Your Own Website or a Facebook Page Only?
Your business needs to get your message in front of potential customers and Internet marketing lets you communicate with a more targeted audience. Potential clients are searching online for products and services more than ever, either on a desktop computer or with a mobile device such as a smartphone. But, according to Statistic Brain, only 45% of small businesses have their own website!
So where do you begin - by having a web geek create a website for your business or by setting up just a free Facebook page? As with any social platform, Facebook should be in addition to your own business website, not instead of. Why? You wouldn't build a house on property that you rent, so don't place your only web presence on a platform you don't even own!
Websites Help Build Search Engine Ranking
Great website content can help you find increased search engine results for your own website. To find potential new clients, you need to be able control the SEO of your own site which is achieved by providing relevant, keyword-rich website content. Facebook does not give you control over key factors that go into search engine ranking so you would miss out on a large market of prospective clients.
You Can Control the Design of Your Own Website
A business website should be a reflection of your own unique brand with a design and color scheme that compliments all of your marketing efforts. Page customization on Facebook is limited to a profile image and cover photo. (Plus, your business could lose your page at any time if you do not follow Facebook's terms of use!)
Competitor's Ads on Facebook
Have you noticed Facebook advertising in the right sidebar on pages? When competitors advertise on Facebook, their ads will appear right next to your own content. This makes it much too easy for potential clients to click away from your page to your competition's content!
Every business needs a space on the web that is all their own, and a website is an excellent and cost-effective way of achieving that!