By Francisco Cavaco
· 2 min read
Do I need a website if I already have Instagram?
Instagram is great for showing everyday life, but there are things only a website of your own can do.
It is one of the questions I hear most: "I already have Instagram and Facebook. Do I really need a website?"
The honest answer is: it depends on what you want from your business. Social media and a website do different jobs, and they work best together.
What Instagram does well#
It shows your day-to-day, new products and your style. It lets you talk to customers and be found by people who do not know you yet. For many businesses it is the best place to show personality.
What Instagram does not do#
It belongs to another company. It can change the rules, your reach, or even close your account without warning. A website is yours.
It does not show up well on Google. When someone searches "plumber in Almada" or "restaurant in Sesimbra", an Instagram page rarely appears ahead of a website with that information laid out clearly.
Information gets lost. In a feed, your opening hours, address and last month's prices get buried. On a website they are always in the same place.
Not everyone has an account. Some customers, especially older ones, just want an address where they can see the essentials without signing up or installing anything.
When a website matters more#
- You want to be found when people search for your service on Google.
- You need to show information that does not change, such as services, contact details and the area you cover.
- You want to receive contact or booking requests in an organised place.
- You want your business to look serious and easy to trust.
When it can wait#
If you are just starting and do not yet know exactly what you will offer, a good Google profile and Instagram can be enough for a while. But it is best not to wait too long.
The middle ground#
A small, one-page website with the essentials and links to your social media already solves most of it. It does not need to be big to be useful.
If you would like to know what would make sense in your case, write to me. I will tell you honestly whether you need a website now or whether it can wait.
