1. You don't own it.
One of the most significant drawbacks to using a Facebook page as your business website is that you don't own the page. It belongs to Facebook, and they can change it, remove it, or make it hard to find in search results at any time. This lack of control can be frustrating and potentially damaging to your business, especially if you've invested a significant amount of time and effort in building your Facebook presence.
2. You eliminate non-Facebook users.
While Facebook has over two billion users, many still don't use the platform, particularly in younger and older demographics. Relying solely on a Facebook page for your online presence risks missing out on these potential customers. While it's true that not everyone uses social media, it's essential to consider all possible channels for reaching your audience.
3. SEO options are limited.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website in search engine results. While it's possible to optimize a Facebook page to an extent, you are limited in the keywords you can target and the content you can post. Additionally, a Facebook page will only appear in search results once, whereas a website with multiple pages has the potential to appear numerous times. This can make it more difficult for potential customers to locate your business online.
4. You may have to pay for ads to get seen.
Facebook is in business to generate revenue, and it employs a "freemium" model to achieve this. While creating a Facebook page and posting updates is free, the reach of those posts is often quite limited. To increase the visibility of your posts to a broader audience, you may need to consider purchasing ads. While this may not be a significant cost for some businesses, it's important to factor it into your marketing budget.
5. Functionality is limited.
On a Facebook page, you can post updates, upload photos, and use Facebook Messenger to chat with customers. However, the functionality of a Facebook page is quite limited compared to a website. A website allows you to create forms, add e-commerce functionality, and create custom pages and posts with a wider range of formatting options.
6. There's no sales funnel.
A sales funnel is a series of steps that a potential customer goes through on their way to making a purchase. On a website, you can use calls-to-action, landing pages, and other tactics to guide users through the sales process. With a Facebook page, you don't have the same level of control, and therefore, you don't have the same ability to guide users towards making a purchase.
7. Content is limited.
While writing an "About Us" section and posting updates on a Facebook page is possible, there isn't a dedicated space to post in-depth content that can draw in users and improve your search engine ranking. On the other hand, a website allows you to create blog posts, articles, and different types of content that can help you attract and retain customers.
8. You can't brand the page.
You can add a cover image and upload a profile picture on a Facebook page, but you can't brand the page beyond that. On the other hand, a website allows you to choose your color scheme, fonts, and design elements to create a cohesive and professional look.
9. Searching for content is difficult.
You can save, organize, and make pages and posts searchable on a website. This makes it easy to find and refer back to older content. The options for saving and organizing content on a Facebook page are much more limited, and there is no way to export your content. This makes it difficult for you and your customers to find and refer back to older posts.
10. Analytics and data are lacking.
Finally, the analytics and data available on a Facebook page are not as robust as those on a website. While Facebook provides some information on your posts' reach and engagement, it's not as detailed or customizable as the analytics you can get from a website. This makes it more challenging to track the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make informed, data-driven decisions about your business.
