• Key Considerations
Social Media vs Websites: Which Should You Invest In?
Updated February 24, 2025 • Reading Time: 7 min
Share This Blog Easily ↓
Social media vs websites offer different benefits for small business owners. Social media is fast and interactive but relies on platforms, while website design provides control and a long-term foundation. In Finland, where the internet is central to business, both have their place – but if time is limited, social media vs websites shows websites are often the smarter investment. Need help creating a website for your business? Contact me – I’ll build a site that supports your success!
• Key Point 1
The Strengths of Social Media for Small Business Owners
Social media, like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, is a leading marketing channel today. In Finland, it’s strongly present – over 2.5 million Finns use Facebook (Statista 2023). As a small business owner, you can leverage this wide audience in many ways.
Easy Start and Low Barrier
Creating a social media account is free and quick. You don’t need technical skills – upload a few photos, write a bio, and you’re ready. This is a big advantage for freelancers wanting to market fast.
Direct Connection with Clients
Social media enables real-time interaction. You can answer questions, share updates, and get feedback directly from followers. For example, a café owner might post daily pastries on Instagram and receive instant comments.
Viral Potential
Well-crafted posts can spread widely, especially with hashtags like #smallbusiness or #suomiBusiness. In Finland, local hashtags like #helsinkibusiness can effectively reach your target audience.
Social Media Challenges
While social media is appealing, it has downsides that small business owners should be aware of.
• Key Point 2
The Strengths of Websites for Small Business Owners
Business websites are more traditional but incredibly effective for building an online presence. Website design might seem like a big project at first, but their benefits are undeniable.
Full Control and Professionalism
Unlike social media, with websites, you decide the content, design, and structure. Well-designed sites signal reliability and expertise – Finnish consumers especially value this. For example, a cleaning business can showcase services and references clearly on one site.
All Info in One Place
Websites serve as your business hub. You can include:
- Service descriptions and pricing.
- Contact info and booking options.
- Portfolio or customer reviews.
Clients find everything they need in one address, like www.yourbusiness.fi.
Long-Term Investment
Once built, websites serve you for years with minimal maintenance costs. Hosting and domain (e.g., €30–50/year) are a fraction of what ongoing social media ads can cost.
• Key Point 3
Challenges of Websites
Websites aren’t completely free of challenges, and it’s good to consider them.
Initial Investment
Website design requires time, money, or skills. As a small business owner, you can use free platforms like WordPress, but creating a professional look may need help or paid themes.
Maintenance Needs
While websites don’t require daily work, outdated content (e.g., old prices or info) can deter clients. Regular maintenance is necessary.
Building Visibility
Just having a site isn’t enough – clients must find it. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in, but it also demands skills or time.
• Key Point 4
Comparison: Social Media vs Websites
Let’s see how these two options differ from a small business owner’s perspective.
Costs
- Social Media: Free to start, but ads and content creation can cost time and money.
- Websites: Small initial investment (hosting, domain), but long-term costs are predictable and often lower.
Control and Flexibility
- Websites: Small initial investment (hosting, domain), but long-term costs are predictable and often lower.
- Social Media: Dependent on platform rules and algorithms – you can’t fully decide who sees your content.
- Websites: Full control over content and design, allowing you to customize pages as needed.
Customer Experience
- Websites: Full control over content and design, allowing you to customize pages as needed.
- Social Media: Fast and interactive, but info is scattered and hard to find.
- Websites: Offers a comprehensive, clear experience, with everything in one place.
• Key Point 5
Which Should a Small Business Owner Invest In?
The truth is, both social media and websites can be valuable – but their roles differ. The best strategy depends on your situation.
Invest in Social Media if…
- You want quick results on a minimal budget.
- Your audience is active on a specific platform (e.g., young people on Instagram).
- You have time to produce regular content.
For example, a craft business owner might use Instagram to share work photos and gain followers fast.
Invest in Websites if…
- You have time to produce regular content.
- You want to build a professional, lasting presence.
- You need a place where clients can explore services comprehensively.
- Your goal is long-term growth.
As a freelancer designing websites, your own site can serve as a portfolio, convincing clients of your expertise.
Combine Both, if Possible
Ideally, use both: websites are your business’s core, and social media drives traffic there. You can, for example:
- Your goal is long-term growth.
- Share a link to your website on social media when launching a new service.
- Use your website to build an email list and continue marketing on social media.
For example, a catering business might post a photo of an event on Facebook and direct clients to book services on their site.
