Do I Need a Website If I Already Have a Facebook Page?

If you run a small business, you have probably asked yourself this question. You already post on Facebook. People find you there. Why would you pay for a website?

I hear this from business owners every week. And it is a fair question. Here is the honest answer.

Facebook reaches less than 5% of your followers

This is the number that shocks people. Facebook's algorithm decides who sees your posts. On average, fewer than 5% of the people who follow your business page will see any given post.

That means if you have 500 followers, about 25 of them see what you post. The other 475 have no idea you said anything.

A website does not have an algorithm. Anyone who types your name into Google can find it, any time, 24 hours a day.

84% of consumers trust a website more than a social media page

This comes from HubSpot research. When someone is deciding whether to hire a contractor, book a service, or visit a shop, they trust a standalone website more than a Facebook page.

Think about it from the customer's perspective. A Facebook page with a few photos and an "About" section looks the same whether it belongs to a thriving business or one that closed last year. A clean website with real photos, service descriptions, and a phone number at the top says something different. It says this business is serious.

Google does not rank Facebook pages the way it ranks websites

When someone searches "plumber near me" or "best coffee shop in [your town]," Google pulls from websites, Google Business Profiles, and directories. Facebook pages rarely show up in those results.

If you do not have a website, you are invisible in the place where most customers start their search.

Facebook is great for community. A website is great for credibility.

I am not saying delete your Facebook page. Keep it. Post on it. But think of it as one channel, not your entire online presence.

A Facebook page tells people you exist. A website tells them you are worth calling.

What if I cannot afford both?

A Sidewalk website starts at $79 a month. That is less than most businesses spend on a single Facebook ad boost. And unlike the ad, the website works 24/7, ranks on Google, and does not disappear from people's feeds after 48 hours.

If you are running a small business and relying only on Facebook, you are leaving money on the table. Not because Facebook is bad. Because it was never designed to do what a website does.