The problem with relying on Facebook alone
Facebook is a closed garden. When someone searches Google for a plumber in Dorking, a yoga studio in Leatherhead, or a removal company in Surrey — they get websites. They do not get Facebook pages. If your business only exists on Facebook, you are invisible to everyone searching on Google.
And most people are searching on Google. According to Google's own data, over 8.5 billion searches happen every day. The people searching "dog groomer near me" or "emergency plumber Reigate" are not on Facebook looking for your page — they are on Google, and they are clicking the first result they trust.
What Facebook is good for
Facebook does some things genuinely well for local businesses. It is excellent for community building, sharing updates, running events, and staying front of mind with people who already know you. If you have a loyal local following, Facebook keeps them engaged.
But that’s the key word — people who already know you. Facebook does not bring in new customers who have never heard of your business. Google does.
- Reaches people who already follow you
- Good for community and events
- Free to set up
- Controlled by Facebook — can change rules
- Invisible to Google searches
- No professional email address
- You don’t own it
- Visible to Google and Bing searches
- Attracts brand new customers
- Works 24/7 even when you’re not online
- You own it permanently
- Professional branded email
- Builds credibility with new visitors
- Can rank for local searches
You don’t own your Facebook page
This is the one most businesses don’t think about until it’s too late. Facebook can suspend your account, change its algorithm, reduce your organic reach, or simply become less popular — and there is nothing you can do about any of it. Thousands of UK businesses were left scrambling when Facebook made changes that cut their organic reach to almost zero.
Your website is yours. No platform can take it away. The content you publish on it builds value that compounds over time — search rankings, backlinks, content that continues bringing in visitors for years.
The credibility gap
Imagine you are a potential customer looking for a local tradesperson. You find two companies. One has a Facebook page with some photos and posts. The other has a clean professional website with service pages, a quote form, customer reviews, and a local phone number. Which one feels more established and trustworthy?
A website signals that a business is serious. It is the digital equivalent of having a shop front. For many customers — especially older ones or those making larger purchasing decisions — a business without a website raises an immediate question about whether it is legitimate.
What about Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile is free and shows your business on Google Maps and local search results. It is essential and every local business should have one. But it works best when it links to a professional website — the two together are far more powerful than either alone. A Google Business Profile without a website is like a signpost pointing to an empty plot of land.
The honest verdict
Facebook and a website are not alternatives — they are different tools for different jobs. Facebook keeps your existing customers engaged. A website attracts brand new customers from Google who have never heard of you. If you only have one, you are missing half the picture.
How much does a website cost for a small business?
Far less than most people expect. A professionally built, mobile-friendly, SEO-ready website from Wordwise starts from £750 — a one-off cost with no monthly platform fees and no subscriptions. For a business that regularly wins one or two new customers from Google every month, the website pays for itself quickly.
Read more in our full guide: How much does a website cost for a small business?
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