In a tech-oriented society, like we have now, a strong digital presence is considered to be one of the key tools for success. However, for small business owners, the time and money required to maintain a website are not always forthcoming. The temptation for many is there, and that is to create a Facebook Business Page, after all, it’s free. So you can you can forget about not spending the money, you need to, your business could very well depend on it. Your website is one of the best business tools you can have in your arsenal. Here are 7 reasons you shouldn’t use a fake website

7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Create A Fake Website

  1. Facebook lacks brand control. Yes, there is no doubt that you can use your logo as your profile picture and then put a cover photo on it. Your posts will also show what services you offer and will serve as the voice of your business. But then, a Facebook page can never give a complete brand experience to your audience that only a dedicated website can. When a user visits your page, valuable information may not always be readily available.
  2. Only a dedicated website can provide comprehensive SEO control. A Facebook page can still be found on search engines. However, a website allows you to modify your content based on the keywords and anchor texts your target market is searching for. To rank higher on search engines is one of the main goals of any business owner and thought leader.
  3. People may stop using Facebook. For as long as someone “likes” your page, that’s great. But what if they grow tired of seeing and engaging with your posts? Your page can be unliked or unfollowed at any time. Choosing Facebook over a dedicated website is the same as saying that you prefer the short-term over the long-term. People may support your campaign within the first few months, but there is no guarantee that you will get the same support in the long run. Before you invest both your time and energy on a certain platform, make sure that it will give you the same benefits in the long term.
  4. Facebook is not under your control. A Facebook page can be shut down. And when they go down, so do you. Other than that, your posts can also be stolen or deleted, or you will be completely blocked from their system. Since Facebook is at risk to different threats online, so is your business. If one of these things happens, chances are, you will need extra help to get back up again. And to outsource that kind of help means to pay for an additional service.
  5. You don’t hold power, Facebook does. To put it simply, Facebook is the one who decides what you can do and cannot do on their platform. Through its policies, they dictate you what you should and shouldn’t do. Facebook is also not only constantly changing its platform, but its terms and conditions as well. From its design to its user interface and terms of service, Facebook is constantly changing.
  6. Facebook lacks e-commerce. It doesn’t offer widgets, plugins, and applications that give users the hassle-free experience of no longer needing to contact the owner when buying the merchandise. Facebook doesn’t fully cater to the buyers’ needs when it comes to finding out more about the products and services of a business, and to the actual buying process.
  7. Facebook is time-consuming. Just like any other social media site, Facebook runs 24/7. So if you don’t want offensive and spam comments to be seen by potential customers, you need to monitor it regularly. If you don’t have the time to maintain the credibility of your business, consulting a social media manager will be your best option. However, that will also require another payment. Whereas in a business website, you can take control of the types of comments to be approved without having them seen first by your visitors. Now that’s when good leadership comes in.

Facebook is one of the largest social media networks of all time, and it is important from my point of view that if you manage a small business, then a Facebook business page is an absolute must. Zephoria has updated their April statistics. While Facebook continues to be the fastest-growing social media platform, it is not a replacement for your website.

What are your thoughts about using Facebook as a website? Please leave a comment in the comment section below.