Web Design
—4 August 2026
Website vs Social Media: What Small Businesses Should Invest In First
A website gives your small business a stable, searchable home online, while social media helps you reach new people and start conversations. I explain where to invest first and how to use both channels together without stretching your budget.
For small businesses, an online presence is no longer optional. People use it to find you, check what you offer, compare their options and decide whether to get in touch. But when time and budget are limited, the question is often: should you invest in a website or social media first?
I do not think it is simply a choice between one or the other. A small business website and social media accounts do different jobs. The best starting point depends on how customers currently find you, what action you need them to take and how much you can realistically maintain.
My general recommendation is to build a clear, professional website first, then use social media to bring people to it. Your website is the home you control; social media is a useful way to start conversations, stay visible and reach new audiences.
Your website is your business’s online home
I think of a website as your digital storefront. Unlike a social media profile, it is a space you control. You can shape the design, messaging, pages, calls to action and customer journey around what your business needs, rather than around another company’s algorithm, rules or changing features.
Your website should give customers the information they need before they buy or contact you. This may include your services or products, prices or pricing guidance where appropriate, opening hours, location, contact details, testimonials and clear next steps. If you sell online, it can also provide product information, secure checkout and e-commerce functionality.
A professional small business website is especially important for credibility. When someone hears about you through a recommendation, Google search, local listing or social post, they will often look for a website to confirm that you are established and trustworthy.
I recommend treating your website as the place where customers can always find your official information and take meaningful action, such as making an enquiry, booking, calling, signing up or purchasing.
Why a website supports long-term growth
Ownership: You control your pages, content, customer journey and branding.
Search visibility: Useful, well-optimised pages can appear on Google when people are actively searching for your services.
Conversions: You can guide visitors towards an enquiry form, phone call, booking or sale without competing with a busy social feed.
Evergreen value: Service pages, FAQs, case studies and helpful articles can keep working for your business over time.
Social media helps you stay visible and connected
Social media is excellent for outreach, engagement and showing the human side of your business. In my experience, it works particularly well for informal communication, quick updates, behind-the-scenes content, customer stories, promotions and conversations with your local community.
These platforms can help new customers discover you and give existing customers reasons to remember you. A regular, realistic posting rhythm can build familiarity and trust, especially for businesses with visual work, seasonal offers, events or an active local audience.
However, I would not recommend relying on social media alone. Organic reach can change without warning, platforms can alter their priorities, and an account can be restricted or lost. Posts also move quickly, which makes it difficult for customers to find important information days or weeks later.
Use social media to attract attention and build relationships, but give people a website where they can find clear information and take the next step.
Where should you invest first?
If you are starting from scratch, I would usually prioritise a simple, well-structured website before trying to build a large social following. It does not need every possible feature on day one. A focused website with clear service information, contact details, testimonials and a strong call to action is far more useful than an unfinished site or a social profile with no destination beyond a direct message.
There are exceptions. If you are testing a new idea, running a short-term event or building a highly visual brand, social media can help you learn what interests people quickly. Even then, I think it is worth having at least a basic website or landing page that explains what you do and gives people a reliable way to contact you.
Use your website and social media together
The strongest approach is to let each channel do the job it does best. Use social posts to share useful ideas, recent work, customer feedback and timely updates. Then link people to the relevant page on your website, whether that is a service page, booking page, product collection or article.
Your website should also make it easy for visitors to find your social channels if they want more regular updates. This creates a connected online presence without asking either channel to do everything.
I recommend starting with the foundations: a website that clearly explains your business and makes contacting or buying from you easy. Once that is in place, social media can become a valuable extension of your marketing rather than the only place your business exists online.
