Do I Need a Website If I Have a Facebook Page?
There's a new ice cream shop in my town that I’m slightly obsessed with. I've been several times. The flavors are eclectic in the best way, the employees are super friendly, and the inside looks like a Peter Rabbit story, all calming colors and cozy corners. It's the kind of place you want to tell everyone about.
So I did.
I was telling a friend, "You have to go. They have the most interesting flavors." Then I said, "Hold on, let me look them up and I'll tell you some of them."
I googled the shop, and the only thing that came up was a Facebook page.
I clicked on it. Could I find the flavors? Nope. Could I read the story of why their family decided to start an ice cream business? Nope. What were their hours? No idea. The only thing I could see was their most recent post, which said they'd be closed for the next two weeks.
That was it.
A brand new business, one I was actively trying to send customers to, and I couldn't give my friend a single answer.
So, do you need a website if you have a Facebook page? Yes.
And I have a lot of thoughts on why.
A Website Tells Your Whole Story, Not Just Your Latest Post
When people want to know more about you, they're not just looking for information. They want to get to know you and feel a personal connection. On Facebook, you're totally dependent on whatever your most recent post happens to be (which might or might not be relevant to what people are looking for).
A website gives everything a home. An About page for your story. A page for your menu or your services. Your hours, right where people expect to find them. Someone lands on your site and within seconds they know who you are, what you offer, and when to show up.
If that ice cream shop had a website, I would have found the flavors, the family story, and the hours in about ten seconds. I would have sent my friend the link, and she might already be in line.
A Website Helps New Customers Find You
Here's the thing about this ice cream shop. If I google their name, they come up. But what if I don't know their name?
What if I'm just someone searching "unique ice cream flavors in [city, state]"? A Facebook page is unlikely to show up for that search, because you can't really do SEO on Facebook.
SEO (search engine optimization) is just the work of helping Google understand what your business does and where it is, so that Google can show you to the right people. On a website, you get to do that. You choose your page titles, your descriptions, your headings, and the words on every page. On Facebook, you get very little say in any of it.
When your site is built around what you do and where you do it, you give Google a reason to show you to people who've never heard of you. That's how a stranger becomes a customer.
You Own Your Website. You Don't Own Your Facebook Page.
I've heard too many nightmare stories. Someone hacks into your Facebook page, changes the password, and deletes everything on the page. And then what? Good luck contacting Facebook. You're never going to find a real person to plead your case to.
It doesn't take a hacker, either.
A client of mine recently went through a change in their social media manager. For whatever reason, their Facebook account got locked, and now they can't add anyone new to manage it. There's no one to call. No one at Facebook to help. No way to post any new content at all. Their page is basically dead now.
Even if nothing like that ever happens to you, you're still playing by Facebook's rules. They can change how the page works or how many people see your posts, and you just have to deal with it. Even people who follow you only see a small piece of what you share.
With a website, you make the rules. If someone on your team leaves, you change the login and keep going. You can update it any time you want, and you're not at the mercy of a company that won't pick up the phone.
A website is something YOU own. Nobody can take it from you, no matter who comes and goes on your team.
A Website Says "We're Here to Stay"
When a business invests in a website, it's saying, "We're serious about our stuff, and we plan on being here for a while. We believe in ourselves so much that we invested in ourselves."
A Facebook page says, "We're gonna try this out for a while and see how it goes."
Customers pick up on that, even if they can't put their finger on why.
A website is also the place to put everything that builds trust, like your story, your reviews, and photos of your work, all in one spot where people can take their time.
A Website Lets People Actually Do Something
On a website, people can book an appointment, order your product, buy a gift card, request catering, or fill out a contact form. On Facebook, they have to send a message and wait around for an answer.
And here's the big one:
People can sign up for your mailing list on your website, which is the number one tool for growing your business. (Psst: Need a CRM to capture your mailing list? I use Flodesk.)
Once someone's on your list, you can reach them directly whenever you want, with no algorithm deciding whether they see it. You can't do that on Facebook.
Oh, and not everyone is on Facebook. I'm not. If your whole business lives there, people like me will never see it.
Your Brand Should Look Like You, Not Like Facebook
Your Facebook page will always look like Facebook, with their layout and their ads all around it. A website lets your personality show up the way you want it to. (If that ice cream shop had one, I'd be seeing Peter Rabbit colors the second it loaded.)
You also get one simple link that works on business cards, flyers, signs, and QR codes.
And think about the moment someone asks, "What's your website?" Maybe you're at a networking event or a party, and someone is genuinely interested in what you do. You can give them your web address with confidence instead of sheepishly saying, "Oh, we don't have one. Just look us up on Facebook."
One of those sounds like a business that has it together. The other doesn't, even if your work is excellent.
Common Questions About Facebook Pages and Websites
Do I need a website if I have a Facebook page?
Yes. A Facebook page can't give people a menu, an About page, your hours, or a way to book or buy. It also won't show up in Google when someone is searching for what you offer and doesn't know your name yet.
What if I'm a small business? Do I still need a big website?
You need a website, but it doesn't have to be big. A small site with a handful of pages is often all it takes: what you do, where you are, how to reach you, and the story behind your business. A small site that's clear and easy to use will do more for you than Facebook.
Do I need a website if I have Instagram?
Yes, for the same reasons. Instagram is owned by the same company as Facebook, so the same rules apply. You don't own your account, you can't give people a full menu, about page, or booking system, and it's a long shot for showing up when someone searches for what you do instead of your name. Instagram is great for showing people what you're about. Just make sure the link in your bio sends them to your actual website.
I have enough business right now. Do I still need a website?
Maybe you don't need one today, but here's the thing. Even when someone hears about you from a friend, plenty of them will look you up before they call. If they can't find anything, or all they find is a Facebook page, some of them will move on to someone else, and you'll never know it happened.
Business can also slow down for reasons you can't control. A website means you're not counting on word of mouth and one social media account to keep things going. And it's already there when you're ready to grow, so you're not scrambling to build one when things get quiet.
How much does a website cost? Is it worth the investment?
It depends on what you need. Here’s a breakdown of which web design package would be a good fit. And if you're curious what it's like to work together, I wrote about that too: what it's like to work with me.
As for whether it's worth the investment, think about everything we just covered. A website is the one place you own, where people can find your hours, your story, and a way to reach you or buy from you. It's how new customers find you on Google, and it's where your mailing list grows. It's working for you even when you're not.
Basically, it’s invaluable.
Yes, I'm Passionate About This. Unapologetically.
Do I sound passionate about having a website? YES. Because I'm passionate about helping YOU grow your business, and frankly, social media is not going to cut it.
If you've been running your business on a Facebook page and you're ready for something that's actually yours, let’s talk. I'd love to build it with you.
*This post may contain affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on this site at no additional cost to you.
