In the U.S., there are about 30.2 million small businesses. In fact, the vast majority of businesses are small businesses.

Small business owners face a lot of questions about how best to get the word out. If you own a business or are thinking of starting one, you may find yourself asking “Do I need a website?” After all, it’s much easier to simply start a Facebook page than to invest in a professional website.

However, your business can’t thrive on Facebook alone. Read on to find out why you need a website — and how to create a great one.

Websites Work for All Ages

Facebook is so popular, it might seem to be universal. After all, well over a billion people have active Facebook accounts. However, with about 7.5 billion people on the Earth, this leaves out a lot of potential customers.

Young consumers, Gen Z in particular, have abandoned Facebook for newer social media sites like Snapchat and TikTok. If your target audience comprises any of these users, you won’t reach them through Facebook alone. However, people of all ages will visit company websites.

Websites Make You Look Legitimate

Most people will at least Google a company before buying its products or services. If your brand doesn’t have a website, it won’t look as legitimate as one that does.

With a professional-looking site, your company looks more trustworthy and credible, driving more sales. Through a website, customers can learn all they want to know about your brand, your team, and what you offer. Facebook pages just don’t lend the same kind of credibility.

Websites Offer Complete Control

Can you control the way your Facebook page is laid out?

No.

Sure, you can change the profile and cover images and choose your own text, as well as what to post. But your Facebook page will still look like every other Facebook page at the end of the day.

You need a website because you can make it look unique. This is a crucial moment to use branding that speaks directly to your target audience, so you can get the conversions you want.

Websites Are Less Competitive

With that in mind, using your own website can also cut through online noise in a way that Facebook can’t.

On Facebook, users are bombarded with information from brands, friends, and more. It can take a lot of work to capture someone’s attention with an ad or post on a cluttered Facebook newsfeed.

But on a website, you don’t have to compete with anyone. Users on your site will see posts from you alone. Sure, you’ll need to get users to your site in the first place. But once they’re there, they’re all yours.

So I Need a Website — What Next?

By now, the answer to “Do I need a website?” should be clear: a resounding “Yes!”

But how should you go about making an excellent website that will get the results you want?

As a business owner, it’s wise to hire a professional website designer to get the best results. And the best way to pick a web designer is to see the quality of their past work.

Ready to get going with your site? Check out our work here, then get in touch to get started!