Guide
Do I need a website if I have Facebook or Instagram?
Plenty of businesses run on social media alone. Here’s when that’s fine, what it’s costing you when it isn’t, and how the two work best together.
By Jay, Founder & CEO · 5 November 2026 · 5 minute read
The short answer
If you only want to keep existing customers updated, social media can be enough. If you want new customers, especially ones searching Google, you need a website.
Social media is where people who already know you keep up with you. A website is where people who don’t know you yet decide whether to choose you.
What social media can’t do
- Get you found on Google. When someone searches “plumber near me” or “beauty salon Wolverhampton”, Google shows websites and Google Business Profiles. Facebook pages rarely compete.
- Belong to you. Your page lives on someone else’s platform. Accounts get hacked, suspended or buried by algorithm changes, and your posts reach a fraction of your followers.
- Answer questions quickly. Customers want your services, prices, area, opening times and reviews in one place. On social media they’re scrolling through months of posts to find them.
- Reach people who don’t use it. Many customers, particularly businesses and older buyers, don’t use Facebook or Instagram to find suppliers.
- Look established. A proper website with your own domain and email tells people you’re a real, serious business. For bigger jobs and business customers, it’s often expected.
- Take bookings and payments properly. A website can link to your booking app or shop, give instant quotes and send enquiries straight to your inbox.
When social media is enough
Social media alone can work if all of these are true:
- Almost all your work comes from people who already know you, or from word of mouth
- You’re not trying to grow beyond your current customers
- Your customers are active on the platform you use
- You’re happy relying on that platform long term
If any of those aren’t true, you’re probably losing customers to competitors who show up when people search.
How they work together
The best setup isn’t one or the other. Social media builds attention; your website turns it into enquiries and sales.
- Your posts send people to your website to book, buy or get a quote
- Your website links back to your social pages to show you’re active
- Your Google Business Profile links to your website, helping you rank on Maps
- Everything uses the same name, logo and look, so customers know it’s you
A real example
Before her new website, most of Lavender and Love’s sales came from local stalls and customers collecting in person. We built a site around her story and products, with every item linked to her online shop. In the 30 days after launch, her online sales went up 377% and online orders nearly tripled, compared with the month before.
A quick checklist
You probably need a website if you can answer yes to any of these:
- Do you want customers who don’t already know you?
- Do people ask the same questions about prices, areas or availability?
- Do you want to show up on Google and Google Maps?
- Do you sell products, take bookings or give quotes?
- Do you work with other businesses, or quote for bigger jobs?
If you’re not sure, we’ll design a free homepage mockup so you can see what your website would look like before deciding anything. Wondering about cost? Read how much a website costs in 2026.
Common questions
Is a Facebook page enough for a small business?
It can be enough if almost all your customers already know you and find you through Facebook. If you want new customers who search Google, a website does things a Facebook page can’t: it ranks in search, it’s yours, and it shows your services, prices and booking options in one place.
Does a website help me show up on Google Maps?
Yes. Your Google Business Profile is what appears on Maps, and linking it to a proper website with your services and location helps Google trust and rank your business.
Can my website show my Instagram or Facebook posts?
Yes. We can link your social pages from your website and make sure both share the same branding, so they work together rather than competing.
More guides: How much does a website cost in the UK in 2026?
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