Why Having Your Own Website is More Important Than Ever (Even If You’re on Social Media)
It’s 2025, and you’d be hard pressed to find a business that isn’t on social media. Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or LinkedIn, having a social presence is almost expected. But here’s a truth bomb: social media alone just isn’t enough.
If you’re running your business purely from your Facebook page or Insta profile, you might be missing out on the chance to really connect, convert, and build long-term trust with your customers. Let’s talk about why having your own website is still absolutely essential—no matter how many followers you’ve got.
1. You Own It – 100%
When you rely on social media platforms, you’re essentially playing in someone else’s playground. Your page, your content, even your followers—they’re all controlled by a third-party platform. If Meta or TikTok change their policies, tweak the algorithm, or decide your account is in breach of some rule (even by mistake!), you could lose access to your audience in an instant.
With your own website, none of that risk exists. You have full control over your content, your branding, and how your visitors experience your business online. Your domain name is yours. Your site is yours. It’s your digital real estate—permanent, professional, and completely in your hands.
2. First Impressions Matter
When someone first hears about your business, where’s the first place they’ll look? Usually, Google. And what shows up matters.
A well-designed website gives that instant hit of professionalism and polish. It tells people “yep, this business knows what it’s doing.” On the flip side, if the first thing they find is just a sparse Facebook page with a couple of photos and no clear call to action, they might hesitate. Worse, they might bounce completely and check out a competitor with a proper site.
Think of your website as your digital storefront—it’s where you make your first (and best) impression.
3. A Website Builds Credibility
Let’s be real: anyone can make a social media account. But not everyone has a sleek, professional website. That difference matters, especially when you’re trying to build trust with potential customers.
A website gives you space to tell your story properly. You can showcase your experience, display testimonials and reviews, highlight your products or services in detail, and make it clear why you are the best choice. You get to control the narrative, build authority, and give your brand that all-important professional edge.
4. Better for SEO and Visibility
Social media can help you get seen—but it doesn’t replace search engine visibility. When people search for what you do (“plumber in Swindon”, “vegan cupcakes near me”, “freelance graphic designer”), they’re using Google. If you don’t have a website, you won’t be showing up in those results.
A properly optimised website gives you the best chance of ranking in search engines. You can structure your content to target the keywords your customers are actually typing in. You can build pages for specific services or locations. And you can keep your content fresh with blog posts and updates that show you’re active and on top of your game.
Social media posts disappear down the feed. Your website content sticks around and keeps working for you.
5. Customised Experience for Your Customers
Every business is different. And the one-size-fits-all approach of social media doesn’t let you create a tailored experience for your audience.
On your website, you can do so much more:
- Add a contact form or booking system
- Show off a photo gallery or video reel
- Let customers buy directly through an online store
- Provide helpful FAQs or downloadable brochures
- Include live chat or integrate email marketing
Basically, you can build a journey that makes it easier for people to understand what you offer—and take the next step.
It’s your space, your voice, your way of doing things. You can’t get that flexibility from a social profile.
6. Social Media is the Hook—Your Website is the Home
Social media is brilliant for getting attention. It’s where people hang out, scroll, and discover new things. But once they’re interested, they’ll want to dive deeper. That’s where your website comes in.
Think of it like this: your social media is the hook that draws people in, but your website is the home that convinces them to stay. It’s where they go to learn more, trust more, and buy more.
Without a website, you’re missing that final piece of the puzzle—the place where interest becomes action.
So, What’s Next?
If you’ve been relying on social media and haven’t got around to launching your own website yet, now’s the time. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
At O’Brien Media, we’ve helped hundreds of small businesses (and big ones too!) build stunning, effective websites that reflect their brand and work hard for their goals. Whether you’re after a single-page site or something more advanced, we’ve got you covered.
Want to know what a new website might cost? Try our Instant Estimate Generator to get a ballpark figure in less than a minute.
Got questions or just fancy a chat? Drop us a message at [email protected] or give us a ring on 01793 239239—we’re always happy to help.
