Mini lesson · 4-minute read

Is a Facebook page enough for a small business?

Short answer: it's a great start, but it's not a website. Here's why it matters, and what to do about it without spending a fortune.

What customers want in the first 5 seconds

When someone finds you on Google, they're looking for three things: what you sell, when you're open, and how to reach you. A Facebook page buries those under weeks of posts, and anyone without a Facebook account often hits a "log in to continue" wall.

4 problems with Facebook-only businesses

• Google ranks websites, not Facebook posts. When people search "bakery near me," Google favors businesses with a real site linked to their Google listing.
• You don't control the layout. Facebook decides what shows first, and it changes often.
• Menus and prices get lost. A photo of a menu from 2023 isn't something Google can read.
• It looks less established. Many customers check for a website before trying somewhere new.

A simple checklist you can do this week

• Make sure your Google Business Profile has correct hours, including holidays.
• Add 5 fresh photos to your Google listing.
• Reply to your last 10 Google reviews.
• Check what your Google listing's "Website" button links to. If it's Facebook or a delivery app, that's the gap to fix.

What a basic website actually needs

One page is enough to start: your name and what you do, hours and location, a menu or service list, photos, reviews, and a big call or order button. It should load fast on a phone. That's it.

Want to see what yours could look like? See how we build restaurant websites in St. Pete.