Nowadays it’s impossible to talk about marketing without the web. Even large corporations that once invested solely on traditional marketing are now being forced to rethink their digital strategy, and are finally accepting the internet as a powerful platform for action. With the web comes social media, showing companies the potential of Facebook as a sophisticated, interactive space, capable of increasing profits, and brand awareness.
In a society with 4.2 billion Internet users, being out of network is a very unproductive thing. It’s also easier than ever before to build online relationships with prospects and clients on social media. So do you still need a website?
Yes, any business (We mean it!) regardless of its niche market, should have a website. Even a simple, basic website will provide the starting needed structure for the accomplishment of a well-done digital marketing.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a Facebook page. In fact, companies should invest in several social media profiles, while ensuring they have a well designed and good functioning website.
Still unsure? Check below some of the key advantages and points to having a website vs. just a Facebook page.
1. Information
In a digital marketing strategy, there are various actions and efforts involved in spreading the brand, and one of them is content marketing. Although pages on social networks are great tools for socialization, often times the user need additional guidance, have questions and require solid structured information. And this path needs to be taken on the company’s website.
On Facebook for example, you may be able to break the information and create a set of posts to answer questions. That’s all good, but often times trying to organize all of the information into a concise manner can be challenging, and will require professional assistance and marketing strategy. On the other hand, a much larger volume of information can be made available with a more precise level of detail in a website.
2. Your Brand
In addition to serving as an information center for customers and stakeholders, the website serves as a business card. That’s where users expect to go when searching on Google. All the aesthetics, navigation and information have a great weight in the form of expression of the company and in the capacity of conveying the right message to your audience.
A website is an exclusive address for your company, and thus represents your business in a unique way. And even though social networks allow for a high level of personalization of the business page, nothing replaces a website and its customization and information capabilities.
3. Functionality
Look for some services or products online and analyze different websites vs their Facebook pages. You will notice that different types of businesses require different functionalities. If you have a page on Facebook you will have to use their page layout and tools, limiting your business from reaching its full potential.
Certainly, you will find some businesses that do great on Facebook because they require limited functionality. But you can pay attention: websites look more “professional”, are more functional, clear, and optimized for navigability than a page on Facebook.
4. Control
You heard that right. We are not referring to the control of adding content, pictures, talking to your followers, etc. We are talking about the lack of control if Facebook decides to shut down their services. Now what? You lost all of your followers and are left empty handed. Also all the content you created and spent countless hours on, may now be forever lost. In your website, if you have a routine backup, you will never lose any data NEVER. How cool is that? Even if the hosting company goes out of business, you can simply move all of your files and pages elsewhere in a few hours and Ta-Da! Up and running again.
That alone justifies having your own website. But the list goes on…
5. Your followers
If you have a page on any social media platform, then your audience is dependent on its popularity. Sorry, but true! Your audience may still love you, but if that social media platform is not “trendy” anymore, then your audience will leave.
We see that happening a lot lately with people claiming Facebook to be for older people now, where the youngsters are migrating to other newer platforms. Is that a bad thing? Not at all. It may as well be that this makes Facebook the ideal place for your type of business, especially if that fits right with your target audience.
In essence, the breadth and availability of the web is a great attraction for businesses, and Facebook and other social networks are essential for a successful digital marketing strategy. However, they should never replace owning a well planned and branded website.
Investing in the creation of a website can not be considered merely a recommendation, but a basic procedure to increase the visibility and branding of your company, two very necessary procedures to obtain better results online. Ready to get started? Schedule a free strategy session with us today!