Finestkind Web Design

Social Media Questions: Do I need a Facebook Page, a Google Page or a LinkedIn profile instead of a website?

Facebook’s advantage is that it is fast and easy to set up. In less than 60 minutes, you can be on the web with a unique FB address. There is no cost to set up the page. They have built-in tracking features and promotion (should you choose to set up an account and pay for the advertising). There is a reason they are so popular: people know how to use the site, what to expect, and how to connect to other users. This is a big advantage and Finestkind Web Design recommends a Facebook presence for most of our customers. Whether it should be your only website is a whole different issue however.

Social Media Advantages:

Easy to delete if you find it has outlived its purpose or causes more frustration than good.
Messages are less formal and customers are more likely to engage by sending a Facebook message without having to fill out a form.
You have control over your look and feel; your branding will improve if you tend it and put a face on the business.

Social Media Disadvantages:

Cookie cutter templates: your social media page has only so many options and variations on the ways it can look.
You cannot add features they do not yet offer such as a shopping cart or embedded fixed media.
Lack of control over customer feedback may lead to surprises on your page if you leave the posting of comments unrestricted. Customers may choose to use social media as a soapbox from which to air their grievances.
Dumbed down website analytics: the social media mavens only share part of the picture.
Your content must conform to the social media rules for the site in question.

For most businesses, you should have a website as well as a social media page.