19 Aug Should You Forgo Your Website for a Facebook Page?

Maybe you’re looking at your budget while deciding on your company’s web presence. You look at the costs of building and maintaining a website and you look at Facebook. You’ve been told you need both, but you’re not so sure.

There are currently 40 million active small business pages on Facebook. Of course your business should have a page on the largest social media network; the fact that you can create a page for no cost is a bonus. But is a Facebook page enough?

Facebook has a place for your hours and contact information. Check. You can engage with your customers and clients. Check. You can share consistent value and news about your business. Check.

What happens when people don’t engage with your content as often? Facebook’s new algorithms will start taking your posts out of your audience’s news feed. Little by little people may stop seeing your content, unless of course you begin paying for Facebook ads.

What is Facebook Missing That a Website Can Offer?

Controlled information. You know what your audience finds important. You know what information they’re looking for, and often that goes beyond your address, phone number and hours. People want to do a considerable amount of research before spending their money, and Facebook has its limitations.

Branding central. Facebook allows you to use your logo as a profile image and brand yourself with a cover photo, but at the end of the day it’s still Facebook. With a dedicated website, you can lock in your branding image.

SEO control. Facebook pages of course can be found via search engines, but that alone does not provide a comprehensive SEO plan.  With a website you can tailor your content to the exact kind of phrases and keywords your potential customers are searching for, allowing your business to show up high in key search engines.

Bottom line: A Facebook page is a great start for your online presence, but if you’re serious about your business (and being found!) a website is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity.

image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net