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Getting onlineDo you still need a website if you have a Facebook page?
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rented vs owned | You own a website. You only rent your Facebook audience — Meta sets the rules. |
| Reach has fallen | Only a small single-digit % of followers see a typical unpaid post now. |
| Findability | Google and AI assistants can't recommend a Facebook page the way they can a real site. |
| Best answer | Have both — social for staying visible, website for being found and trusted. |
Isn't a Facebook page enough these days?
It feels like it should be — it's free, everyone's on it, and you can post in seconds. But a Facebook page and a website do different jobs. A page keeps you in front of people who already follow you. A website is how new customers find you, size you up, and decide to get in touch. Leaning only on Facebook means quietly missing everyone who never followed you in the first place.
What a website does that a Facebook page can't
- You own it. No algorithm change, no account lockout, no "sorry, your page was disabled" can take it away.
- It's findable on Google. When someone searches your service and town, a page rarely ranks — a proper site does.
- AI assistants can read it. Tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity recommend businesses they can understand — a website makes you one of them. (More on that in showing up on ChatGPT.)
- It sets the standard. A calm, professional site tells a customer you're established before they ever ring.
- It works on your terms. Your services, your booking, your phone number — laid out exactly how you want, not squeezed into a template.
"But everyone's on Facebook" — where your customers actually look
Here's the catch that surprises a lot of owners: Facebook's organic reach — how many of your followers actually see a post you didn't pay to boost — has fallen to a low single-digit percentage over the years. So even your existing followers mostly don't see you unless you pay. Meanwhile, when someone genuinely needs your service, they tend to search for it — on Google, or increasingly by asking an AI assistant — and that's where a website earns its keep.
“I hear ‘but I've got Facebook' all the time. Facebook is a great front-of-house — it's terrible as your only address. The businesses that win have a website doing the heavy lifting and social pointing people back to it.” — Luke Dee, SuirViewDigital
Do I need both? How they work together
Yes, and they complement each other neatly. Think of your website as home base — the place people land, trust you, and take action. Social is the signpost — it keeps you visible day to day and sends interested people back to the site. Your Google Business Profile ties it together for local searches. One quietly builds credibility and gets you found; the other keeps you top of mind.
What does a proper site actually cost?
Less than most people expect, and there's grant help available. We break it down fully in how much a website costs in Ireland — including the Trading Online Voucher, which can cover up to €2,500. You can also see our two simple plans.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a website if I have a Facebook page?
Yes — a page is rented ground you don't control, while a website is owned, findable on Google and AI search, and makes you look established.
Isn't Facebook free and a website an extra cost?
Facebook is free to set up but you pay in reach. A website is a one-off or low monthly cost you own outright and that keeps working in search.
Do I need both a website and social media?
Ideally yes — the website is home base where people find and trust you; social keeps you visible and points back to it.
Ready to have a home base of your own?
A quick, no-pressure call to talk through what your business needs — and what it would cost.
Call 085 153 8421 Book a call