Why you still need a website even if you have a Facebook page

We originally wrote about this topic in 2019, but recent events and changing digital trends have made this message more relevant than ever. Facebook may still have over 3 billion monthly users globally, but the platform landscape is shifting dramatically, and relying solely on social media for your business presence is increasingly risky.

Many small business owners we speak to have thriving Facebook pages and wonder if they really need a website as well. The short answer is yes—more than ever. Here's why your business needs its own website in 2025, even if your Facebook page is performing well.

The Facebook reality in 2025

Let's be honest about Facebook's current state. Whilst Facebook maintained its position as the world's largest social platform with over 3 billion monthly active users in 2024, it actually saw its first-ever decline in Q4 2024, dropping from 3.080 billion to 3.068 billion users. More importantly for your business, the demographics and engagement patterns are changing significantly.

Declining organic reach

Organic reach for business pages has plummeted to just 2.2% or less in 2025, compared to much higher rates in previous years. This means that even if you have 1,000 followers, only about 22 people might actually see your posts organically. The platform now heavily favours posts from friends and family over business content.

Changing demographics

The weekly use of Facebook amongst U.S. online youths aged 12-17 declined from 48% to 40% over the past year. Younger audiences are increasingly moving to platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and emerging alternatives. If your target market includes younger demographics, Facebook alone won't reach them effectively.

Pay-to-play reality

Facebook has become largely a pay-to-play platform. With over 10 million advertisers now competing for attention globally, getting noticed without advertising spend is increasingly difficult. Even then, you're competing in an expensive auction system with no guarantee of results.

The risks of social media dependency

Platform outages and technical failures

Remember October 2021 when Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger were all down for over six hours? Businesses that relied solely on these platforms were completely paralysed. These outages haven't stopped—they've become more frequent as platforms struggle with technical complexity and regulatory pressures.

Algorithm changes can destroy your reach overnight

Facebook frequently changes its algorithm, and these updates can devastate business reach without warning. What works today might not work tomorrow, and you have zero control over these decisions. The algorithm now prioritises content from friends and family members over businesses, meaning your carefully crafted business posts may never be seen.

Account restrictions and content policies

Facebook's content moderation, often automated, can flag legitimate business content by mistake. Business accounts get restricted or suspended regularly, sometimes for weeks, whilst appeals are processed. During this time, you lose access to your entire audience and years of content.

Historical precedent matters

The internet is littered with platforms that seemed permanent but vanished. MySpace once dominated social media and admitted in 2019 to accidentally deleting 12 years of user content—50 million songs from 14 million artists were lost forever. GeoCities was once the third most visited site globally before shutting down in 2009, taking 38 million pages with it.

Control and credibility matter

Your website, your rules

With your own website, you control everything—the design, the messaging, the user experience, and the data. You're not at the mercy of Facebook's latest design changes or policy updates. You can present your brand exactly as you want, without platform restrictions or competing advertisements cluttering your space.

Professional credibility

Research shows that 84% of consumers view a business's website as more credible than its social media presence, and 75% of customers judge a business's credibility through its website design. Additionally, 31% of shoppers in the U.S. reported they chose not to shop at a small business because it didn't have a website.

Universal accessibility

Not everyone uses Facebook. With declining usage amongst younger demographics and privacy concerns growing, you could be missing significant portions of your potential market. However, virtually everyone browses the internet, making a website far more accessible than any single social platform.

SEO and search engine advantages

Google search dominance

77% of consumers use Google Maps to find businesses near them, and 88% will visit a related store after conducting a local search on their smartphone. When people search for your type of business, you want to appear in those results. A Facebook page can appear, but a well-optimised website gives you much more control over your search presence.

SEO control and opportunities

With your own website, you can:

• Target specific keywords your customers are searching for
• Create detailed content that answers customer questions
• Optimise for local search results
• Build authority through quality content and backlinks
• Control meta descriptions, page titles, and structured data

2025 SEO advantages

Google's 2025 algorithm updates continue to emphasise high-quality, user-focused content and excellent mobile experiences. Businesses with well-optimised websites that provide genuine value to users are being rewarded with better rankings and visibility.

What consumers expect today

Research before purchase

81% of consumers do online research before buying a product or service, and 52.3% of internet users look up brands online before buying, with 33.5% visiting the brand's website. If you don't have a website, you're missing this crucial step in the customer journey.

Essential information accessibility

88% of mobile users want business hours shown prominently on a website, and 42% want businesses to display their phone number and address on the first screen. Your website can present this information clearly and consistently, unlike social media platforms where important details often get buried.

Trust and legitimacy indicators

86% of visitors want to see information about a company's products and services on their homepage. 44% of website visitors will leave if there is no contact information. These trust signals are much easier to display prominently on your own website than within the constraints of a social media profile.

Business opportunities you're missing

E-commerce and direct sales

With over 26.6 million e-commerce sites worldwide and predictions that 95% of consumer purchases will be made online by 2040, having your own e-commerce capability is crucial. Whilst Facebook offers some shopping features, they're limited and you're still dependent on their platform and policies.

Lead generation and customer data

Your website allows you to capture leads directly, build email lists, and own your customer data. On Facebook, you're borrowing audience access that could be revoked at any time. 34% of consumers are likely to make unplanned purchases if they see personalised content, which is much easier to deliver through your own website.

Content marketing opportunities

55% of B2B marketers consider articles and blog posts to be the most effective form of marketing for guiding prospects through the sales funnel. Your website gives you unlimited space to create valuable content, establish expertise, and improve search rankings—opportunities that are severely limited on social media platforms.

Integration and automation

Modern websites can integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, email marketing tools, analytics platforms, and booking systems. These integrations automate your business processes and provide valuable insights that social media platforms simply cannot offer.

Getting started with your website

It's easier than you think

Many small business owners avoid creating a website because they assume it's complicated and expensive. However, modern website builders have made the process much simpler and more affordable than maintaining an active social media presence.

Cost-effective solutions

Small business website statistics show that the average cost of designing a typical small business site ranges between £1,500 and £7,000, with average annual maintenance of around £900. When compared to the potential advertising costs needed to maintain Facebook visibility, a website often provides better long-term value.

Quick start options

• Website builders like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace offer templates designed for small businesses
• Many hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installations
• Professional web designers can create custom solutions that grow with your business
• Local web developers often offer affordable packages for small businesses

Essential pages to include

Start with these essential pages:

• Homepage: Clear description of what you do and how to contact you
• About page: Your story, credentials, and why customers should choose you
• Services/Products page: Detailed information about what you offer
• Contact page: Multiple ways for customers to reach you
• Testimonials/Reviews: Social proof from satisfied customers

Conclusion

We're not suggesting you abandon Facebook or other social media platforms entirely. Social media remains valuable for customer engagement, with platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok all offering unique opportunities to connect with different demographics. However, these platforms should complement, not replace, your own website.

Think of social media as your marketing channels and your website as your business headquarters. You can drive traffic from Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms to your website, where you have complete control over the user experience and can convert visitors into customers on your terms.

Don't put all your digital eggs in someone else's basket. Start building your own website today and take control of your business's digital presence. Take a look at our free Getting Started with WordPress webinar for the first steps to building your own site.