We tackle the common question about which is better to promote your business…Social Media or a Website? As a website specialist, the answer might actually surprise you.

The Benefits of Having Both a Website and Social Media Presence

While my answer would always be a website, I’ll explain why leveraging both a website and social media presence are important to bring your business to the next level.

Social Media as a Platform for Your Website

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn are great tools for nurturing your business’s foundation, which should be your website. Starting with a social media account when you don’t have the funds to invest in a website is a good low-cost alternative. But as your business grows, it’s important to ensure the information you provide is clear, concise, and structured to provide the best user experience.

The main downside of using social media as your sole platform is that the layout is fixed, making it difficult to customize. Customers may have difficulty finding the information they’re looking for. A website offers customization, allowing you to put key information front and center, making it easier for customers to access.

Customizing Your Website

Also, dealing with communications through direct messages (DMs) via social media platforms is really hard to manage.

A website can be customized to efficiently run your business, enabling you to collect all the key information about your services on specific pages, which makes it easier for customers to sort through. A website can also help you to organize your communications, making it easier for your customers to find the answers they’re looking for.

A website can also integrate easily with third-party platforms, like Mailchimp, Convertkit or ActiveCampaign (just to name a few Customer Relationship Management tools) to organize your communications and feed into specific sales funnels.

Social Media as a Tool for Boosting Your Website

If you’ve developed a consistent theme for your social media account (for eg, a consistent font, color or type of imagery), much of what you’ve posted can easily transition into the website branding process. This can save you a lot of time and money by brainstorming with a web designer to create the appropriate branding styles for your website.

Credibility

Having a website can also lend credibility to your business, making it easier for customers to trust your products or services. Social media alone may not be enough to establish your brand’s credibility.

Key Take-Aways

Website (no Social Media)

For website owners, it’s time to open up an Instagram or Facebook page and start converting your website content into social media posts. You can use free tools like ChatGPT to help with this. This will help you reach a wider audience and engage with potential customers in a more personalized way.

Social Media (with no Website)

For those with social media accounts but no website, it’s important to consolidate all your key information into specific areas, making it easier for clients to find what they need. You can also organize your communications with clients through a website, rather than relying solely on direct messages.

Additionally, pay attention to your recurring colors, themes, and imagery on social media. You can carry over this branding to your website for a cohesive look and feel.

Conclusion

A website and social media presence are both important tools for promoting your business. While a website serves as the foundation, social media platforms can help you nurture that foundation. Social media can also be used to brand your website, and having a website can lend credibility to your business.