Do I need a website if I have Facebook? (Yes — here's why)

It's a fair question. Facebook has over 3 billion active users. You've built up a following. People message you through it, you get inquiries, maybe even book jobs. Why pay for a website when Facebook is free?

Here's the problem: Facebook is a social platform. Google is a search engine. And most people looking for a service provider aren't scrolling Facebook — they're typing into Google.

Google search vs. Facebook — two completely different things

Facebook is built for people who already know you or who are passively scrolling. Google is where people go when they have a specific need and are actively looking for someone to solve it.

High-intent searches happen on Google. Someone searching "web designer Tacoma WA" or "best spa in Oakville" is ready to hire. They want to find a professional, compare options, and make a decision. Your Facebook page doesn't show up for these searches — your website does.

5 reasons Facebook isn't enough

🔍 You're invisible on Google without a website

Google can't properly index or rank a Facebook page for local service searches. A business without a website simply doesn't exist in Google's eyes — which means you're invisible to the most valuable customers: those actively searching for what you do.

🏠 You don't own Facebook — they do

Facebook can change its algorithm, reduce your reach, suspend your account, or shut down entirely. Thousands of businesses have had their pages deleted overnight. Your website lives on your own domain, in your name. No algorithm decides how many people see it.

💼 Facebook looks unprofessional for many industries

Imagine searching for a clinic, a law firm, or a premium spa — and finding only a Facebook page. Would you trust them with your money? A proper website signals that you're established, serious, and here to stay.

📊 Facebook reach is dying

Organic reach on Facebook business pages has dropped from 16% in 2012 to under 2% today. That means for every 100 followers you have, fewer than 2 see your posts without paid advertising. Your website, on the other hand, is available to anyone who finds you on Google — for free.

⚡ You can't control the experience on Facebook

On your own website, you decide everything: layout, colors, content, how customers contact you, what they see first. On Facebook, you're constrained to their template, surrounded by their ads, and competing with notifications. A website is your space — designed entirely around converting visitors into customers.

Use Facebook and your website — just know what each is for

The best businesses use both — but they understand that each has a different job.

• Facebook — community, updates, behind-the-scenes content, retaining existing customers
• Website — first impressions, Google rankings, converting new visitors into inquiries
• Google Business Profile — showing up in the local map pack when people search nearby

Think of your website as your storefront and Facebook as your notice board. Both have a role — but you'd never replace a storefront with a notice board.