The fact that there are more than 40 million business pages on Facebook is definitely some kind of sign. Your business needs a Facebook page. However, many business questions if they need both a Facebook page and a website and the answer is, yes, yes, yes. We say to all the modern wranglers out there—do not get rid of your website (or forego building one) just because you have a significant social media presence. And we have compiled a compelling list of reasons why BOTH are important to your business.
Facebook promotes your services
Posting to your Facebook business page on a regular basis is a necessity. Not only can you promote your services, you can also highlight new products and promotions. In addition to your followers, you can easily increase reach with minimal spend through Facebook Ads.
Tip: When creating a Facebook Ad, take the time to set up your target location and demographics. Even a small $10 ad each week will help build your following and promote your services to a new audience or potential customers.
Your website is an online brochure
From restaurant menus, spa and salon pricing and appointments, to technical repairs and home services—your customers Google you to research their options. They expect a full court display of what you do and who you are so they can make the most informed decision possible. Your customers will also compare your services to your competitors so keep your pages up to date with current features, prices and hours.
Tip: Include testimonials about on your service pages. Reviews stick with customers – 85% of consumers trust them as much as personal recommendations.
Facebook helps you reach more people
Hootsuite reported that the Facebook Messenger app was the most downloaded app of 2018 and likely will be for 2019 as well. When companies utilize Messenger, they connect with their customer base on a personal level. You can set up auto-responses for your business page to provide an immediate interaction, however you will still need to physically access your page and interact with your customer.
Customers have been defaulting to social as their number one outreach platform. They know this is the best way to reach you with a complaint, a question about your services, a request for unique products or to offer suggestions to the business owner.
Tip: Turn on your Facebook Messenger notifications on your phone so that you are aware of any one-on-one requests that come in and can respond appropriately.
Drive customer conversations with your website
When you can drive traffic to your website through Facebook posts, or other social media outlets, you have a golden opportunity to further engage with your customers and drive the conversation to tell the story you want them to remember about your brand. New markdowns to promote? Limited-time special offers? Driving newsletter sign-ups? Your website allows you to engage with customers by highlighting important information and guiding customers through your brand experience.
Tip: If your website has E-commerce capabilities, you can link a “Buy It” button to your post that will direct customers to your product or shopping cart page to finalize the sale.
Read more about how to master lead generation.
Social channels and websites work hand-in-hand to build customer connections and grow sales. Take time to evaluate how you stack up and make any necessary changes to streamline these two entities and watch your business improve.