The short version
- A Facebook Page can carry a very small business for a while. It's free, quick and where neighbors already are.
- You don't own your Page. Rules, settings and access can change, and a website is the one place that's yours.
- A website doesn't need to be big. One page with your services, hours, phone and a few photos does most of the job.
- Use both: the website answers the questions, and the Page shows you're open.
You've got a Facebook Page, customers message you there and it works. So do you need a website if you have a Facebook Page? Or is that one more bill and one more thing to keep up?
The honest answer: not on day one, but probably soon. Here's what each does, where a Page falls short and the smallest website that's worth having.
The honest answer
A Facebook Page can carry a very small business for a while. If you're a one-person shop with a steady word-of-mouth flow, a Page with correct hours and a phone number may be enough for now.
But you don't own it. Facebook sets the rules, the layout and what people see. If something changes, or the Page gets locked, you can't call anyone. A website is the one place that's yours.
What a website does that a Page doesn't
| Facebook Page | Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns it | Facebook does. You use it under their rules | You do (the domain and the content) |
| Cost to start | Free | A domain name and a simple site, usually a small yearly cost |
| Seen by | People on Facebook | Anyone who searches or gets your link |
| Best at | Showing you're active, posting updates, answering comments | Explaining what you do, hours, area, prices and how to book |
| Looks like | A feed that changes every week | A page that stays the same and answers questions |
| Needs | A post every week | An update when something changes |
Signs you need a website now
- People ask questions you answer 10 times a week, like your service area or what you charge for a visit.
- You want to show up when someone searches for your trade and your town. A Google listing helps here. See Google Business Profile vs Facebook Page.
- You work with businesses, landlords or companies that expect a website.
- You'd lose a lot if the Page got locked tomorrow.
- You want a place to put your logo, services and a phone number that never gets buried by new posts.
If you're not sure your Page is set up well, fix that first. Read how to set up a Facebook business Page and Facebook Page vs personal profile for business.
A one-page website checklist
You don't need a big site. One page that answers the usual questions does most of the work. Here's what to put on it.
Minimum one-page website
1. Your business name and logo at the top 2. One plain sentence on what you do and where: [service] in [town and nearby areas] 3. A phone number people can tap on a phone 4. Your hours and your service area 5. 3 to 6 services, each with one sentence 6. 4 to 6 real photos of your work, shop or crew 7. 1 or 2 short reviews, with first names and permission 8. A link to your Facebook Page and your Google listing 9. A short way to reach you: phone, email or a simple form 10. Your address, if customers come to you
Do
- Use real photos of your work and your people.
- Put the phone number at the top.
- Keep the words short and plain.
- Check it on your phone before you share it.
Don't
- Pay for features you won't use.
- Fill it with stock photos and long paragraphs.
- Let the hours or phone number go out of date.
- Forget to link it from your Page and your invoices.
What to make sure you own
Whether you build the site or hire it out, a few things should be in your name. If a designer or a nephew sets it up, check these before they hand it over.
- The domain name is registered to you, with your email on the account.
- You have the login for wherever the site is built and hosted.
- You can edit your own hours, phone number and photos without calling anyone.
- Your photos and logo files are saved somewhere you can reach.
Questions to ask anyone building your site
1. Will the domain be registered in my name and email? 2. Can I log in and change my hours and phone number myself? 3. What happens if I want to move the site later? 4. What do I pay each year, and for what? 5. Will it work well on a phone? 6. How long until it's live?
A vague answer to any of these is worth noticing. A good builder will answer in plain words.
How the Page and website work together
Link them both ways
Put your website on your Page and your Page link on your website. A customer should get from one to the other in one tap.
Keep the facts identical
Your name, phone, hours and area should match everywhere. Mismatches make a business look sloppy.
Use the Page for what's new
Specials, job photos, tips and updates go on the Page. See what to post on your business Facebook Page for a starting list.
Use the website for what stays true
Services, area, who you are and how to reach you go on the site. Change it when something real changes.