Facebook or Website? ... that is NOT the question

I had an interesting experience the other day. A client recently at KAYWEB called me and said:

"Haig, my business associate told me that I don't need the website I have commissioned you to build for my business. I can apparently simply create a Facebook page and bring in business in droves. And it's free!"

Having done business with hundreds of small business owners and entrepreneurs over the years, my attitude to all questions is to treat them with respect. The internet is a "newer" industry and assuming a level of knowledge in your clients is never advisable, as it will lead to important pieces of information not being passed on.

My response was:

"A Facebook page or presence on any social network is a wonderful way to spread your message as a business. But your website IS your message. It is your shopfront, where if someone comes to buy milk, you can also convince that customer to buy some bread and junk food."

A Facebook page is a great way to bring people to your website; your virtual shopfront and convert these people to paying customers and clients.

It is true that my company KAYWEB designs and develops websites, but please take this blog as advice rather than a sales pitch :)