Key points
- A Facebook page is a good place to talk to customers. A website is the home you own.
- For most small businesses the best answer is both, with the website as the base and social as the way people find and follow you.
- If you can only do one, the right choice depends on how your customers look for you.
It is a fair question. A Facebook page is free, quick to set up and where many customers already are. So why pay for a website? The honest answer is that they do different jobs, and the right choice depends on your business.
What a Facebook page does well
- It is free and quick to set up.
- Your customers and neighbours are already on Facebook, so it is easy to be seen locally.
- It is a simple way to share news, offers and photos and to answer messages.
- Reviews and recommendations can build trust.
Where a Facebook page falls short
- You do not own it. The platform sets the rules, and they can change. Your layout, features and reach are in someone else's hands.
- Less control over how you look. Every page looks like every other page, which makes it harder to stand out.
- Harder to be found for what you do. A website with a clear page for each service gives Google more to understand than a social profile does.
- Not everyone uses Facebook. Some customers expect a website and look for one first.
- Weaker for taking action. A website can be built around one job: calling, booking or asking for a quote.
What a website does well
- It is yours. You own the domain and, with us, the files and content once you have paid.
- It can explain your services, show your work and answer questions properly.
- It makes it easy to call, message or book, from any device.
- It gives Google a clear picture of what you do and where, which supports your local search.
- It works with everything else: your Google profile, your social channels and your ads can all point to it.
A simple way to decide
- Just testing an idea, or a hobby business? A Facebook page alone can be a sensible start.
- Customers search Google for what you do? You want a website and a Google Business Profile.
- Customers hear about you by word of mouth and then check you out? A website is where they look next, so it should be there.
- You sell high-value or trust-heavy services such as building work, clinics or professional services? A website shows you are established and makes it easy to enquire.
The best answer: both, working together
For most small businesses the winning setup is a simple website as the home base, a complete Google Business Profile so people can find you, and one or two social channels where your customers already spend time. Each one points to the others. Start small: a single strong page can be a good first step.
What to do next
- Make sure your name, phone number and areas are the same everywhere.
- Put a link to your website on your Facebook page and Google profile.
- Check the website works well on a phone.
- If you do not have a website yet, see how much one costs in our UK website cost guide.