I have a Facebook page, do I need a website?
A potential client asked if you needed a website if you have a Facebook page.If you understand what you can and cannot do through Facebook, it is possible to get by with just a Facebook page. However, as soon as you want a particular feature that is not available through Facebook, you start to realize that having your own website gives you more control over content. On your own website you can implement almost anything you can image.
People who think it's better to have a Facebook site over a web site don't understand the limitations of Facebook.
Photo galleries. On your own website you can have hundreds or thousands of photos. The Facebook limit is 200 per this source. I actually encountered this recently while trying to upload 258 photos not knowing the limit. The error message was something like you've exceeded the limit.
Page Layout. On your own website you can have as many or few columns as you want and place your site navigation wherever you want. On Facebook, as it exists today, you get three columns and your site navigation is vertical on the left column.
Advertising. Companies like Microsoft and Google have Facebook pages and even their third column has the Facebook-imposed advertising. On your own website, if you choose to have advertising, at least you can get paid for it. You can also choose not to have any advertising.
E-commerce. Have you seen any e-stores on Facebook or have you seen promotional data on Facebook directing you to another site? Facebook is not equipped to do e-commerce, nor was it meant to be. At best the business use of Facebook is interactivity with your customer/fan base and promotion of items. For example, the following companies have Facebook pages and you cannot buy products directly from their sites.
Some people prefer a Facebook page over a website have no budget for a website or perhaps have a different approach for selling their products of services. Stores use their own websites for customer purchases and use Facebook for advertising and promotion. They are just capitalizing on the Facebook sensation.
A website that you own and control gives you far more control and flexibility. And remember 4-5 years ago, MySpace was the big rave.
Another client asked if a Facebook page could accept donations. Yes, it can per this link. You can also do this on your own website.
So it really is a matter of capabilities. If you don't need certain features, then Facebook can serve a purpose. Just remember, when Facebook is surpassed by something else or decides to implement a pay-to-play model, you have to find your next platform.
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