I have a Facebook page. Do I still need a website?

What do customers ask after finding your page?

You post photos, answer messages and share updates on Facebook. Customers recognize your business there. So when someone says you need a website, it is fair to ask: what would it do that I am not doing already?

Start with your recent conversations. Are people asking where you work, what is included or how to book? Are you sending the same explanation over and over? A website may help put those answers in one clear place.

If customers can already find accurate information and reach you easily, you may not need a large project. The useful question is whether something important is missing.

Give each place a job

Think of a social page as a place for ongoing conversation: a photo from this week, a seasonal update or a reply to a question. Think of a website as a place to arrange the information a new customer needs, in the order that makes sense.

For example, an imaginary cake maker in Winter Park might share recent creations on a social page. A small website could explain the kinds of orders they accept, how far ahead to ask and what details to send. Neither needs to repeat everything from the other.

This is a way to plan your information, not a promise about how many people a platform will show your posts to.

What might a simple website add?

• A clear service explanation. Customers can read what is included without searching through old posts.
• A place to send people. One address on a business card can lead to your services and contact options.
• A useful request form. Someone can tell you what they need before you call them.
• Room for common questions. Explain your service area, process and the next step.

You do not have to launch with online payments, a shop or a large gallery. Those should earn their place by helping the way you actually work.

Make the two work together without double the work

Pick one place to keep your detailed service information, then link to it when helpful. Continue using the social account your customers already know. When your hours or contact details change, update both places so people do not get conflicting answers.

Choose who checks messages and who receives website requests. Adding a new contact form is not useful if nobody looks at the inbox it sends to.

Ask whoever builds the website to explain who controls the website address and how you can make changes later. You should understand what you will be able to manage yourself.

A quick way to decide

If you can name the gap, start with the smallest website that fills it. If you cannot, collect the questions customers ask for a week before buying anything.

Praxen helps small-business owners plan and build useful websites. Our website services can start with a conversation about what you already have. For a fuller starting checklist, read what your website should actually do.