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No one can dispute the importance of social media for a business. According to a survey from the
B2B research firm Clutch, over 20% of small businesses use social media in place of a website. Now
there’s no problem using social media to boost sales and branding; the problem lies in using it in
place of a website.

Most business owners assume that relying on social media more is less cost-prohibitive. A lot
assume that Facebook and Instagram are enough to cultivate a higher user base. While it’s true that
social media platforms do have that much power, it doesn’t mean that they should forget about
using a legitimate website. Relying on just social media can be very risky for businesses.

“Whenever you put all of your eggs into someone else’s basket, it’s risky. If Facebook changes their
algorithm, there’s nothing you can do,” said Judd Mercer, Creative Director of a web development
firm Elevated Third.

Websites being cost-prohibitive is not really true at all. The Clutch survey revealed that “nearly one-
third of small businesses with websites (28%) report spending $500 or less.”

To be fair, it’s important to cite the pros and cons of using social media instead of website.

So what are the rewards of using social media instead of website? Social media is free and easy to
use. You don’t have to worry about paying for the costs of website hosting and maintenance.

It fosters engagement and caters to visual content. A survey reveals that over 79% of consumers
prefer when brands share their personalities on Facebook.

It’s also the perfect way to do customer service given its accessibility and reach. According to a
survey, 81% of the U.S. population has at least one social media account, and more users sign up
every day.

And what are the risks? Social media can limit your lead generation and can diminish your
branding. The platforms don’t allow the things that a website can provide such as landing pages,
email capture pop-ups, and gated content.

Also, its behavior is out of your control and is not always credible. Facebook and other platforms
are free to change their rules of engagement anytime they wish. For instance, they always change
its algorithm to prioritize the content shared between users. This lessens the organic reach of
business posts on the platform.

Credibility is also a big issue. Despite the popularity of social media, customers still think that a
legitimate business should have a website. According to the American Marketing Association, over
half of consumers (52%) go directly to a company website to learn about a brand. By comparison,
only 25% use social media as their first stop for research.

So this should erase any doubts in your mind that your company needs a website. Not just a
website, but one that will represent the image and values of your business. We Manage IT can help
you make the best website possible for your company. Send us an email at
sales@wemanageit.com.ph and we will be glad to assist you.