top of page
Watt-Consulting-logo
Get Started

Do I Need a Website or Just Social Media? A Straight Answer for Small Businesses

Writer: Ryan Watt
Ryan Watt
11 minutes ago
4 min read
Watt Consulting cover graphic reading “Should You Hire an Agency?” with the subtitle “A five-question test”, set in the brand navy and amber palette with a rising chart and arrow motif.

Most small businesses need both, but if you can only do one well, a simple website plus a complete Google Business Profile usually does more than social media alone. Social media is good at reaching people and building trust; a website is good at being found in search, answering questions, converting visitors, and staying yours. You don't own your social accounts the way you own a website, and search engines and AI assistants read websites far more than social posts.

What does each one actually do?

Job

Website

Social media

Found in Google search

Strong

Weak

Cited in AI answers

Strong

Limited

Reaching people who don't know you

Weak on its own

Strong (especially video)

Answering detailed questions (prices, services, process)

Strong

Weak

Booking, ordering, quote forms

Strong

Limited

Showing personality and day-to-day

Moderate

Strong

Staying in touch with past customers

Weak

Strong

You control and own it

Yes

No — the platform does

They do different jobs. That's why "website vs. social" is usually the wrong question.

What do you lose without a website?

  • Search traffic. People searching "bathroom remodel Seattle" or "gluten-free bakery near me" mostly find websites and Google Business Profiles, not Instagram posts.

  • A link for your Google profile. Your Google Business Profile works better with a website behind it that confirms your services and location.

  • AI visibility. AI assistants that recommend local businesses draw heavily on websites, profiles, and mentions across the web. See how AI decides which Seattle business to recommend.

  • Credibility with some customers. Many people check for a website before calling, especially for bigger purchases.

  • Ownership. If your only presence is an Instagram account and it's hacked, banned, or the platform changes, you start from zero.

What do you lose without social media?

  • Discovery by people who aren't searching yet.

  • Proof of life. Customers check social to see that you're open, active, and real.

  • A relationship with past customers between visits.

  • Word of mouth in neighborhood groups and tags.

What should a small business build first?

On a tight budget, in this order:

  1. Google Business Profile — free, and where many local searches end. Start with Google Business Profile for small business.

  2. A simple website — even a few pages: home, services (or menu), about, contact. Fast, mobile-friendly, with your name, address, phone, and hours.

  3. One social platform where your customers are, kept active.

Then add more pages, a second platform, and ads as the business grows.

How simple can the website be?

Simpler than you think. A good small business site needs:

  • What you do and where, in the first line.

  • Your services or menu, with prices or ranges if you can.

  • Photos of real work, food, or space.

  • Reviews or testimonials.

  • Hours, location or service area, phone, and a contact or booking form.

Five pages done well beat 25 pages nobody updates. See why a website still matters for a local business for what makes a small site work.

When is social media alone enough for now?

For some very small or early businesses — a pop-up, a home baker, a side business — a strong Instagram or Facebook presence plus a Google Business Profile can carry you for a while. Social-media-only business: when it works and when it costs you covers the limits.

How much does each cost?

A social presence costs mostly time. A simple website in Seattle ranges widely — from a few hundred dollars a year on a DIY builder to $2,500–$8,000 for a 5–10 page agency build, based on published Seattle pricing. See how much a website costs in Seattle.

Key Takeaways

  • A website and social media do different jobs; most businesses need both.

  • If you can only do one well, a simple website plus Google Business Profile usually wins.

  • Websites drive search, AI visibility, conversion, and ownership.

  • Social drives discovery, proof of life, and staying in touch.

  • Build in order: Google profile, simple website, one active social platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a small business really need a website?

Most do. A website helps you get found in search, backs up your Google Business Profile, answers customer questions, takes bookings or inquiries, and is the one online presence you fully own.

Can I use Facebook or Instagram instead of a website?

For a short time or a very small business, possibly. But social pages rank poorly in search, give you less control, and can be lost if an account is suspended or hacked.

Is a website or social media better for getting customers?

It depends on how customers find you. People actively searching for a service tend to find websites and Google profiles; people not yet looking tend to discover businesses on social media. Using both covers both paths.

What's the cheapest way to get a business website?

A DIY website builder with a simple template can cost very little per year if you build it yourself. Make sure it's fast, mobile-friendly, and includes your services, hours, location, and contact details.

Want Both Built to Work Together?

Watt Consulting builds websites and runs social media for Seattle-area small businesses as one connected plan. See web design.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page