Facebook page vs Website

Website vs Facebook Page?

You are ready to venture on the web and are looking for the best possible strategy. You have two options in front of you- both equally tempting-

So what should you go ahead with? A website or a facebook page?

Lets measure the pros and cons of each-

Team Website-

Pros-

1. Fully customizable- 

Do whatever you want, host a game, use gesture control plugins, create sexy layouts and animations and sell stuff. Its all there- possibilities are only limited by your creativity.

2. Reach-

There are 2.4 bn people on the net worldwide, all of them do access websites- so you can effectively reach everyone.

3. Discoverability-

Your website can appear on search results, blogs, reviews etc. You are not only reaching out to more and more people, you are also reaching them better.

4. Brand Image and Credibility-

A website is definitely a better sign of credibility for your brand and company. It shows you are serious to reach out to your consumers in a more customized and brand friendly way.

5. You own the content-

Website is where you have full control, what goes up there has been reviewed by you over and over again. 

Cons-

1. Takes time-

Building a website isn't as simple as an FB page. You need to design everything from scratch to create your own layout, content etc.

2. Updating-

Keeping your content up to date would require constant changes and reviews, you might have to employ people and resources to maintain the website.

3. SEO-

Making a website isnt enough, you would need to invest time and money to make it discoverable through SEO and paid advertising.

Team Facebook page-

Pros-

1. Audience-

There are real people with an indepth historical data of their interests which they have volunteered to give to the world. You can monitor those people and derive millions of inferences. Truly a marketeer's delight!

2. Simplicity-

You can create a FB page in a minute. All you need is a desired page name and some images for your brand (not compulsory again). And its free!

3. Updating-

Simply post and your fans will see your message. Its easy and realtime without any real resources.

4. Interaction-

Reiterating on my first pro- there is real time interaction going on with your fans here- you get to know what they want, when they want and how they want it. There is real time feedback on your products and services too.

Cons-

1. Openness & brand safety-

There is just too much going on there, anyone can write anything on your fb page for the world to see. e.g. - if the fairness cream dosent work its very easy for Ajay to write on your fb page - "Your brand sucks" and your 2 million fan base will see it. If you delete the post, he might repost saying- "You deleted my earlier post". You'd rather stay away from FB in that case. Its known that people give more negative feedback rather than positive.

2. Boring layout-

You can't really do much on FB. Its not a site owned by you and hence you have no real control even if you feel FB layout is boring.

3. Concept not established-

We dont really know what people are looking for when they "like" your FB page or post. Do they like the brand? do they like the post? are they gonna buy stuff from you? Does it impact awareness, consideration or purchase? No one has an answer.

Okay, so now you know pros and cons- how can you have a wholesome digital strategy- The answer dosent really lie in picking one over the other. Simply put- You need both but if I have to pick one, I'd chose a website for reasons highlighted earlier.

1. Create a website- 

Give it your best shot. Make it sexy and people will visit in hoards. What content to put?- You are the best judge. Make it discoverable- Use SEO, SEM, referrals- basically everything in your kitty to get it in shape. It might take time but the results are worth it. Invest right amount of time and resources for it is  your image in front of millions of people.

2. Create an FB page-

Understand your brand- Is it loved? Do people talk good about it? Will people like to talk to you? If yes- then go ahead and create that page. Put tonnes of engaging content and collect those likes and treat it is an extension of your website and your representation on social media. It really is very simple and free!

So the final verdict is - they both go hand in hand and not one over the other.

Cheers

Abhishek