Do I need a website if I already have a Facebook page?
For most local businesses, yes. A Facebook page is great for posting updates and photos, but a website is the one place online you fully own. It's built to show up when people search Google for your services, it works for customers who don't use Facebook, and it keeps your services, prices, and contact info organized in one spot. The best setup is both: a simple website as your home base, with your Facebook page linking to it.
What a Facebook page does well
- Quick updates. Posting a photo of a finished job or a holiday schedule takes seconds.
- Reaching people who already follow you. Past customers can see what you're up to and share it.
- Conversation. Comments and messages make it easy for customers to ask quick questions.
- It's free. There's no cost to set up or keep a business page.
Where a Facebook page falls short
- You don't own it. Facebook sets the rules, the layout, and who sees your posts. If your account gets locked or the rules change, you can lose your main way of being found.
- It's built for posts, not for being found. When someone searches Google for "tree service in Bend" or "diesel repair near Prineville," a clear website with your services and service area is far more likely to show up than a feed of posts.
- Not every customer uses Facebook. Some people don't have an account, and some won't click a Facebook link from a search result.
- Important info gets buried. Your prices, services, and service area end up scattered across old posts instead of on one clear page.
- It can look less established. Many customers check for a real website before calling a business they haven't used before.
Facebook page vs. website at a glance
| Facebook page | Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Who controls it | You, on your own domain | |
| Built to show up in Google searches for your services | Not really | Yes |
| Works for people without Facebook | Partly | Yes |
| Organized services, prices, and service area | Hard to do | Yes |
| Best for | Updates, photos, conversation | Being found, looking established, getting calls |
| Cost | Free | From $200 + $10–20/yr domain |
How a website and Facebook page work together
- The website is your home base. It holds the basics that rarely change: what you do, where you work, how to reach you, and photos of your best work.
- Facebook is for what's new. Post recent jobs, specials, and schedule changes there.
- Link them both ways. Put your website in your Facebook page's About section, and link to your Facebook page from your website.
- Add your website to your Google Business Profile. This connects your Google Maps listing to a page you control.
When a Facebook page alone might be enough
If you're testing a side business, only work with people you already know, or have more work than you can handle from word of mouth, a Facebook page may be enough for now. Once you want new customers to find you through search, a website is usually the next step.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Facebook page replace a website?
Not fully. A Facebook page is good for updates and conversation, but you don't control it, and it isn't built to show up when people search Google for your services. Most local businesses do best with a simple website plus an active Facebook page.
What is the cheapest way to get a real website?
A simple one-page site is the most affordable option. Rim Rock Web Co's Basic website starts at $200, plus about $10–20 a year for your domain. With the $0 Self-Hosted option, there's no required monthly fee.
Will having a website help me show up on Google Maps?
Your Google Maps listing comes from your Google Business Profile. Adding your website to that profile gives customers a place to learn more and helps Google understand what your business does and where you work.
Should I keep posting on Facebook after I get a website?
Yes. Keep using Facebook for updates and photos of recent work, and link back to your website for services, prices, and contact info.