Do I need a business website if I have a Facebook page?
A resounding YES! 125% YES! Without a second thought, your business needs a professional website. Regardless of how great your Facebook page is, your business needs a website. Your website is the core of your online presence. It is where your customers have access to all the information they need about your business. Additionally, a website proves to be a badge of trust increasing the credibility of your business.
Now, it is true that Facebook offers business owners a free platform to interact with new and existing customers, but that is not enough. There is nothing wrong with promoting your business using Facebook, and if you do it correctly, you might get a good number of followers. There may also be situations where your Facebook page is all you need, but generally speaking, a website is a necessity, not an option.
Let’s look at why it’s important for every local business to understand how having a website is a crucial component to growing business in our new digital economy – even if the product or service your selling is offline.
5 Benefits of Having a Small Business Website
1) Control – A website is the only platform, other than your email list, that you have 100% control over. That isn’t the case with social media, where their algorithms are continually changing. Social Media platforms can also ban or suspend your account if they suspect you are breaking their rules. While a social media presence is essential in the information age, it’s still no substitute for a well-constructed, user-friendly website. Social media may drive awareness, but you need something substantial to feed your visitors when your social media blurbs lead them to your website.
2) Branding Your Small Business – A website is the best way to craft your brand appeal, tell your story, and build trust with customers. It’s the hub of your entire online profile, and you want to link out to your social media profiles. All the social media profiles should link back to your website so Google knows that’s the primary place for people to find information about you!
3) Information 24/7 – In 2021 and beyond, people expect to find as much information as they can about your business through your website on their terms. They shouldn’t need to contact you directly to ask simple questions. Answer your customers ‘ frequently asked questions through blog posts and build a database that will increase your standing with Google.
4) Free Traffic from Google – Once you’ve established your small business as an authority in your industry and local area, you’ll begin to rank higher when people search for your product or service. That is the best way to grow your business that every person with a website hopes to achieve. It will take time and effort on your part to signal to Google that you’re a contributing member of your community and an expert in your niche.
5) Paid Advertising – This is the final step once you have a trustworthy website and online presence because it’s the fastest way to get your business in front of prospective buyers. Every popular online platform today has a way to advertise, including Google search, Google display ads (banners), YouTube videos, Facebook, Instagram, and many others. Use your website to test landing pages, measure performance with Google Analytics, and make better decisions to get the most from your marketing budget.