The Facebook page vs website question is one of the most common debates among UK tradespeople getting started online — and the answer isn’t “one or the other.” It’s both, for different reasons. Facebook does some things brilliantly that a website can’t. A website does things that Facebook fundamentally cannot. Understanding the distinction means you stop treating them as alternatives and start using them as a team.
Why so many trades start with just Facebook
It’s easy to see why. Facebook is free to set up, the interface is familiar, and most people already have a personal account they can convert or use to create a business page in ten minutes. You can upload photos, post updates, get messages, and even receive recommendations — all without spending anything or learning anything new.
For a new trader just getting started, a Facebook page gets you online quickly, which is genuinely valuable. The community aspect — local groups, recommendations, shares — can generate real enquiries, especially in the early months.
Picture a Cardiff roofer who sets up a business Facebook page when going self-employed and gets his first six jobs through Facebook within three months. For a quick start with zero budget, it works.
But “good for getting started” and “good enough long-term” are different things.
What a Facebook page does well
Facebook has genuine strengths for tradespeople:
Community visibility: Local Facebook groups — town pages, neighbourhood groups, “recommending in [area]” pages — are where many homeowners look for trade recommendations. A presence on Facebook means you can participate in these conversations.
Social proof through engagement: Likes, comments, and shares on before/after photos are visible to friends of your followers, extending your reach organically.
Easy for existing customers to find you: If a past customer wants to recommend you, sharing your Facebook page is simpler than remembering your website URL.
Low barrier to posting updates: A quick before/after photo with a caption takes 90 seconds. Regular posts keep you visible to people who’ve already connected with you.
Direct messaging: Many customers prefer to message informally before committing to a call. Facebook Messenger gives them that option.
Where a Facebook page falls short
Despite those strengths, a Facebook page alone leaves significant gaps:
Google search visibility: When someone searches “electrician Cardiff” on Google, Facebook business pages very rarely appear in the results. The searchers who find you through Facebook are almost entirely people who are already connected to you or who happen to see a recommendation. The thousands of people searching Google for your services each month? They won’t find your Facebook page.
You don’t own the platform: Facebook can change its algorithm at any time, reducing how many of your followers see your posts. It can restrict your account, alter its reach policies, or in an extreme case close your page. You’re building on rented land.
Credibility gap: In 2026, a business with only a Facebook page and no website looks less established to many customers — particularly for larger jobs where trust is critical. A page is easy to create; a professional website signals investment and permanence.
No control over the presentation: Your Facebook page looks like every other Facebook page. You can’t control the layout, the conversion path, the calls to action, or how your information is presented to visitors.
Credibility, search and control: the website advantages
For the full picture on why tradespeople need a website — even with Facebook — see our post on whether tradespeople really need a website in 2026. And for guidance on social media strategy specifically, see our social media for tradespeople guide.
A professional website fixes every one of those gaps:
Google discoverability: A properly-built website with local SEO can rank for specific searches — “plumber York,” “emergency electrician near me” — and capture customers who’ve never heard of you and would never find your Facebook page.
Credibility: A website with your branding, photos of real work, accreditation badges, and genuine reviews makes a first impression that a Facebook page cannot match. For a £3,000 kitchen refit, a customer wants more than a social media page before inviting someone into their home.
Control: You decide what’s on your website, how it’s laid out, what enquiry route customers take, and how your business is presented. No algorithm decides how many of your customers see your content.
Ownership: The website is yours. The SEO authority you build, the content you create, the reviews you embed — all of it belongs to your business, not a platform.
The winning combination: Facebook + your own site
The answer isn’t Facebook or website. It’s Facebook and website, each doing what it does best:
- Use Facebook to engage with local communities, share job updates, collect recommendations, and reach people who are connected to your existing customers
- Use your website to rank on Google, capture enquiries from searchers who’ve never heard of you, and present a professional, credible shopfront to anyone who looks you up
The two platforms are complementary, not competitive. Facebook creates awareness and social proof; your website converts that awareness into enquiries.
How they feed each other
The synergy between the two is often overlooked. When someone sees a recommendation for you in a Facebook group, they almost always Google your name or look you up directly before calling. Your website is what they find when they do. If the website looks professional and has good reviews, the Facebook recommendation is confirmed. If there’s no website — or a poor one — the doubt created at that moment loses jobs that the Facebook recommendation was about to win.
Similarly, your website can link to your Facebook page to build social proof. Customers who’ve called and booked through your website can be asked to review or follow you on Facebook, building your social audience. Traffic can flow in both directions.
Imagine a Sunderland joiner with an active Facebook presence but no website for the first two years of his business. The experience is familiar: “loads of recommendations on Facebook, but people keep asking ‘what’s his website?’ When he finally gets one, the stats show loads of people were Googling his name after seeing the Facebook page. He’d been losing those searches for two years.”
See what your site could look like, free
Your Facebook page is already working. A website multiplies its effectiveness and opens a second stream of leads — people who find you through Google rather than through anyone who knows you already.
Before you commit to anything, our free mockup shows you what your website could look like — your business name, your trade, your area — designed and ready. No cost, no obligation.
FAQs
Is a Facebook page enough for a trade business?
It’s enough to get started, but it leaves significant leads on the table. The customers searching Google — the majority of your potential market — will never find you through Facebook alone. A website captures that audience and doubles your lead sources.
Do I need to maintain both Facebook and a website?
Not necessarily at the same level of intensity. A website benefits from periodic updates — new photos, updated services — but doesn’t require daily attention. Facebook benefits from regular posts. Depending on how much time you have, focus the active effort on Facebook and treat the website as your always-on conversion engine.
Can I use my Facebook page URL as my website link on Google Business Profile?
Yes, temporarily, but it’s not ideal. Google prefers a proper website URL and ranks businesses with websites higher than those without. A Facebook link is better than nothing, but a real website is significantly better for both ranking and credibility. For a deeper look at how Google decides who to show, see our guide to why your business isn’t showing up on Google.
See what your trade website could look like alongside your Facebook page. Get your free mockup — no cost, no obligation.
