Let’s settle this one straight away.
If you’re a local business owner and someone tells you “you don’t need a website, just use Facebook”, they mean well. But they’re wrong.
Not because Facebook is bad. It’s genuinely useful. But relying on it as your only online presence is a bit like renting a market stall when you could own the shop.
What Facebook does well
Credit where it’s due. Facebook is brilliant for certain things.
It’s free to set up and you can have a business page live in ten minutes. Your customers are already scrolling it every day. Reviews and recommendations happen naturally, like when someone asks “anyone know a good plumber in Leeds?” and your name pops up. And posting updates is dead easy. New menu item? Job finished? Quick photo and you’re done.
If you’re just starting out and have zero online presence, a Facebook page is a solid first step. No argument there.
The problem with Facebook-only
You don’t own it
Facebook is someone else’s platform. They change the rules whenever they like, and they do it regularly. Remember when business pages used to reach most of their followers? Now organic reach is around 2-5% unless you pay for ads.
One algorithm change and your visibility disappears overnight. One policy update and your page gets restricted. It’s happened to thousands of businesses. You have zero say in it.
Your website is yours. Nobody can change how it works, limit who sees it, or shut it down because they updated their terms of service.
You’re invisible on Google
This is the big one.
When someone types “electrician near me” or “best cafe in Bristol” into Google, Facebook pages rarely show up in the top results. Websites do.
Think about your own behaviour for a second. When you need a plumber or want to find a restaurant, do you search on Facebook? Or do you just Google it?
Most people Google it. And if your business doesn’t have a website, you simply won’t appear. Those customers go straight to your competitors without ever knowing you exist.
It doesn’t look professional
A Facebook page says “I exist.” A website says “I’m established and I take my business seriously.”
When a customer is choosing between two businesses, one with a proper website and one with just a Facebook page, who do you think they trust more?
This matters especially for bigger jobs. If someone’s hiring a builder for a kitchen extension or choosing a salon for their wedding hair, they want to see a proper website. It’s reassurance that you’re the real deal.
You can’t control the experience
On Facebook, your business page sits alongside ads, notifications, political arguments, and cat videos. You’re fighting for attention with literally everything else on their feed.
On your own website, the customer sees exactly what you want them to see. Your services, your work, your reviews, your contact details. All laid out clearly with no distractions.
No proper contact forms
Facebook Messenger is fine for a quick question. But for proper enquiries it’s rubbish. Messages get buried, there’s no structure, and you can’t easily track who’s contacted you or what they asked for.
A website with a proper contact form means every enquiry lands in your inbox with all the details you need. No messages lost in the noise.
What a website gives you that Facebook can’t
Your website can rank on Google for searches like “plumber in Manchester” or “hair salon near me.” Your Facebook page almost certainly won’t. That alone is worth it.
Beyond that, you get real credibility (a proper domain like www.yourbusiness.co.uk looks miles better than facebook.com/yourbusiness), full control over what visitors see, structured contact forms so enquiries don’t get lost, and analytics showing you exactly who’s visiting and where they’re coming from.
So should you ditch Facebook?
Not at all. The answer isn’t one or the other. It’s both.
Your website is your home base. It’s where new customers find you on Google, learn what you do, and get in touch. Your Facebook page is your social presence, where you share updates, chat with regulars, and stay visible between visits.
They work together. Your website brings in new customers through search. Your Facebook page keeps existing customers engaged. Link them to each other and you’ve got all your bases covered.
Wrapping up
A Facebook page is a great addition to your business. But it’s not a replacement for a website, and it never was.
If you’re serious about getting found by new customers and looking professional online, you need a website. It’s the foundation everything else sits on.
Thinking about getting a website for your business? We build beautiful, fast websites for local businesses across the UK. No jargon, no stress. Get in touch for a friendly chat.