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Do I Need a Website if I Have Social Media?

Yes!
Why?

Even if you are a small business or sole operating company, you need a website to avoid falling behind the competition. Business can be conducted online with a digital storefront without swiping a credit card or printing a receipt. Social media is limited to what the platform is capable of or allows and often comes with fees. A website cuts through the middleman, straight from you to the client.

You Don’t Own Your Social Media Page

If you are like many people out there, you may have accounts on two or three major social media platforms. What if one of those platforms you rely on for business decided they would change their terms of service or, worse yet, charge you for what used to be free? Suddenly, your online presence, followers, and posts are gone, leaving you to pick up elsewhere.

Social media search engine optimization limits your reach. Potential customers search for your services on search engines like Google before going to social media. A website allows you to be in a position where people can find you when they search for similar products or services.

A website makes your company more credible. Having a website builds trust with your community by showcasing your brand. A well-designed website creates authority, which keeps your audience engaged with what you are publishing. That authority brings customers back to your pages for more information after they were helped previously. Consider your website as a digital front door to your business, welcoming visitors just like the entrance to your local corner store.

Attention on Social Media is Fleeting

People tend to use social media platforms to escape the stresses of their days. Attention on those platforms is the commodity that everyone is fighting for. Having a business listed on social media means you’re more likely to fight for attention than for business.

Creating ads for those outlets people find frustrating and prefer to avoid at all costs. Social media ads can get your name out there but might not find their intended audience. How often have you waited for those five seconds to hit the skip button as quickly as possible? I do it every time and taught my toddler how to skip them as well.

Social media is for interacting with your friends or watching content you enjoy. So, unless your business involves something that can be filmed to be visually satisfying, make it a secondary priority. It can be a great tool to help drive traffic to your website, where you can control the interaction. Social media is most effective when integrated alongside other marketing strategies rather than replacing them.

A Website Increases Your Footprint

There are billions of internet users worldwide, and more are using mobile devices than ever. Without a website, how do you expect to do business with any of these people? The global pandemic increased people’s general reliance on the internet, and that traffic is still growing.

If you are a small business owner and do not see the need to invest in a website, consider how you search for what you need. If you’re anything like myself, you open a search engine or map search for nearby businesses or restaurants. Users are more likely to find your business online than in person.

Think of your website as an online interactive billboard. Searching for nearby services and your business pops up on the map, and they might take a look and decide to visit. Simply having your name appear in a search adds credibility to your business and location. Even if you don’t see a difference in foot traffic, you can always make small changes to a website to get more returns.

A Website is More Affordable and Simpler Than You Might Expect

Many people believe that building a website is a monumental task that requires learning coding or paying an arm and a leg. Building a website for your business isn’t a pain, even if you do it yourself. There are companies online that will walk you through the process and allow you to build a website within their framework using templates and how-tos. While these can get you started, we believe that professional help will carry you further, allowing you to focus your valuable time and effort on expanding your community or business, rather than on website development.

 PortoSpire is one affordable option that provides professional help, custom design, and flexibility in services. We work with you to gather your stories and experiences and turn them into a beautiful, secure website. We can help you define your colors, logos, wording, and website experience. We also handle things like security, patches, hosting, and compliance so you can stay focused on the day-to-day. 

Final Thoughts

The decision to build a website can seem daunting, and getting bogged down in the details is easy. However, if your business goals are to increase visibility and foot traffic, grow authority, and build upon your community, then a website is an excellent asset for your company. If you don’t know where or how to start, we recommend heading to our website to get a free quote so you can get an idea.