For your business5 min read

Facebook Page vs a website: which does my business need?

Most local businesses started with a Facebook Page because it was free and easy. Here's why that's no longer enough — and why a real website plus a Facebook Page beats either one alone.

Quick answer

A Facebook Page is a tenant on someone else's platform; a website is property you own. Facebook is great for staying in touch with existing customers, but it doesn't rank well in Google search, it doesn't let you control your presentation, and it can disappear if your account is suspended. For any service business that wants new customers from Google, a real website is the foundation — the Facebook Page is a useful add-on, not a substitute.

Step-by-step

What a Facebook Page actually is

A Facebook Page is a free business profile inside Facebook — a wall for posts, an About section, reviews, photos, and a Messenger inbox. For a long time, Pages were the default 'online presence' for small businesses because they were free, easy to set up, and Facebook reached almost everyone. That world has changed. Organic reach on Facebook for business Pages dropped dramatically over the last decade; most posts now reach single-digit percentages of your followers unless you pay. The Page still has uses — but it isn't a website and shouldn't be treated as one.

Where Facebook is still useful

Three things Facebook Pages still do well. First: staying connected to existing customers — your repeat clients who follow you and check in occasionally. Second: Messenger as a contact channel — many people will Messenger a business but won't fill in a contact form. Third: Facebook reviews — they don't carry the same weight as Google reviews but they're a credibility signal for people who find you on Facebook. If you have an existing audience there, don't abandon it.

Where Facebook fails as your only web presence

A few critical gaps. Google doesn't index Facebook Pages well — a search for 'pilates studio near me' will surface Google Business Profiles and real websites, not Facebook Pages. You don't own the platform — Facebook can suspend, restrict, or shadow-ban your Page with no recourse, and businesses lose entire audiences this way every week. You can't fully control your presentation — your branding, layout, and content live inside Facebook's UI. And many of your potential customers either aren't on Facebook anymore (younger demographics especially) or aren't logged in when they Google you.

What a website does that a Facebook Page doesn't

A website appears in Google search, which is how most people discover service businesses they haven't heard of. A website gives you a custom domain (yourname.com) instead of facebook.com/yourname. A website has dedicated pages for services, pricing, gallery, FAQ — things a Facebook timeline can't structure properly. A website connects to a Google Business Profile, which is where most local enquiries come from. And a website is yours: hosting, content, design, all under your control. If Facebook had a bad year and your Page disappeared tomorrow, your website would still be there.

The right setup: website + Facebook + Google Business Profile

For almost every service business, the trio is: a real website as your home base, a Facebook Page for staying in touch with existing customers and accepting Messenger enquiries, and a Google Business Profile for being found in local search and Maps. The three reinforce each other — the website is where customers land and convert, Facebook keeps them engaged after, and Google Business Profile gets you discovered. Building the website doesn't have to be a big project: Adviita can generate the full site from a one-sentence description in under a minute, free to publish.

Tips & best practices

▸If you only have a Facebook Page right now, the highest-leverage move is to add a real website AND a Google Business Profile in the same week. The three together compound: each one drives traffic to the others.
▸Use your Facebook Page to share new pages from your website (blog posts, new services, special offers) — it's a free distribution channel for your real content.
▸Always link out from your Facebook Page to your website prominently — the 'Website' field in your About section is one of the most underused features.

Common questions

Do I still need a Facebook Page if I have a website?

Probably yes, but it's no longer the main thing. A Facebook Page is useful for staying in touch with existing customers and accepting Messenger enquiries, but it's the website and Google Business Profile that bring in new customers. Treat the Facebook Page as a maintenance task, not your main marketing channel.

Why doesn't my Facebook Page show up on Google?

Facebook Pages rarely rank well in Google because most of the content is behind a login, the URLs aren't optimised for search, and Google generally prefers indexing real websites over walled-garden pages. This is structural — there's nothing you can do to fix it from inside Facebook.

Can I run a business with just a Facebook Page in 2026?

You can, but you'll lose enquiries to competitors with real websites. Anyone searching for your service on Google will see those competitors first. If you're committed to the Facebook-only approach, at minimum add a Google Business Profile so you appear in local Maps results — it's free and takes about an hour to set up properly.

What about Instagram instead of Facebook?

Same dynamic, different platform. Instagram is great for visual showcase and existing-customer engagement; it's not designed for Google discovery or conversion. The right setup is the same: real website as foundation, Instagram as a visibility and engagement channel. See our guide on Instagram for service businesses.