Why You Need to Own Your Online Presence (and Not Just Rely on Social Media)
If you’re like many small business owners, your Facebook or Instagram page has probably felt like your main “online presence.” It’s quick, easy, and free to set up. Customers can find your hours, see your posts, and even message you directly.
But here’s the hard truth: relying on social media alone to represent your business online is risky.
It’s like renting a booth at someone else’s market. You don’t set the rules, and at any time, the landlord can change the terms.
To build a strong, lasting presence that actually grows your business, you need to own your space online. That means having your own website, your own customer list, and your own plan for how people find you. Social media is a great tool, but it should never be the foundation.
Here’s why.
1. Social Media Doesn’t Belong to You
When you post on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, you’re publishing on platforms that you don’t control. That means:
- Algorithms decide who sees you. Even if you have 1,000 followers, only a fraction actually see your posts unless you pay for ads.
- Your account can be restricted or suspended at any time, sometimes without explanation.
- Trends shift quickly. Remember when everyone was on MySpace? Or when Facebook pages had amazing reach? Those days are gone.
If your entire online presence is built on rented land, you’re always at the mercy of someone else’s rules.
Your website, on the other hand, is your digital home base. You set the rules. You control the look, the message, and how people experience your brand.
2. A Website Builds Credibility and Trust
Think about your own habits. When you look up a business, what makes you trust them more:
- A Facebook page last updated six months ago, or
- A clean, professional website with clear info, services, and contact details?
A website instantly signals legitimacy. It says you’re serious, reliable, and established. For many customers, especially new ones a website is the deciding factor between doing business with you or moving on.
In small towns, reputation matters. Online, it’s the same. Your website is your handshake, your storefront, your first impression.
3. Customers Use Google First, Not Social Media
When someone needs a plumber, yoga class, or a local bakery, they don’t type it into Facebook, they Google it.
If you don’t have a website (and a properly set up Google Business Profile), you’re invisible in those search results. That means you’re missing out on one of the most powerful ways to get new customers: showing up when they’re already looking for what you offer.
Social media is great for keeping in touch with existing customers. But to grow? You need to be searchable and findable outside of those platforms.
4. You Can Own Your Customer Relationships
On social media, you don’t own your followers. They belong to the platform. If Instagram disappeared tomorrow, how would you reach your customers?
With your own website and tools like email newsletters, you can build a direct line to your audience. Collecting emails, offering updates, or running promotions through your own system means you’re not dependent on algorithms to keep in touch.
This isn’t just safer, it’s more powerful. Email marketing consistently outperforms social media when it comes to engagement and sales, because you’re talking directly to people who’ve chosen to hear from you.
5. Social Media Is Noisy. Your Website Is Focused.
On Facebook or Instagram, you’re competing with everything from baby photos, news stories to viral memes. Your message is one of hundreds in a scrolling feed.
On your website, it’s just you. No distractions, no competitors showing up beside you. Visitors are focused on your business and your offer.
This is where you can guide them through the journey you want: from learning about your services to seeing your work. And that will take them to booking, buying, or contacting you.
6. Your Website Grows With You
Maybe today you just need a simple site with your hours and services. But as your business grows, you might want to:
- Add online booking
- Sell products through an online shop
- Share blog posts or resources
- Create a portfolio or client gallery
- Add events or workshops
Your website can scale with you. Social media will always be limited by what the platform allows.
7. Social Media Works Best as a Support Tool
This doesn’t mean you should ignore social media, it’s still valuable. But instead of being your only online presence, think of it as a tool to drive people back to your website.
- Share blog posts from your site to your Facebook page.
- Use Instagram to show off new products and link to your shop.
- Run promotions that direct people to sign up for your email list.
This way, social media works in your favour feeding into the online presence that you actually own and control.
8. Small-Town Businesses Have a Big Opportunity
Here’s the exciting part: in small towns like the Comox Valley, many businesses still don’t have strong websites. That means there’s a huge opportunity to stand out.
When your competitors rely only on Facebook pages, your professional website instantly puts you ahead. It shows customers you’re serious, reliable, and easier to work with.
Being “the business that’s easy to find online” often makes the difference between landing the customer or losing them to someone else.
9. Your Website Works 24/7 (So You Don’t Have To)
Unlike a social media post that disappears from feeds in 24 hours, your website keeps working for you day and night.
- Customers can learn about you anytime.
- They can book or buy while you sleep.
- Google keeps sending new people your way.
Think of it as an employee that never takes a break.
Final Thoughts: Build on Solid Ground
Social media is powerful but it should never be the foundation of your business online. That foundation needs to be something you own: your website, your content, your customer list.
When you own your online presence, you’re not at the mercy of algorithms, account bans, or trends. You’re building something solid, lasting, and ready to grow with you.
So if you’ve been relying only on Facebook or Instagram, now is the time to take the next step. Invest in your own space online, and watch how much easier it becomes for customers to find you, trust you, and choose you.
Ready to Own Your Online Presence?
At DesignOnlineResults, I help local businesses in the Comox Valley and beyond build websites that get found and grow. Whether you just need a simple online presence, a professional upgrade, or a full online shop, I make the process simple and affordable.
? Let’s chat about where your business is today, and the next best steps to get you found online.
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