Why Do I Need A Website If I Have Social Media Pages?

There are several reasons you need a website, but the main one is all about Digital Real Estate.

Simply put, your social pages may be effective right now, but what about tomorrow or any other day in the future? Social Media profiles are nothing more than rented land and all that content and work can go away at any moment. For the most part you are usually safe as long as you follow the rules. At the same time, it’s not your property!

Enhanced Visibility

Additionally, the visibility for your business is limited to users of any social media platform you’re listed on. Sure, your Facebook page can show up in AI & organic search engine results sometimes for searches related to your business, but search engine results are far more likely to serve up a business website with authority over a Facebook page.

Your competitors that do have a website, especially a well designed one that’s optimized for local SEO, will always be seen far more than a business that doesn’t have one.

Authority

It’s Easier To Build Credibility & Trust. A polished website with real client testimonials, service pages, and a mapped out journey builds authority. Don’t just post on your social pages and post in Facebook & other groups and run. Create great content on your website that generates engagement. You can then turn that into social posts to share useful info. This may not land clients in droves, but it builds trust and authority, and sometimes social based web traffic.

Complete Ownership

I’ve been in this game for over two decades now. From hand-coding websites in the early 2000s, to building lead-gen systems that bring in thousands of calls and form fills for local and B2B service businesses. After all this time here’s what’s never changed:

The businesses that own their digital foundation win long-term.

Social media is borrowed attention. Algorithms change. Groups die out (and kick people off). Pages lose visibility. Facebook can throttle your reach tomorrow; which it has, again and again.

But your website? It’s YOUR Property!

The Primary Advantages Of Having A Well Optimized Website

You Show Up! You can get found in Google Search, AI Searches, AI Overviews & Citations. You can optimize your website for specific searches and market in a way you could never do with social media pages or resources you otherwise don’t have control over.

You Control The Experience! No algorithms or terms you have to follow because you create the rules. Look at websites as personal property that you control entirely. You can put anything up, sell anything, make it look however you wish.

You Can Create Web Funnels. Obvious, I know. At the same time, you can’t really create a good lead magnet with a Facebook page, much less a LinkedIn newsletter. Best to have your own property there. If you have your own domain, you can segment into more than one site as well with subdomains.

Future Proofing. With your own platform, you control what the future holds. Not “the algorithm”, or the board, or admins of any groups. When times change and technology goes with it, you can update & upgrade to keep your property relevant and effective. Still more control than any other platform you have access to.

You Just Need A Simple Website & Some Basic Optimizations

Do you have a website or just use social media? If you have one, how often do you update it? Is it prepared for AI Inclusions in addition to Local & Contextual SEO? Do you have a Google Business Profile?
If you said No to any of these questions, you should do something about it at a minimum. You need a website and if possible a Google Business Profile (GBP). That is of course if you qualify for a GBP.

If you don’t have a website, you don’t need anything crazy if you’re concerned about costs. You can just start off with a simple landing page that shows who you are, what you do, who it’s for, some testimonials, and a clear call to action. Have your NAP (Name, Address, & Phone Number) info in the footer as well as Hours (if applicable). Make sure your NAP is consistent anywhere you appear online. If you complete these basic steps, you will have a solid start with a web presence that can keep your lead pipeline full!

Summary

Many business owners still don’t have websites because they simply use a Facebook page or other social media page in lieu of a website. Maybe they have a steady stream of regular clients that keep the bills pay. Or a solid referral network and depend 100% on word of mouth. This is great, but isn’t guaranteed.

Given the setup cost of a website is relatively low these days, and keeping it going is also low cost, it makes sense to have one given all the advantages gained from having your own online real estate.

With the advantages of 100% control of the content you put up, never getting banned, increased visibility, low cost, & the highly likely scenario of you getting more consistent leads into your pipeline, it makes sense to have a business website.