Website or social media? They do different jobs. Here’s what each one is good for, when to start with which, and how to make them work together.
“Do I really need a website? My customers are all on Instagram.” We hear this one a lot, and it’s a fair question. Social media is free to start, quick to set up, and it’s where a lot of your customers already spend time.
The honest answer is that it’s not a contest. A website and your social pages do different jobs. The better question is which to build first, and how to get them working together without burning out. Let’s break it down.
What social media is good at
Social media is where people discover and get to know you. It’s like a busy street or a market: lots of passing traffic, and a chance to be seen by people who weren’t looking for you.
It’s good for:
- Showing your work and your personality in a quick, casual, human way.
- Staying in touch with people who’ve already met you.
- Conversation: comments, messages and replies feel personal.
- Trying things out: a post costs very little, so you can test what people respond to.
What social media isn’t so good at
Social media is somebody else’s platform. You use it on their terms, and those terms can change. The way posts are shown, the rules, the features and the formats are decisions made by the platform, not by you. If the platform changes, or an account has a problem, your business doesn’t get a say.
It’s also a crowded street. Your post sits between friends’ photos, news and a thousand other things. It’s hard to explain your full offer in a caption, and hard for a new visitor to find the one thing they came for.
What a website is good at
A website is your own place. You decide what’s in it, how it looks, how it works and what happens next. It’s your shop with the door and the sign, not a stall at someone else’s market.
A website is good for:
- Answering the questions a new customer has, in one clear place: what you do, where, how much of a fit it is, how to get in touch.
- Looking established. Many people check for a website before they trust a business with money.
- Being found by search. People searching for what you do can land on your pages. A social post is much harder to find later.
- Taking action: booking, buying, enquiring, signing up for your email list.
- Linking everything together. It’s the place your Google profile, your social bios, your ads and your business cards can all point to.
If you sell products, a website with a proper store, something like Shopify or another e-commerce setup, lets customers browse and check out any time, even when you’re asleep.
The difference in one line
Social media is where people meet you. Your website is where they decide.
So which should you build first?
It depends on where you are. Here’s a straightforward way to think about it.
Start with social media first if:
- You’re still testing whether anyone wants what you’re offering, and you want to find out cheaply.
- You sell something very visual and want quick feedback.
- You have no budget yet, but you do have time and a phone.
That’s a perfectly good start. Just treat it as a first step, not the destination.
Start with a website first (or at the same time) if:
- You’re a service business and people need to know exactly what you do, where, and how to book.
- You want to be found when people search for what you offer.
- You want to look credible to new customers or partners.
- You sell online, take bookings or collect enquiries.
- You’re about to spend money on ads. Don’t pay to send people somewhere weak.
For most established small businesses, the answer is both, with a simple website as the home base and social media as the way people find their way to it.
You don’t need a huge website
This is where many owners hesitate. A good first website can be small: a clear home page, your services, a bit about you, proof of your work, and a contact page. If it answers the questions your customers ask and makes the next step obvious, it’s doing its job. You can add to it as you grow.
Make them work together
Once you have both, link them up so each one helps the other.
- Put your website in every social bio. Make sure the page it opens is relevant to someone arriving from there, not a generic homepage they have to dig through.
- Put your social links on your website, so visitors can see you’re active and get a feel for you.
- Use the same name, logo, colours and tone everywhere. Consistency is what makes people recognize you. (Our post on five decisions before you pick a logo is a good place to start.)
- Collect contact details. A newsletter signup or a booking form on your site means you can reach people without depending on any one platform.
- Use messaging apps wisely. If your customers chat on WhatsApp, the WhatsApp Business app lets you add a business profile with things like your logo, description, hours and website link, plus tools such as greeting messages, away messages and quick replies, according to WhatsApp’s own feature list. Point your website and social profiles at it so people can message you in one tap.
A simple plan for the next 30 days
If you have social pages but no website, or the other way round, here’s a sensible order:
- Week 1: Write down what customers ask most. Gather your best photos and any reviews you can share with permission.
- Week 2: Make sure your social bios say clearly what you do, where, and how to contact you. Pick one link to share.
- Week 3: Build or improve the website around those same questions: home, services, about, proof, contact.
- Week 4: Link everything together. Post about the new website. Ask a few customers to try it on their phones and tell you what’s confusing.
Then keep it up. A small, current website and a steady, honest social presence beat a flashy launch that goes quiet.
Common worries, answered
“I can’t afford a website.” Websites come in many shapes and sizes, and a simple one is a very different project from a big custom build. Ask for what you actually need now, and plan to add more later.
“I don’t have time for both.” Then do less on social media and do it well. One platform, a few posts a week, and a website that quietly works in the background.
“My customers don’t search online.” Many people still look a business up before they visit, call or buy, even if they first heard about it somewhere else. A quick check of your own phone is a good reality test: search for your business name and see what a stranger would see.
Where we fit in
We build websites, online stores and custom platforms, and we also run social media and content, so we can help you plan the two together instead of treating them as separate projects. Have a look at our website services and our social media and content work.
Next step
Not sure which to focus on first? Tell us about your business or ask Muddy in the chat on this page. We’ll give you an honest view on where to start, even if the answer is “keep it small for now”.
Questions people ask
Do I need a website if my business is on Instagram?
They do different jobs. Social media is where people discover and get to know you, but it is somebody else’s platform and its terms can change. A website is your own place, where you decide what is in it and what happens next. For most established small businesses the answer is both, with a simple website as the home base and social media leading people to it.
Should I build a website or social media first?
It depends on where you are. Start with social media if you are still testing whether anyone wants your offer, sell something very visual, or have time and a phone but no budget yet. Start with a website, or build both at the same time, if you are a service business, want to be found in search, sell or take bookings online, or are about to pay for ads.
How big does a first business website need to be?
A good first website can be small: a clear home page, your services, a bit about you, proof of your work and a contact page. If it answers the questions your customers ask and makes the next step obvious, it is doing its job. You can add to it as you grow. Ask for what you actually need now and plan to add more later.
How do I link my website and social media together?
Put your website in every social bio and make sure the page it opens suits someone arriving from there. Put your social links on your website. Use the same name, logo, colours and tone everywhere. Collect contact details with a newsletter signup or a booking form, so you can reach people without depending on any one platform.
Sources
- WhatsApp’s own feature list whatsappbusiness.com
Links opened and read on 14 November 2026.
