When starting the digitization of a business or an online venture, it is common to wonder which is the best option: social networks or a website. So that you can clear all your doubts, today, we are going to tell you what we recommend you do.
If you are starting out in the digital world, you are surely in the dilemma of which is the best way to start. Most people choose to start with social networks since they are so much easier to create. However, the important question is whether they are really effective.
Social networks fulfill the function of reach. Through them you can reach many people. But, the website has the advantage that the conversion is usually carried out on it. So which one is better? To understand it, we are going to explain the pros and cons of each one.
Website
The website is a set of pages that are located in a single digital space. The sites generally contain more information about the business, the products they sell and the services they offer.
In addition, websites often contain the ability to make a conversion without any person interfering in it. When we talk about conversion, we refer to the action that you want your customers to carry out. It can be buying a product, contracting a service, completing a form, downloading an ebook, among many others. Conversion depends on your goal as a business.
Making a website is more complicated than making a profile on social networks. You have to Acquire a web hosting according to the requirements of the site, select a domain that represents you and choose a platform to make the web. However, the benefits are greater than the effort.
Pros
- They are much more flexible and customizable.
- They have more information for users.
- You can carry out advertising campaigns on any digital platform.
- You have the possibility of creating an online store that is open 24 hours a day.
- You can sort the content by categories on different pages.
- It is possible to measure traffic through tools such as Google Analytics, heat maps, database software, etc.
- If you want, you can add a name to your website (using a domain).
- You appear in search engine results, so you can optimize SEO positioning and attract organic traffic.
- To add functionalities, you just have to add plugins.
cons
- You must create it from scratch, using some platform for it.
- It has a maintenance cost that can be annual or monthly, depending on the platform.
- It requires some maintenance, since it has updates that you must carry out.
Social networks
Social networks currently occupy a large part of users’ leisure time. These platforms are the ones chosen when it comes to entertainment. However, they are also a great business tool.
When people enter a social network, they do not seek to buy or hire services. However, when viewing interesting content, they can make a purchase. Today, some of the most used networks are Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and TikTok. But, not because they are the most used does not mean that you should be in them.
Pros
- They are easy to do. You only have to enter the social network you want and create a user.
- They do not have monthly maintenance, since a specific platform is used.
- It is not necessary to purchase extra services for its operation.
- For greater ease, you can schedule your posts on various free platforms such as Hootsuite, Zoho, Buffer or SocialGest.
- You can view statistics without installing extra tools.
cons
- You can’t personalize it. The layout is preset and you cannot make changes.
- You can only advertise from the same platform. You can’t use Google Ads, for example.
- The content that is published on networks is daily (or almost), so it will take up much more time in the long term.
- You do not have the possibility of creating an ecommerce.
- For the user to achieve the conversion, most of the time, he will need human intervention.
So which one is better?
The reality is that, for completeness, the website is better. However, when talking about reach, social networks agree. As you can see, it’s not about which one is better than the other. But to see how to make both work with each other.
The best option is to have a website and social networks that help increase traffic. Yes, we know that creating a website is not an easy task. However, there are a large number of ways to earn money with your page that will make the creation effort worthwhile.
Starting with a global strategy will make you notice the gains very quickly. You just have to do your best to get the success you want. If you’re going to start, start right.
And remember, if you are really interested in creating your own business, you can read our book “How to create a company while working: Discover how to manage your time, manage your money and motivate yourself while creating a company and working for another” , where you will find all the information you need to found your own company, without having to leave your job.
