Having a Facebook page is a great way to connect with your audience, build a community, and promote your brand. But if you are running a credible business, a Facebook page is no substitute for a website. Here's why ...
Credibility A business with only a Facebook page does not look as professional as one with a website. Think about it. If you were googling for a solicitor to handle your house conveyancing and you came upon one with a Facebook page but no website, would you trust them with your house purchase?
Control and ownership You own your website and can control all aspects of it. Facebook can change its algorithm, policies, or even shut down your page at any time.
Content and layout With a website, you decide on the design and what content to prioritise. Options are very limited on Facebook.
Choice of features The range of features on Facebook is limited. If you want an e-commerce facility, an embedded Calendly booking system or a bespoke contact form, for example, you will need a website.
Search engine visibility You can design your website to improve your visibility on search engines. By optimizing your content and highlighting specific keywords and phrases, you can attract more organic traffic and potential customers.
Integration and customization A website can integrate with all your social media profiles (not just those owned my Meta), email lists, and other marketing channels.
Customer journey A well-designed website is easy to navigate and leads your potential client to the information they need. Navigating Facebook can be torturous and frustrating. Have you ever tried looking for an old post on Facebook?
B2B or B2C? Facebook can work really well for certain types of micro B2C businesses such as mobile hairdressers or carpet cleaning operatives. But if your clients are also businesses, it's just not appropriate if you want to be taken seriously.
Call to action As a business owner you will want to direct your potential client to a specific course of action. On a website, you can have almost any call to action you like. On Facebook the options are very limited and often don't meet the needs of a small business owner. And here's the biggie:
Not everyone is on Facebook! The sad truth is that many of your potential clients aren't on Facebook. If they click a link and it takes them to Facebook where they are asked to log in, not only will you lose them, but you'll have irritated them too. If you are relying on Facebook as your only online presence, you've just thrown away, and potentially annoyed, 20-30% (stats vary) of your potential clients. Not a great marketing move!
Conclusion A Facebook business page can be a useful tool for social media marketing. But that's all it is - a social media platform. If you want control of your online profile and for your business to be taken seriously, you definitely need a website.