Website or Social Media. What’s Best For Your Business?

A website provides an anchor to your company’s online presence and builds instant credibility.
On the other hand, social networking platforms offer a great way to engage and share with a built-in audience. So, the million dollar question is; which is more important? Both social networks and branded websites work for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and have the potential to reach a global audience, how do you choose?

A Website, An Online Home For Your Business

If your business does not have a website or has one that looks chancey, it leaves a bad impression on people and plants a seed of doubt. In direct contrast, a professional website can establish instant validity for your brand. Your website can be a few simple pages with basic information about your business, it can be an elaborate multimedia sales site, or something in between. Regardless of which is the type of website you choose,  it should always be designed thoughtfully, responsive for all devices, and have valuable content and strong call to actions. 

What About Social Media

Why can’t I just have a Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social media page instead? The simple answer? Control. Think of renting vs owning a home. When you own a house, it’s easy to make improvements. On the other hand, if you are renting, all changes must fall under your landlord’s rules. The same principle applies to websites and social media. When you use a network like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, you are renting space from them, and they have all the control. And at any moment, much like Myspace, it could all just disappear. Having a website allows YOU to be in total control of your online marketing.

Use Social Media To Promote Your Business

Using social media in combination with your company website intensifies your credibility and is like marketing gold. Social media can play a vital role in your marketing strategy. However, it’s super easy to pop up a Facebook page…. so easy anyone can do it. This means social networks can be a breeding ground for scammers. But with over a billion users on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and other social platforms, you cannot afford to forgo a presence on these sites because they provide such a large base of potential customers. Of course each social media network has different benefits and a unique audience. To boost your marketing power we recommend being on all the major networks, as well as some of the niche platforms to reach more of your potential audience. If you have any questions or would like us to give you some expertise knowledge on which platforms may best benefit your brand, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Facebook- Reaches a massive global audience. In fact, they are second only to massive search engine giant Google in US website traffic. They also offer competitive advertising rates when compared to Google.

Twitter- Is great for posting newsworthy topics and is #8 in the US for website traffic.

Google+ – Helps your organic search rankings and can be especially helpful if you have a physical location. Being backed by the world’s largest search engine helps this social networking site pack a powerful punch.

YouTube – Is best for posting how-to videos, testimonials or content of your employees “in the field” for a personal. It is the #2 search engine in the world and #3 most visited site in the US.

LinkedIn- Very beneficial for B2B companies and networking. #10 in US web traffic.

Foursquare- An added bonus for brick-and-mortar locations

Instagram – Visual social network for posting pictures and short video content. #18 in US website traffic.

Pinterest – An online “pin board” of topics ranging from how-to information, fashion, food, niche products and everything in between. It is the fastest growing social network and ranks #13 US website visitors.   

In review; The Pros & Cons Associated with Websites and Social Media:

Social Media Pros:

• Quick – Social pages are relatively simple to set up
• Low-commitment – If a certain social profile isn’t getting the job done, simply delete the page or just show it less attention.
• Engagement – Social media encourages interaction, allowing you to communicate and build relationships with customers
• Branding – Customers can learn about the business’s values and purpose through status updates and how you interact with them which can lead to brand loyalty.

Social Media Cons:

• Limited design – You have to follow their layout. The only design customizations you get are your header and profile pictures.
• Open forum – Customers can ask questions, give feedback and can sometimes leave damaging complaints. In other words, users can put comments on your page or tag your page in photos and statuses and there is nothing you can do about it.
• Limited Analytics– Reporting is limited when compared to a website. You only have access to information the social network chooses to give you.
• No ownership – The provider’s terms and conditions control what content and promotions can be posted. Consider what would happen if the social site shuts down. Would you lose your only online presence?

Website Pros:

• Cost effective – There are a variety of options available, ranging from basic to elaborate. If done properly, a website should always provide a positive return on investment (ROI) for the business.
• Credibility – Consumers expect companies to have websites. A business is trusted more if it has a website.
• Control – When you own a website, you have choices about how it looks and functions.
• Better Marketing – A website has more space to market your business the way you want.  You can also include features such as videos, reviews, blogs and special discounts.
• Less Overhead Cost– Your  website can be a useful source of information for potential customers, therefore reducing your employment costs or saving you valuable time.
• 24-hour availability – You can be  “open for business” 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world.

Website Cons:

• Maintenance – Keeping content current requires time and effort.
• Complex – With more advanced designs and functionalities, comes more money and time commitments.
• More Effort – You need website visitors. That means you have to implement a marketing strategy.

TBA Marketing is a click or call away!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation for a marketing analysis, website development, or if you are ready to put us to work, please do not hesitate to message or call 813-501-2932. Thanks for reading!