"My customers are all on Facebook anyway." "Instagram is free and a website isn't." "I'll sort a website when I'm bigger." If any of these sound familiar, you're in good company — loads of small businesses run entirely from a social media page.
And it can work, for a while. But relying only on platforms you don't own leaves you exposed, and harder to find than you might think.
You can start with social media. But almost every business benefits from a simple website alongside it — and it can be a single page you build in a weekend.
The risks of going social-only
The problem isn't social media. It's depending on it completely.
What a website does that social can't
Your website is the one place online that's completely yours. You decide what's on it, how it looks and what visitors do next.
You don't need a big website — just one good page
Forget the 20-page website. For most small and local businesses, a single well-made page does the job. Tick off each section as you plan yours — your progress saves in this browser.
- 1. Clear headlineWhat you do, who for and where.e.g. "Friendly dog grooming in Leeds — book in 60 seconds"
- 2. Services and pricesWhat you offer and roughly what it costs. "From £X" is fine.Prices answer the question everyone has, and filter out time-wasters.
- 3. ProofThree or four reviews with names, plus photos of your work.Copy your best Google reviews here.
- 4. About youA friendly photo and a few lines about who you are.People buy from people, especially locally.
- 5. Common questionsThe five questions customers ask most, answered.Saves you time on the phone, too.
- 6. Contact and bookingTap-to-call number, short form or booking link — repeated down the page.One clear call to action, more than once.
- 7. Hours, area and linksOpening times, areas you cover, a map and links to your social pages.Link your Google Business Profile too.
Tap each section as you plan it.
The bridge: your Google Business Profile
If you serve local customers and really can't face a website yet, set up a free Google Business Profile today. It puts you on Google Maps and in local search results, shows your reviews, hours and photos, and lets people call you in one tap.
It's not a replacement for a website, but it's the single most useful thing a local business can do online — and it works even better when it links to one.
The cost and effort are lower than you think
Modern website builders let you create a professional-looking page from a template, with no coding, usually for a modest monthly fee plus a few pounds a year for your own domain name (like yourbusiness.co.uk). Most people can get a simple page live in a weekend.
Before you start, gather your logo, ten good photos, three reviews, your price list and your five most common questions. With those ready, building the page is the easy bit.
Make them work together
The best setup isn't website or social media. It's both, with each doing its job. Social media gets you noticed; your website helps people decide and take action.
Put your website link in every bio, link back to your social pages from your site, and send people to the site whenever they need prices, details or to book.
Social media is where people meet you. Your website is where they decide to buy.
Do you need a website?
Answer six quick questions for a straight recommendation.
Do people search Google for the kind of thing you sell?
Do customers usually want prices or detail before getting in touch?
Is a typical sale over about £100, or a decision people think about?
Would you like people to book, order or pay online?
Do you sell physical products to people outside your local area?
Do you want to build an email list you own?
Answer the questions to see what you need.
Takes about 30 seconds.
The bottom line: social media is a brilliant place to start and to be discovered — but it's rented space. A simple one-page website gives you a home you own, helps people find you on Google and makes it easy for them to buy. Start with a Google Business Profile, build one good page, and let social and your website work as a team.
What social media does brilliantly
Social media is fantastic for some jobs, and it's no surprise small businesses love it.