FREE WEBSITE VS. FACEBOOK - WHICH FIRST?
FREE WEBSITE VS. FACEBOOK - WHICH FIRST?
So you've decided it is time to
establish an online presence for your business. Your buddy suggests getting
your own website; your teenage nephew says, Facebook Page is free and not to
mention the millions of users you can reach!
NOW WHICH ONE DO YOU CHOOSE, YOUR OWN WEBSITE OR A FACEBOOK PAGE?
Creating a Facebook Page is easy.
Signup. Write. Post. Tada! Your page is now accessible to millions of potential
customers.
Facebook Pages, or any social
networking sites give you an extra reach you don't get with your website. It
can help you promote your business to a massive audience without costing you a
dime. It allows you to develop your company image and get creative with your
audiences and customers.
However, to develop a long term
business strategy and loyal customers, you need your own website, and here's
why:
Problems with social networking
sites:
·
No ownership, no
control. Social networking sites can change its policies, lose data, or one day
goes out of business, all at their own discretion.
·
Not everyone is on
social media networking sites. For example, the majority of Facebook users in
the United States are female between the ages of 18-25.
·
A social media
networking site URL doesn't deliver the professionalism a website URL does.
Would you buy from an online business that only has a Facebook Page and not
their own website?
Your website should always be the
foundation of your company's online presence. It plays an important part in how
your business is seen online.
If the main reason why you would
consider a Facebook Page and not your own website is because setting up a
Facebook Page is free, then maybe you should know that setting up your own
website with your own domain name is not as expensive as you'd think. Many free
web hosting companies offer free web hosting services if you purchase a domain
name from them. Take advantage of the competitive web hosting market, look for
a free web hosting company that also offers free email services, a free website
creator and applications to help you build your website, and most of all, no
forced ads.
Your own "http://www.yourbusiness.com" , complete
with a decent-looking website and @yourbusiness.com email addresses - now
that's the kind of online presence that your business needs, first.