People who don’t know you can’t find you. When someone searches “dog groomer near me”, Google shows websites and Business Profiles. Facebook pages rarely get a look in. Your page works for people who already know your name, and does very little for the ones who don’t.
You don’t own it. Facebook decides who sees your posts, and these days that’s a small slice of your followers unless you pay. Accounts get locked or hacked, and getting one back can take weeks. If that page is your only shop window, you’re closed until it’s sorted.
Not everyone is on Facebook. Plenty of customers, younger ones especially, don’t have an account or don’t want to log in to read your price list.
It’s a poor place to answer questions. What do you charge, where are you, what areas do you cover, when are you open? On a website that’s one tidy page. On Facebook it’s buried under last month’s posts.
Trust. Rightly or wrongly, a lot of people check for a website before they hand over money. A business with a proper web address and an email to match looks established. One with only a social page looks like it might not be there next year.
You probably don’t need a big one
This is where people get put off. They picture a five-figure quote and a three-month project. Most small local businesses need a single well-made page: who you are, what you do, what it costs, some photos, a few reviews and a clear way to get in touch.
The Oxfordshire Crumb House, a home bakery in Banbury, is a good example. One scrolling page with the story, the menu, a gallery and reviews. Orders come in by email. There’s no cart and no checkout, because the business doesn’t need them.
Use both, for different jobs
Keep the Facebook page. It’s good at what it’s for: showing you’re active, sharing news and chatting to regulars. The website is where new customers land when they search, and where your social posts should send people when they want details.
A quick test
- Do you want customers who haven’t heard of you yet?
- Do people ask the same questions over and over by message?
- Would a week locked out of Facebook hurt your takings?
One yes and it’s worth thinking about. Two or more and you need a website. Our small business websites start at £350 and go live in days. If you’d like a quote, send us an email.
