What a great question that is! Often I hear people say that they’re not sure if they really need a website because they already have a Facebook page. While Facebook will help you establish an online presence, it may not do the best job at establishing your brand. Here are some things to think about when asking yourself this question.
Facebook:
- Pros:
- Great for interacting with your customers and gaining “likes.”
- Viral – someone likes you – they let all their friends know. Easy to share your posts.
- Current info goes out to your customers instead of them having to come to you. (If you’re not “hidden” from their feed)
- Somewhat easy to set-up an account.
- Easy way to announce specials, sales, etc.
- Easy upload of photos, videos, etc.
- Easy to shoot out messages that appear on your fans’ newsfeed.
- Cons:
- May be confusing to set up your business Facebook page without it being part of your personal Facebook page. Do you really want your customers seeing your beach vacation photos?
- Viral – someone doesn’t like you – they let all their friends know.
- Other than adding a picture of your logo or learning FBML (FBML is Facebook’s own little coding language), there’s no way to change the design of your page. Even the colors are all the same for everyone – blah blue.
- You don’t know if your messages are appearing on your fans’ newsfeed, because they may have “liked” you to get that coupon, but not enough to keep from “hiding” you in their feed. Also, Facebook chooses what people see first. How do you know if your post is even getting seen?
- Other things to keep in mind:
- You need to be sensitive to your fans and use proper Facebook etiquette.
- Your content should be well written, interactive, short, professional and reasonably timed – one to three posts per week.
- You will need to spend time monitoring the comments on your site.
- You need to be checking it daily and interacting with your audience!!!
Website:
- Pros:
- Establishes a professional online presence and credibility.
- More opportunities to be found by search engines.
- You are not limited to the design of your site. Your site is customized to your brand.
- Each page can have specific information relating to your business or product.
- You determine what visitors see first, and what action step they take next.
- Your brand is all over it! (Keeping the rule of “Less-is-More,” of course).
- Extra features like shopping carts, forums, blogs can all be found in one place.
- The cherry on top with our Worry-Free Website: We will update your content, add images, videos and more. Less work for you! Just send us the info and we’ll take care of it! We host your site, keep your software updated and your site secure – all for one low monthly fee. Plans start at $40/month. Learn more.
- Cons (sort of):
- Cost. Many people think they will have to fork out thousands of dollars for a website. If you think you have to spend thousands on a professional website, you’re wrong! With Kalamazoo Web Design, you can get started on a stellar website platform for less than $1,500. We keep it simple, attractive, professional and functional.
- Not knowing how to get started. It can be a very overwhelming process to get started with your website. We help keep things in focus by gaining a full understanding of your needs and delivering a product that fully meets the needs of your audience. We come up with a plan, and partner with you through the process.
- Takes time. All GOOD things do take some time – and it’s worth it in the end. We can usually design a site and have it online in about three weeks. You can always set-up a Facebook page to let people know your awesome new website is coming soon and they won’t want to miss it!
My final answer…
You should have a website and a Facebook page! Facebook is a great compliment to your website, but should not replace it. A well designed and easy to navigate website will give you a competitive edge, keep your image professional and help build credibility. A professional website sets you apart from the “hobbyist” or the “guy who does side jobs.” It shows you are serious about your business, your product/service, and your customers. Are you ready to get started? We can help!
Let’s Talk!
