Facebook pages are free. They're also nearly invisible.
Facebook organic reach has dropped below 5% for business pages. A page with 200 followers reaches roughly 10 people per post. For a café in Saltaire or a plumber in Shipley, that's not a marketing strategy — it's a rounding error.
No. Facebook organic reach has dropped below 5% for business pages. A website you own gives you full control over how customers find and contact you. That's the short answer. Here's the longer one.
Why can't Google find your Facebook page?
When someone in Bradford searches “electrician near me,” Google shows websites, Google Business Profiles, and map results. Facebook pages almost never appear in the local pack — the three results at the top with the map.
Google can't properly index most Facebook content. Your posts, photos, and reviews live behind Meta's walled garden. A website with your services, location, and reviews written in plain HTML is what Google can actually read and rank.
Yes. Social media profiles don't rank well in Google local searches. A website with your services, reviews, and contact details is what appears when someone searches for what you do.
What do you actually own on Facebook?
Nothing. Meta owns the platform, the algorithm, the design, and the data. They've already deprioritised business pages in the news feed twice since 2018. If your Facebook page is your only presence, one algorithm change can make you invisible overnight.
Your website is yours. Your domain, your content, your customer enquiries. Nobody can throttle your visibility because they want you to buy ads.
Facebook vs website: what's the actual difference?
| Facebook Page | Your Own Website | |
|---|---|---|
| Google visibility | Rarely appears in local search | Can rank in search, Maps, and local pack |
| Design control | Same layout as every other page | Fully custom to your brand |
| Who owns it | Meta — they can change rules any time | You — your domain, your content |
| Reach | ~5% of followers see each post | Anyone searching Google 24/7 |
| Customer data | Meta keeps it | You collect enquiries directly |
| Cost | Free (then ads to be seen) | From £79 one-off + £9/mo hosting |
| First impression | Generic, identical to competitors | Professional, builds trust instantly |
Does a Facebook page hurt your credibility?
Not by itself. But if it's your only online presence, it signals something to customers. A Facebook page with an off-centre cover photo and posts from six months ago says “this business isn't paying attention.”
I see this constantly with local businesses around Saltaire and Shipley. The barber has 400 followers but no website. The dog walker posts daily but can't be found on Google. The café by the canal has a PDF menu on Facebook that nobody can read on their phone.
75% of people judge a business's credibility based on their website design. No website at all? That judgement is even harsher.
Do you need both?
Yes. They do different jobs. Facebook is for community — sharing updates, replying to comments, being part of local groups. Your website is for search — appearing when a stranger in Bradford googles what you do and needs to trust you in 10 seconds.
Think of Facebook as the conversation at Roberts Park on a Saturday. Your website is the shop front on Victoria Road. You need both, but the shop front is what actually brings in new customers.
What to do this week
- Google your own business name. If your website doesn't appear in the first three results, you have a problem.
- Search for your service + your area (e.g. “plumber Shipley”). See where you rank — or if you rank at all.
- Look at your Facebook page insights. Check how many people actually see your posts. The number will be lower than you think.
- Consider a proper website. A single-page site with your services, reviews, area, and a contact form starts at £79 and can be live within 48 hours.
Facebook isn't going away, and you don't need to delete your page. But if it's your only online presence in 2026, you're invisible to the 75% of people who start with a Google search. A website fixes that. For more on getting found locally, see the plain English guide to local SEO.