Nowadays, almost all businesses are online. Whether it be a blog or social media, brands have found that having an online presence increases business growth and allows them to reach more of their customer base.
However, many businesses are only accessible through social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram and have no official website. There could be several reasons for this. For instance, they may be wary of the cost of owning a website. Alternatively, they may think that they have all they need within their social media pages. In reality, having a website for your business can be quite beneficial in the long run, and gives your online business a stable “home”, which social media cannot provide.
1. A website can offer things that a Facebook page simply cannot.
For starters, a website can be completely yours, whereas a Facebook page still belongs to Facebook at the end of the day. Facebook is always changing, and its users have no control over changes in the site’s features or algorithms.
A website gives you full control. This means that you have all the rights to your brand, and the ability to move your content if need be. What would happen if Facebook someday fell out of favor or no longer existed? It has happened in the past, with sites like Myspace and Google Plus.
Content posted to Facebook is often limited to the site, and those who do not have an account may not be able to see a business’s Facebook page. Additionally, websites are more customizable than Facebook pages, allowing for more opportunities to represent your brand and attract customers. It is highly recommended for a moderate size or higher to build a website.
2. Websites are widely seen as more credible than Facebook pages.
Think of it as an official image for your business. With social media, businesses can interact with their customers on a more intimate and personal level. While this is highly beneficial, it can also lack the professional, business side of things.
Facebook pages keeps necessary sections for your company like contact information, background, photos, and posts, that limited information can not help. Furthermore, surveys have shown that customers still tend to trust official brand websites more than social media pages. Having a website legitimizes your brand, and instills trust.
3. Having a website as a hub for your services or products allows your business to expand its horizons.
Though Facebook has options for sales, it is more personal and self-managed, meaning that the level of trust is not as high as with verified brand websites. Often, sales on Facebook redirects somewhere else, like e-commerce websites, unless operated by an individual. Facebook sales targets more towards user sales, where Facebook users may personally sell goods or services. Also, for service-based businesses, this is not very helpful. After all, Facebook is primarily a social media platform, and not so much designed for doing business. Thus, if a business that selling products on web has products than they definitely should build an e-commerce website as people shop online more than they ever did.
4. A website can further improve your relationship with customers, and provide more customer service than a Facebook page can.
Your business team may not always have time to respond to messages on Facebook expressing concerns or queries, but businesses with websites often have a designated customer service representative or team of representatives who are ready to answer and assist customers in need. A website also allows you to create an FAQ forum, where customers can easily go to find answers to common questions. This will form a trust for your brand in your customers and if you have an e-commerce business then your revenue can increase by 79% in just a few months. There are a few things to keep in mind though; your website has to have a great user interface and experience along with maintaining and preventing it for any crash. This will turn your business into a brand on the web!
5. You can increase your business by having a website.
With factors like SEO, can help your business gain more attention, and reach people outside of your local area. You can also keep track of data, see how many visitors your site receives, and other useful information that can help you to manage and grow your business. Having relevant keywords on your website will allow customers looking for related products or services to find your business. A website may seem like a big investment, but in the long run, it will help you to generate more income overall.
Though having a Facebook page can help your business, launching a website can do more for it overall. Social media is a good way to draw attention to your business, but without a website to direct them to. A website gives you a leg up on the competition in ways that a Facebook page cannot. Representation of your brand needs more important. A website can be the backbone of your brand, make your business grow, and highlight all of its best features.