Why a Facebook Page is Not a Substitute for a Website
When promoting and representing your small business online, it's essential to have a robust and professional presence. Many companies today turn to social media platforms, like Facebook, to create that presence. However, using a Facebook page as your primary or only online presence can be a huge mistake. In this article, we'll review the top ten reasons why using a Facebook page as your business website is terrible and explore alternative options for promoting your business online.
1. You don't own it.
One of the most significant drawbacks to using a Facebook page as your business website is that you don't own the page. It belongs to Facebook, and they can change it, remove it, or make it hard to find in search results at any time. This lack of control can be frustrating and potentially damaging to your business, especially if you've put a lot of time and effort into building up your Facebook presence.
2. You eliminate non-Facebook users.
While Facebook has over two billion users, many people, particularly younger and older demographics, still don't use the platform. You risk eliminating these potential customers by relying solely on a Facebook page for your online presence. While it's true that not everyone uses social media, it's essential to consider all potential channels for reaching your audience.
3. SEO options are limited.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website in search engine results. While it's possible to optimize a Facebook page to an extent, you are limited in the keywords you can target and the content you can post. Additionally, a Facebook page will only show up in search results once, while a website with multiple pages has the potential to show up numerous times. This can make it harder for potential customers to find your business online.
4. You may have to pay for ads to get seen.
Facebook is making money, and they use a "freemium" model. While creating a Facebook page and posting updates is free, the reach of those posts is often quite limited. You may have to pay for ads to get your posts seen by a larger audience. While this may not be a high cost for some businesses, it's important to factor it into your marketing budget.
5. Functionality is limited.
On a Facebook page, you can post updates, upload photos, and use Facebook Messenger to chat with customers. However, the functionality of a Facebook page is quite limited compared to a website. A website allows you to create forms, add e-commerce functionality, and create custom pages and posts with a broader range of formatting options.
6. There's no sales funnel.
A sales funnel a series of steps a potential customer goes through on their way to purchasing. You can use calls-to-action, landing pages, and other tactics on a website to guide users through the sales process. With a Facebook page, you don't have the same level of control and therefore don't have the same ability to guide users toward making a purchase.
7. Content is limited.
While writing an "About Us" section and posting updates on a Facebook page is possible, there isn't a place to post in-depth content to draw in users and improve your search engine ranking. On the other hand, a website allows you to create blog posts, articles, and different types of content that can help you attract and retain customers.
8. You can't brand the page.
You can add a cover image and upload a profile picture on a Facebook page, but you can't brand the page beyond that. On the other hand, a website allows you to choose your color scheme, fonts, and design elements to create a cohesive and professional look.
9. Searching for content is complex.
You can save, organize, and make pages and posts searchable on a website. This makes it easy to find and refer back to older content. The options for saving and organizing content on a Facebook page are much more limited, and there is no way to export your content. This makes it difficult for you and your customers to find and refer back to older posts.
10. Analytics and data are lacking.
Finally, the analytics and data available on a Facebook page are not as robust as those on a website. While Facebook provides some information on your posts' reach and engagement, it's not as detailed or customizable as the analytics you can get from a website. This makes it harder to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions about your business.
A Facebook business page should be used in addition to a website, not as a substitute.
A professional website and a Facebook page are essential to growing your business online. A website lets you promote your brand, fully showcase your products or services, create a sales funnel, and track your marketing efforts through detailed analytics. While it may seem more accessible and cheaper to use a Facebook page as your primary online presence, the limitations of a Facebook page make it a poor choice in the long run.
That's where our web design firm comes in! We specialize in creating affordable, professional websites for businesses of all sizes. Our experienced designers and developers will work with you to create a website that perfectly reflects your brand and meets your business goals. And once your website is up and running, you can use your Facebook page to promote it and drive traffic to your site.
Don't settle for a limited online presence. Invest in a professional website and take your business to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business succeed online.
1. You don't own it.
One of the most significant drawbacks to using a Facebook page as your business website is that you don't own the page. It belongs to Facebook, and they can change it, remove it, or make it hard to find in search results at any time. This lack of control can be frustrating and potentially damaging to your business, especially if you've put a lot of time and effort into building up your Facebook presence.
2. You eliminate non-Facebook users.
While Facebook has over two billion users, many people, particularly younger and older demographics, still don't use the platform. You risk eliminating these potential customers by relying solely on a Facebook page for your online presence. While it's true that not everyone uses social media, it's essential to consider all potential channels for reaching your audience.
3. SEO options are limited.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website in search engine results. While it's possible to optimize a Facebook page to an extent, you are limited in the keywords you can target and the content you can post. Additionally, a Facebook page will only show up in search results once, while a website with multiple pages has the potential to show up numerous times. This can make it harder for potential customers to find your business online.
4. You may have to pay for ads to get seen.
Facebook is making money, and they use a "freemium" model. While creating a Facebook page and posting updates is free, the reach of those posts is often quite limited. You may have to pay for ads to get your posts seen by a larger audience. While this may not be a high cost for some businesses, it's important to factor it into your marketing budget.
5. Functionality is limited.
On a Facebook page, you can post updates, upload photos, and use Facebook Messenger to chat with customers. However, the functionality of a Facebook page is quite limited compared to a website. A website allows you to create forms, add e-commerce functionality, and create custom pages and posts with a broader range of formatting options.
6. There's no sales funnel.
A sales funnel a series of steps a potential customer goes through on their way to purchasing. You can use calls-to-action, landing pages, and other tactics on a website to guide users through the sales process. With a Facebook page, you don't have the same level of control and therefore don't have the same ability to guide users toward making a purchase.
7. Content is limited.
While writing an "About Us" section and posting updates on a Facebook page is possible, there isn't a place to post in-depth content to draw in users and improve your search engine ranking. On the other hand, a website allows you to create blog posts, articles, and different types of content that can help you attract and retain customers.
8. You can't brand the page.
You can add a cover image and upload a profile picture on a Facebook page, but you can't brand the page beyond that. On the other hand, a website allows you to choose your color scheme, fonts, and design elements to create a cohesive and professional look.
9. Searching for content is complex.
You can save, organize, and make pages and posts searchable on a website. This makes it easy to find and refer back to older content. The options for saving and organizing content on a Facebook page are much more limited, and there is no way to export your content. This makes it difficult for you and your customers to find and refer back to older posts.
10. Analytics and data are lacking.
Finally, the analytics and data available on a Facebook page are not as robust as those on a website. While Facebook provides some information on your posts' reach and engagement, it's not as detailed or customizable as the analytics you can get from a website. This makes it harder to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions about your business.
A Facebook business page should be used in addition to a website, not as a substitute.
A professional website and a Facebook page are essential to growing your business online. A website lets you promote your brand, fully showcase your products or services, create a sales funnel, and track your marketing efforts through detailed analytics. While it may seem more accessible and cheaper to use a Facebook page as your primary online presence, the limitations of a Facebook page make it a poor choice in the long run.
That's where our web design firm comes in! We specialize in creating affordable, professional websites for businesses of all sizes. Our experienced designers and developers will work with you to create a website that perfectly reflects your brand and meets your business goals. And once your website is up and running, you can use your Facebook page to promote it and drive traffic to your site.
Don't settle for a limited online presence. Invest in a professional website and take your business to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business succeed online.