Do I need a website if my business has a Facebook page?
Plenty of good Knoxville businesses run on word of mouth, a Google listing and a Facebook page. If the phone is ringing, that's fine for now. But there are a few real costs to skipping a website, and they've grown as more people search on their phones and ask AI assistants for recommendations.
What you miss without a website
- Searches for specific services. Someone searching "brake repair Powell" or "stump grinding Farragut" is more likely to find a business with a page about that exact service. A Facebook page rarely ranks for those searches.
- Customers who aren't on Facebook. Many people won't click through to Facebook, or don't have an account at all.
- Trust at a glance. When someone sees your Google listing and taps "Website," a real site with your services, photos and reviews answers their questions before they call.
- AI recommendations. AI assistants read websites to decide who to recommend. A clear site gives them something to work with. More in how to get recommended by AI search.
- Control. Facebook can change how your page looks, who sees it or what's allowed at any time. Your website is yours.
When Facebook alone is enough
If you're fully booked from referrals, don't want more work, or only serve a small, tight-knit area, a well-kept Google profile and Facebook page may be all you need. Make sure your Google profile is complete first. It matters more than either one.
What a small business website actually needs
Not much, if it's done right:
- A fast homepage built for phones, with a big tap-to-call button
- A page for each main service, written the way customers search
- Your service area, hours and contact details, matching your Google profile
- Photos of your real work and a few reviews
- A simple request form that lands in your inbox
That's it. No blog required, no fancy animations, and it shouldn't take months.
Keep the Facebook page too
A website doesn't replace Facebook. Use Facebook for updates and community, and link it to your site. Then your Google listing, Facebook page and website all point customers the same way.
If you'd like help, I build fast-start websites for Knoxville businesses, and you own everything.