"I've got a Facebook page, why would I need a website?" It's a question lots of salons, cafés, cleaners and tradespeople ask. A Facebook page is free, quick to set up, and your customers are already on Facebook. So what's the catch?
Here's an honest comparison, with no sales pitch until the end.
What a Facebook page does well
Let's give Facebook its due. A business page is genuinely useful for:
- Showing you're active. Regular posts tell people you're open and busy.
- Community. Local Facebook groups are a common place for people to ask for recommendations.
- Quick updates. "Fully booked Saturday, a few slots left Thursday." Facebook is perfect for this.
- Photos and videos of your latest work.
- Messaging. Some customers would rather send a Facebook message than make a call.
- It's free to set up.
If you run a café, salon or anything visual and social, Facebook (and Instagram) should definitely be part of your marketing.
Where a Facebook page falls short
1. You don't own it
Your page lives under Meta's terms, which Meta sets and can change [1]. If an account is hacked or restricted, or the feed changes how many people see your posts, there's little you can do about it. Your own domain name and website are under your control.
2. Not everyone uses Facebook
Facebook isn't equally popular with everyone. Ofcom's research finds UK Facebook use leans towards adults aged 35 and over, while younger adults spend more time on YouTube and Instagram [2]. A website works for anyone with a browser, whether or not they have a Facebook account.
3. It's weak on Google
When someone searches "dog groomer in Leicester" or "emergency electrician Swindon", the results are often a mix of local map listings and websites. Facebook pages can show up, especially for searches on your business name. But a website with a page for each service and area gives you far more chances to match what people search for.
4. Important information gets buried
Your prices, opening hours, the areas you cover and your booking process get lost in a feed of posts. A customer who wants to know "do they do gel nails and how much?" has to scroll. On a website, it's one tap away.
5. It looks less established
Fair or not, some customers may see a business with only a Facebook page as a hobby or side hustle. A website, especially with a matching email address like hello@yourbusiness.co.uk, helps show you're a proper business, which can matter more for higher-value work.
6. Limited control over how you look
Facebook pages all follow the same layout. You can't really design it, structure it or add things like a proper booking system, a menu or a portfolio laid out how you want.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Facebook page | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to set up | Free | From a few hundred pounds |
| You own it | No | Yes |
| Found on Google for services | Sometimes | More chances, with good SEO |
| Works for people without Facebook | Not fully | Yes |
| Shows prices, services and areas clearly | Hard | Easy |
| Updates and community | Excellent | OK |
| Looks professional | Fine | Better |
| Booking and enquiry forms | Basic | Fully flexible |
So which do you need?
For most local businesses the honest answer is both, doing different jobs:
- Your website is your shop window and your home base. It can be found on Google, holds all the key information, belongs to you, and builds trust.
- Your Facebook page is your noticeboard. It's for day-to-day updates, community, photos and conversation, and it sends people to your website to book or enquire.
They work best together. Link your website from your Facebook page (and from your Google Business Profile, if you have one), put your Facebook link on your website, and share new website pages or offers on Facebook.
When a Facebook page alone might be enough (for now)
To be fair, a Facebook-only approach can work if:
- You're just testing a new business idea
- All your work comes from one local community group
- You're fully booked with no plans to grow
Even then, register your domain name now (a .co.uk is usually under £10 a year [3]) so nobody else takes it.
Getting a website without the hassle
One reason businesses stick with Facebook is that a website sounds like a lot of work: meetings, writing copy, technical decisions. It doesn't have to be.
At Yesmo, everything happens by email. Send us your business name, town, what you do and a link to your Facebook page. We'll use what's already there (your photos, your services, and reviews with the reviewer's permission) to build a proof of your new website. Happy? Reply "yes" and you're live.
Prices start at £549 (no VAT to add: prices are final) for a Starter site of up to 5 pages, or £79 a month with no build fee upfront (your first £79 month is due at sign-up), with hosting and Care included (24-month minimum). See our prices and what a website really costs.
The bottom line
A Facebook page is a great free tool, but it's rented space with limited reach on Google. A website is something you control, it can be found by new customers, and it makes your business look established. Use Facebook to chat. Use your website to win the work.
Got a Facebook page already? Send us the link at hello@yesmo.co.uk and we'll turn it into a proper website, with no calls needed.
Sources
Checked by web search on 13 Oct 2026. 1. Meta, Terms of Service: https://www.facebook.com/terms 2. Ofcom, Online Nation 2025 report: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-and-attitudes/online-habits/online-nation 3. Namecheap, .co.uk registration pricing (shown in US dollars, so "under £10" is a conversion): https://www.namecheap.com/domains/registration/cctld/co-uk/