Does your business need a website, or will a Facebook page be enough?
As a business owner, one of the things you consider should be your business’s digital presence. This includes websites, blogs, social media pages, YouTube channels, etc. If you want to save money, you might be tempted to skip the website and just have a social media page like Facebook. Before you do that, here are a few things that would be good to consider before deciding.
Websites do more than Facebook pages
Facebook pages offer people and businesses a place to have an official presence and share posts. The page features only include a short about section, hours, contact information, and messaging capabilities. Managers looking to stay simple might think that this will be enough. However, there are many drawbacks when you only have a Facebook page.
Websites are almost synonymous with possibilities. Your website is comparable to a storefront on the internet. This means that with enough creativity, websites can do almost anything you could want for your business. Websites organize information into categories and around certain topics, like blog posts. They also offer a way to interact with your customers directly, persuasively, and repeatedly. Analytics, subscriptions, and customization are doable through a website, but not so much with a Facebook page.
Facebook pages are not as credible
It is very easy to create a Facebook page with a logo and make it look legitimate. Websites take more work, and investment, and are monitored by search engines to determine ranking under search results. Anytime a potential customer comes across your business online, they are evaluating your legitimacy before you get their business. A basic Facebook page is not as credible as a business that has its Facebook page linked to its website that has the same information, but more of it.
Websites are built for customers
Social media is built for everybody to share stories and pictures and connect with friends. Websites are built for customers, either providing a way for them to discover and purchase products or as a way of investigating a service that they need. Facebook does not offer many ways to give information to your customers outside of posts, which quickly become cluttered in a feed. Websites offer you ways to organize information for your customers easily.
Social media and websites are meant for different purposes, for businesses, websites fill more needs than just a social media page. Having both is good, but a website is our recommendation for the central digital business location.
Depending on your business, you probably will need more from your digital presence than a social media page, like Facebook, can provide. Websites provide more options for businesses to interact with their customers effectively and scale their growth. If your website or digital presence is not effective for your business, contact us to schedule a consultation.