Do I Need a Website If My Business Is on Facebook and Instagram?

Many small businesses in Montreal and across Quebec started with a Facebook page or an Instagram account. It is free, quick and your customers are already there. So it is fair to ask: if social media is working, why spend time and money on a website? The short answer is that social platforms and websites do different jobs, and relying only on one leaves your business exposed.

Owned vs rented: the core difference

Your Facebook page and Instagram profile live on someone else’s property. Meta decides how your posts are displayed, who sees them, what features you get and what content is allowed. You can build a large audience there, but you never fully own it.

A website is different. You own the domain, the content and, if set up properly, the data you collect through forms and newsletter sign-ups. You decide the layout, the message and the path a visitor follows. Think of social media as renting a kiosk in a busy mall and your website as owning your own storefront.

Google search still drives many buying decisions

When people need a plumber, a dentist, a restaurant or an accountant, many start on Google, not on Instagram. They type searches such as “renovation contractor Laval” or “restaurant italien Plateau” and click on the results that answer their question.

Social media pages can appear in search results, but they rarely rank for the specific service and location searches that bring in customers. A website with dedicated service pages, clear location information and helpful content gives Google much more to work with. It also strengthens your Google Business Profile, since a linked, relevant website is one of the signals that supports local visibility.

Trust and credibility

Customers often check a business before contacting it. A professional website answers key questions quickly: who you are, what you offer, where you work, how to reach you and what other customers say. For many people, a business without a website looks less established, especially for larger purchases or B2B services.

In Quebec, a website also lets you present your business properly in both French and English, with complete information in each language, something that is hard to organize on a social profile.

Converting visitors into customers

Social media is excellent for discovery and engagement, but it is not built to convert. Posts move down the feed, information is scattered and the path to buying is often unclear. A website can:

• Present each service or product with detail, pricing information and photos
• Offer quote forms, online booking or a full online store
• Answer common questions in an FAQ to reduce back-and-forth messaging
• Capture email addresses so you can follow up without depending on an algorithm
• Track which pages and campaigns produce leads, with proper consent

If you run ads on Facebook or Instagram, sending people to a focused landing page on your own site also gives you more control over the message and better measurement.

The risks of relying only on social media

Businesses that depend entirely on one platform face real risks:

• Algorithm changes: organic reach can drop with little warning, so posts reach fewer of your followers
• Account problems: pages and ad accounts can be restricted, hacked or disabled, and getting them back can take time
• Policy changes: rules on content, ads and features change regularly
• Limited data: you cannot easily export your followers or contact them directly outside the platform
• Platform popularity: audiences shift between networks over time

None of this means social media is a bad investment. It means it should not be your only foundation.

Social media vs website at a glance

How your website and social media work together

The most effective setup treats them as partners:

1. Social media attracts: share photos, behind-the-scenes content, promotions and customer stories to build awareness
2. The website converts: link your bio, posts and ads to specific pages on your site where people can book, buy or request a quote
3. Content flows both ways: turn a popular post into a blog article, and share your new website articles on social
4. Email keeps the relationship: use your site to grow a newsletter list you own
5. Reviews reinforce trust: encourage Google reviews and feature real testimonials on your site

Remember that if your website collects personal information or uses tracking tools such as the Meta Pixel, Quebec’s Law 25 requires a clear privacy policy and consent for those technologies.

When social media alone might be enough

For a very small side business, a pop-up or a business still testing an idea, a well-managed social profile can be a reasonable starting point. But as soon as you want to rank on Google, take bookings, sell online or look established to larger clients, a website becomes essential.

A website does not have to be large to be effective. A starter site with a strong home page, one page per main service, an about page, a contact page with a form, and a privacy policy can already cover the essentials. You can add a blog, online booking or a store later as the business grows. What matters most is that the site is fast on mobile, clearly explains what you offer in French and English, and makes the next step obvious, whether that is calling, booking or requesting a quote.

The bottom line

Facebook and Instagram are powerful for reaching people, but they are rented space with rules you do not control. A website gives you an owned home base that appears in search, builds credibility and turns interest into revenue. Use both, with social media feeding your website. If you need a website that works hand in hand with your social channels, Loubane can help.

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