Website vs Facebook Page: Which Does a Trade Business Actually Need?
Plenty of trades run entirely on a Facebook page. It works, up to a point. Here is an honest look at where a Facebook page falls short and why a proper website is worth it.
A lot of trades get by with just a Facebook page. It is free, it is easy, and your mates can share your posts. For some businesses that is genuinely enough. But for most, it stops working the moment you want to grow or get found by people who do not already know you.
What a Facebook Page Does Well
A Facebook page is a quick way to show off recent work, collect the occasional recommendation in local groups, and give people a place to message you. If all your work comes from word of mouth and you never want to be found on Google, it can do the job.
It is also free, which matters when you are starting out.
Where a Facebook Page Falls Short
The problem is that a Facebook page does not show up in Google search results in the way a website does. When someone searches "boiler repair Hull", Google shows websites with proper service pages, not a Facebook page that mentions boilers somewhere in a post from last March.
You also do not control the platform. Facebook decides what gets shown, to whom, and in what order. Your posts reach a fraction of the people who liked your page unless you pay to boost them. A website is yours.
Then there is trust. A business with a proper website looks more established than one with only a Facebook page. Rightly or wrongly, customers read it as a sign that you take your business seriously.
The Enquiry Problem
Facebook messages are easy to miss. They get buried under notifications, and not every customer wants to use Messenger. A website gives you a phone number, a WhatsApp link and an enquiry form, all in one place, and the enquiries come straight to you.
For emergency work especially, a customer who can tap a call button on a fast mobile website is far more likely to reach you than one who has to open Facebook, find your page and send a message.
Do You Need Both?
In most cases, yes. A Facebook page is still useful for local presence and recommendations. But it should not be the only place customers can find you. A simple, fast website with your services, your areas and a clear way to enquire is what actually brings in work from people searching on Google.
The good news is that a proper trade website does not have to cost a fortune. If you are running on Facebook alone and want to see what a real website could do for your enquiries, get in touch.
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