Do I need a website? Can’t I just sell on social media?
Selling only on social media may save you money upfront, but is a risky move leaving your business exposed. If you sell on social media you don’t own your content. At any time, you could lose everything – i.e., if the platform shuts down or changes its rules.
You may also ostracise an older market and potential buyers who don’t use social media, or don’t trust it to buy from. Consider the age of your audience? Many are uncomfortable with buying via social media.
If you look at the common behaviour when buying you’ll see social media the vehicle which leads your customers to your website.
1. Customer sees the product advertised on social media (or elsewhere).
2. Customer goes to the website to gain full details on the product, get a sense of your professionalism, develops trust, then buys from you – or asks for more information.
Often people don’t trust you if you don’t have a website and email address (e.g., there is a belief that businesses without a proper email that are using free ones (Hotmail / yahoo etc), aren’t professional nor trustworthy). I strongly recommend setting up a professional email with your website e.g. info@nameofyourwebsite.com.au
Steps for setting up to sell
1. Build an audience first. Start on Instagram and Facebook asap to generate content and a profile to gain followers to then sell to.
2. As a website designer, I strongly recommend setting up a website for your business instead of relying solely on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. While these platforms can be great for building brand awareness and engaging with customers, they simply don't offer the same level of control and functionality that a website does.
a. First of all, a website allows you to have complete control over the design, layout, and functionality. You can customise your website to match your brand and create a unique shopping experience for your customers. This level of control simply isn't possible on social media platforms, where you're limited by the platform's design and functionality.
b. Another benefit of having a website is that it allows you to provide more detailed product information. On social media platforms, you're limited by the amount of text you can include in a post or a comment. With a website, you can create product pages that include detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, and even videos. This allows customers to make more informed purchasing decisions and can help build trust in your brand.
c. Perhaps most importantly, a website gives you access to powerful analytics tools that can help you track customer behaviour and optimize your site for better conversions. You can see which pages most popular, which products are selling the best, and where customers are dropping off in the checkout process. This information can help you make data-driven decisions that will improve your sales and grow your business.
d. Finally, it's worth considering the long-term benefits of having a website. While social media platforms can be great for building buzz and getting your brand in front of new audiences, they're ultimately owned by someone else. If Facebook or Instagram were to change their algorithms or shut down tomorrow, you could lose access to all your followers and customers. With a website, you own your content and your customer data. This means that you're in control of your business's future, no matter what happens on social media.
While social media platforms can be a useful tool for building brand awareness and engaging with customers, they simply don't offer the same level of control, functionality, and long-term benefits as a website does.
I strongly encourage you to invest in a website for your business to take advantage of these benefits and grow your business, taking it to the next level.
