If you run a small business in the North East, there’s a good chance you’ve got a Facebook page. Maybe you set it up a few years ago, you post on it occasionally, and you think of it as your online presence.
It’s better than nothing. But it’s probably costing you customers — and here’s why.
You Don’t Own It
This is the big one that most people don’t think about until it’s too late.
Your Facebook page doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to Meta. They can change the rules, reduce how many of your followers see your posts, or suspend your page without warning — and there’s nothing you can do about it.
It’s happened to thousands of businesses. A page built up over years, gone overnight because of a policy change or an automated mistake. No appeal, no recourse.
Your website, on the other hand, is yours. Your domain, your content, your customers. Nobody can take it away from you.
Most People Don’t Search Facebook for Local Businesses
Think about the last time you needed a plumber, a hairdresser, or a local café. Did you open Facebook and search? Probably not.
You almost certainly went to Google.
And if a business doesn’t have a website, Google either doesn’t know they exist or doesn’t rank them highly enough to be found. A Facebook page alone rarely shows up prominently in Google search results — especially for competitive local searches like “web designer Washington Tyne and Wear” or “electrician Sunderland.”
A proper website, optimised for local SEO, is what gets you in front of people who are actively looking for what you offer — right now, ready to buy.
It Looks Less Professional Than You Think
Customers judge businesses quickly. When someone hears about your business and wants to check you out, they’ll search for you online. If all they find is a Facebook page — especially one that hasn’t been posted on in a few weeks — it raises questions.
Are they still trading? Are they legitimate? Are they serious about their business?
A clean, professional website answers all of those questions instantly. It shows you’re established, you take your business seriously, and you’re worth trusting with their money.
You’re Invisible to People Who Aren’t on Facebook
Facebook has around 35 million users in the UK — which sounds like a lot, until you realise that’s barely half the population. And of those, a significant number rarely use it or have switched to other platforms entirely.
Younger customers in particular are far more likely to search Google or ask Siri than scroll through Facebook. If your only online presence is a Facebook page, you’re simply not reaching them.
A website works for everyone, regardless of which social media platforms they use or don’t use.
Facebook Controls What Your Customers See
Even if someone likes your Facebook page and wants to hear from you, there’s no guarantee they’ll see your posts. Facebook’s algorithm decides what gets shown to who — and for business pages, organic reach has been declining for years.
To reliably reach your own followers on Facebook, you increasingly have to pay for it.
Your website has no algorithm. Anyone who visits sees exactly what you want them to see, presented exactly how you want to present it.
So What Should You Do?
You don’t have to choose between Facebook and a website — the two work brilliantly together. Keep your Facebook page active and use it to connect with your community. But let your website do the heavy lifting: ranking on Google, making a professional first impression, and converting visitors into customers.
Think of your Facebook page as a conversation. Think of your website as your shopfront.
If you’re a small business in Washington, Sunderland, Gateshead, or anywhere across the North East and you’re ready to get a proper website in place — I’d love to help. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat and we’ll find the right option for your budget.