Website vs Facebook for your local business. Which is better?

With so many different types of online media it's hard to know which ones actually bring in more clients. Many businesses start with either a Facebook page or a website, but which is better? This breakdown compares the two so you can know what's worth your time.

Facebook for Local Business

To many, it often feels easier to start with a Facebook page. People are more familiar with the layout and can set one up in about 20 minutes. It costs nothing to create a page and has a reach of approximately 55 to 58 million active users in the United Kingdom, that's roughly 80-84% of the population (NapoleonCat, Feb 2026). This may seem like a no-brainer but let's look at the pros and cons.

Pros of a Facebook page:

• No up-front cost: Setting up a Facebook page is completely free of cost.

• Massive user base: Access to potentially millions of new customers.

• Fast setup: For many, setup can be done in under 30 minutes.

• Two way contact: Customers can message you, or you can reach out first.

Cons of a Facebook page:

• Content lifespan: Facebook require a fresh flow of regular content, this can be time consuming without social media management.

• Minimal customisation: Facebook owns the platform, not you, layout is rigid beyond basic text, banner and logo changes.

• Lower Google Visibility: Facebook posts are harder to rank on Google than a web page.

Websites for local Business

For others, a website is the obvious initial choice, pay a web developer once and never have to market again, right? Not quite.

For over 30 years websites have been considered the heart of the internet for business owners, simply owning one in the early days of the internet was a sure-fire way to bring in new work.

But with now over 1 billion websites on the internet, the competition has never been tougher, especially with new AI search engines growing in users. This leaves many wondering whether a website is still worth it?

Pros of a Website:

• Evergreen content: Webpages are built once and stay up as long as you like.

• High search results: Rank high for local search terms like "near me".

• Complete content control: Show customers exactly who you are and what you do with full control over how it looks.

• Credibility: Websites feel more trustworthy to customers when parting with their money.

Cons of a Website:

• Security and maintenance: Without the technical knowledge, websites are at risk of getting outdated and hacked.

• Slower results: Traffic can take a while to build up without active marketing.

• High costs: Agencies could take advantage of clients not know what they should be paying for a website.

How a Facebook page and a website work together

The truth is, Facebook and websites work best when paired together. Both are vital tools for local business in 2026.

From Facebook to website

The two platforms can work perfectly at either end of the customer journey. With a flow of engaging content, you can start to capture attention and build your brand awareness. Once a customer has watched a few reels and posts they may want to find out more about your business, and head over to your website where they can get in touch.

Amplify your content

When you have an important sale, case study or message for potential customers, multiple platforms will always be better than one. By sharing your blogs to Facebook and your posts to your home page you can expand your reach and bring in more business.

In summary

Most local businesses would benefit from utilising both Facebook and a website, but only if managed regularly and professionally. When done properly, you can build a keen audience on social media that turns into real revenue over on your website.

For busy business owners, getting some help from an online expert makes the process faster and easier. We offer a free, no-obligation online business audit on this page here - Free online business audit