Website or Social Media: Which Should You Pick for Your Business in 2025?

"Do I really need a website when I'm already on Instagram?" This question comes up in almost every conversation I have with new clients. I get it - social media feels easier, faster, and more engaging than building a website from scratch.

After creating hundreds of websites over the past seven years, I've watched businesses succeed and fail with both approaches. Some entrepreneurs build massive followings on TikTok but struggle to make actual sales. Others launch simple websites and immediately start booking clients.

The truth? You're asking the wrong question. It's not about picking one over the other.

Why Social Media Feels Like the Obvious Choice

Instagram makes everything look effortless. Post a photo, add some hashtags, and watch the likes roll in. No coding required, no hosting fees, no technical headaches. Plus, people actually see your content right away.

The benefits are hard to ignore:

• Instant engagement and feedback

• Free organic reach (when the algorithm cooperates)

• Built-in discovery through hashtags and explore pages

• Direct messaging with potential customers

• Visual storytelling that builds emotional connections

I've watched clients go from zero to thousands of followers in months. The engagement feels real, the growth feels exciting, and the investment feels minimal. When a post goes viral, it can bring immediate attention to your business.

But I've also watched those same clients lose everything overnight.

Last year, one of my clients had her Instagram account disabled without warning. Fifteen thousand followers, three years of content, countless hours of work - gone. Instagram's appeal process took two months, and she never got a real explanation for why it happened.

Social media platforms control everything. They decide who sees your posts, when they see them, and whether your account stays active. You're building someone else's empire, not your own.

Websites Still Matter More Than You Think

When you own a website, you control the conversation. No algorithm decides whether your customers can find your pricing information. No platform can delete years of testimonials because they changed their community guidelines.

Google processes over 8.5 billion searches daily. People search for solutions to their problems, and they expect to find real businesses with real websites. Your Instagram bio link doesn't carry the same weight as a professional website when someone's deciding whether to trust you with their money.

What websites give you that social media can't:

• Complete ownership of your content and customer data

• Search engine visibility when people Google your services

• Professional credibility that social profiles simply can't match

• Detailed information organized exactly how you want it

• Lead capture systems that actually convert browsers into buyers

I see this play out constantly. A potential client finds you through social media, but then they Google your business name. If they only find social profiles, you've already lost credibility points. If they find a polished website with clear information about your services, pricing, and background, you're ahead of 90% of your competition.

Websites also convert better. When someone lands on your Instagram profile, they're still in browsing mode. When they visit your website, they're in research mode - actively looking for solutions. That mindset shift makes all the difference for your sales.

Using Both Makes More Sense

Most successful businesses don't choose sides. They use social media to build relationships and websites to close deals.

Think about your own behavior. You might discover a restaurant on Instagram, but you visit their website to check the menu and make a reservation. You follow a fitness coach on TikTok, but you buy their program from their website.

Your social media presence should feel like a conversation. Your website should feel like a business.

I tell my clients to use Instagram and LinkedIn to show their personality, share quick tips, and stay top-of-mind with their audience. Then use their website to showcase their expertise, explain their process, and make it easy for people to hire them.

Which One Your Business Actually Needs

Some businesses can survive on social media alone, at least temporarily. But most service-based businesses need websites from day one.

You might get away with just social media if you:

• Sell simple, visual products under $100

• Operate locally with strong word-of-mouth referrals

• Offer services that don't need much explanation

• Have very limited startup budget

You absolutely need a website when you:

• Sell services worth more than $500

• Target customers who research before buying

• Need to establish professional credibility

• Want to capture leads systematically

• Plan to scale beyond your local area

People don't hire a $5,000 consultant based on a few LinkedIn posts. They want to read detailed case studies, understand your methodology, and see professional testimonials. Social media can't provide that depth.

What This Actually Costs You

I know websites feel expensive compared to "free" social media. But social media isn't really free - you're paying with time and uncertainty. Posting consistently takes hours every week. Growing an organic following takes months or years. And you're always one algorithm change away from losing everything.

A professional website costs more upfront but works for you 24/7. While you're sleeping, potential clients can browse your services, read your testimonials, and fill out contact forms. Your website is making sales pitches you don't have to make.

You can build a solid business website for less than $500 if you use a template. That's less than most businesses spend on Facebook ads in a month, but it lasts for years instead of days.

What I Tell My Clients

Start with a simple website, then grow your social media presence around it. Your website becomes your home base - the place you send everyone for complete information about your business.

Don't overthink the website initially. Five pages covering your services, about you, testimonials, pricing, and contact information will handle 90% of your customer questions. You can always expand later.

Use social media to drive traffic to your website, not replace it. Post valuable content that solves your audience's problems, then invite them to learn more on your website.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds: the reach and engagement of social media, plus the credibility and control of your own website. You're not putting all your eggs in one basket, and you're building something that truly belongs to you.

Your business deserves a foundation that no platform can take away.