Social Media and Google: Do You Still Need a Website?
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and a Google Business Profile are great, but they are not a website. What each does well, what it misses, and when you need a site.
Plenty of small businesses get by without a website. Customers find you on Google Maps, discover you through a TikTok or an Instagram Reel, message you on Facebook, and the phone rings. So it is a fair question: do you still need a website in 2026?
For most businesses the honest answer is yes, but not for the reason people usually give. A website does not replace your social media or your Google listing. It is the piece that ties them together.
What your Google Business Profile does well
Your Google Business Profile is the listing that shows up on Google Maps and in the "map pack" when someone searches for something like "plumber near me". It is free, and for a local business it is often the single biggest source of new customers. It handles:
- Your hours, address, phone number and directions
- Reviews, which matter enormously for trust
- Photos and short posts
- A button that sends people to your website
That last point is important. Industry studies of Google Business Profile activity report that website visits are the most common action people take on a profile, ahead of calls and direction requests. Customers look at your listing, then go to your site to decide.
What social media does well
Each platform plays a slightly different role:
- Instagram shows off your work: before-and-after photos, new menu items, finished projects, your space.
- TikTok can put you in front of people who have never heard of you. A short, genuine video about what you do can reach far beyond your followers, and many people now look for local food, beauty and service ideas there.
- Facebook is still where many local customers message businesses, check events and ask neighbours for recommendations in community groups.
All three are excellent for being discovered and staying top of mind. What they are not good at is closing the deal. Someone who loved your video still wants to see your prices, your service area and an easy way to book, and a profile page or a "link in bio" only goes so far.
What only a website can do
It is yours. Platforms change their rules, their algorithms and their reach constantly, and accounts get hacked or suspended without warning. TikTok's future in North America has been in the news for years. Your website and domain belong to you, and nobody can switch them off.
It answers questions before people call. A profile gives you a short bio. A website explains each of your services, your prices or price ranges, your service area and how you work. People who arrive already understanding what you do are better leads.
It helps you show up in more searches. Your Google profile mainly competes in the map results for your category, and social posts rarely rank on Google for long. A website gives Google pages to rank for the specific things people search: "furnace repair Sherwood Park", "gluten-free bakery Edmonton", "bilingual daycare south side". Each service page is another way to be found.
It builds trust. Many customers check for a real website before they spend money with a business they have not used before. A clean, current site signals that you are established. A dead link does the opposite: one large census found that 8% of business websites linked from Google listings did not load.
It collects leads properly. A contact or booking form sends you organized enquiries, at any hour, and can send the customer an instant confirmation. Messages scattered across Instagram DMs, TikTok comments, Facebook Messenger and voicemail are easy to miss.
When you might not need one yet
If you are a brand-new side business testing an idea, a well-kept Google Business Profile and an active Instagram or TikTok can be enough to start. The same goes if you are fully booked through word of mouth. The moment you want a steady stream of new customers who do not know you yet, a website starts paying for itself.
How it all works together
Think of it like this:
- Google Business Profile gets you found when people search nearby.
- Instagram, TikTok and Facebook get you noticed and keep customers coming back.
- Your website is where all of them send people to understand your business and get in touch.
Put your website link in every bio and on your Google profile, keep your name, address and phone number identical everywhere, and you give both customers and Google a consistent, trustworthy picture of your business.
Quick answers
Can my website just be one page? Yes. A single page with your services, hours, area, photos, reviews and a click-to-call button covers most of what customers need, and makes a far better "link in bio" than a list of links.
Will a website help my Google Maps ranking? It helps. A website that matches your profile details and clearly describes your services and location supports your local ranking, and your profile can link straight to it.
Can I show my Instagram or TikTok on my website? Yes. Your website can link to your profiles or feature your best posts, so visitors see you are active and followers can find your full details.
What does a basic website cost? Less than many people think. Our one-page Starter plan is $149 setup and $39 a month, and our Business plan with 3 to 7 pages is $299 setup and $59 a month, with no contract. See plans and pricing.
The bottom line
Keep your Google Business Profile and your social media: they are valuable and free. But give them somewhere to send people. A simple, fast website that you own turns the attention they bring into enquiries.
Not sure what your business needs? Send us a quick message and we will build a free demo of your website, so you can see it before you pay anything.