Why you Shouldn’t use Facebook as Your Website
Something I’ve noticed more and more in the course of my normal week is that business owners are using Facebook in place of their websites. I’m not sure the reason behind this. I don’t know if it’s a case where the business owner thinks it’s too expensive, too hard, or too expensive.
I’ll share a free resource in a bit about how to create a website fast. But first, let me explain why you should know that Facebook is not your website.
As a web guy and business coach, I spend a lot of time online. Not to mention all of the content creation things I do throughout the week but that’s a different article. What I’m mostly talking about are sites like Yelp, Google, and many others where there is a link for a business owner to list their “website”. When in fact it takes the visitor to their Facebook page. UHG.
I mean I get it, Facebook is a popular social media platform that allows people to connect with friends, family, and even other businesses. It has a fairly easy-to-use interface and can reach people pretty much all around the world. That is except for the countries where it is banned. And yes, there are several.
Because of its ease of use, it's no wonder that many small businesses and individuals consider using Facebook as their primary online presence. However, there are several reasons why this may not be the best idea.
First and foremost, Facebook is not a dedicated website hosting platform. While it does offer basic tools for creating and customizing a business page, it is not designed to be a full-fledged website. Meaning there is limited navigation and no way to add a contact form, among other limitations.
This means that your options for customization and design will be limited, and you may not be able to achieve the level of functionality and professionalism that you could with a dedicated website.
Secondly, relying solely on Facebook as your online presence means that you are at the mercy of the platform's ever-changing algorithms and policies.
You may have heard or seen Facebook pages that have been temporarily banned or shut down because someone has reported a post they didn’t like for whatever reason. Or Facebook itself feels that content such as an image or text violates its ever-changing terms of service. In some cases, I’ve seen pages shut down due to a lack of activity.
Facebook has a history of making significant changes to its algorithms and policies, which can drastically affect the reach and visibility of your business page. This can be especially damaging for small businesses and individuals who rely on Facebook for their online presence and customer outreach.
Speaking of customer outreach in a previous article I shared a stat that revealed Facebook has 2.91 billion active users with the largest age group being between 25-34 years old, and the gender is 43% female and 57% male. If your target market is outside of that 9-year age gap you are probably missing out on potential clients. Meaning you are leaving money on the table.
Thirdly, using Facebook as your website can limit your ability to establish and control your brand identity. While you can customize your Facebook page to a certain extent, you are still operating within the constraints of the platform. This can make it difficult to create a unique and distinctive brand identity that sets you apart from your competitors.
If you’ve read any of my other articles you most likely know that I'm a proponent of brand recognition and consistent look and feel across your business services.
Finally, using Facebook as your website means that you are essentially giving up ownership and control of your online presence. Facebook owns the platform and all of the content on it, which means that you are at its mercy when it comes to making changes or updates to your page. This can be a risky proposition for small businesses and individuals who need to maintain control over their online presence in order to succeed.
Wrapping It Up, while Facebook can be a valuable tool for connecting with customers and promoting your business, it should not be relied upon as your sole online presence. A dedicated website offers greater customization, control, and professionalism, and allows you to establish a unique brand identity that sets you apart from your competitors. By investing in a dedicated website, you can ensure that your online presence is secure, reliable, and tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Let me leave you with a couple of options early I mentioned a free resource. That would be a free training video at https://createawebsitefast.com/ where I show you exactly how to create a website yourself easier and cheaper than you would ever think possible.
The second is https://getalocalwebsite.com/ where I provide some options to get online and get found in search engines and even help you claim your Google Business Listing.
I hope you’ve found this information helpful. Check back in again soon or contact me with any questions you may have.
