Many tradespeople start with a Facebook page and wonder whether they actually need a website on top of it. The short answer: a Facebook page is better than nothing, but a website is better than a Facebook page. Here's why.
Is a Facebook Page Enough for My Trade Business?
A Facebook page alone will cost you jobs. It's useful for showing off your work and staying visible locally, but it's not where customers go when they're actively searching for a tradesperson.
When a homeowner needs a plumber, electrician, or builder, they search Google — not Facebook. If all you have is a Facebook page, you're invisible to the vast majority of people who are ready to hire right now. You're only reaching people who already know about you or happen to see your posts in their feed.
Facebook also works against you in subtle ways. When a potential customer lands on your page, they're surrounded by distractions — notifications, ads, posts from friends, suggested groups. Every one of those distractions is a chance for them to forget about calling you and start scrolling instead.
Why Does a Website Get More Calls Than a Facebook Page?
A website puts your phone number front and centre with zero distractions. When someone lands on your site, the only thing they can do is learn about your business and contact you. That focused experience converts visitors into calls far more effectively.
On your website, you control everything — the layout, the content, what the customer sees first, how easy it is to call you. On Facebook, you control almost nothing. The layout is Facebook's. The distractions are Facebook's. The ads shown alongside your page might even be for your competitors.
The numbers back this up. Trade businesses with professional websites consistently report more enquiries than those relying on Facebook alone. A clickable phone number at the top of a clean, fast-loading website converts hesitant browsers into callers. A Facebook page buried in a social media feed simply can't do the same job.
Can a Facebook Page Rank on Google?
Facebook pages rarely appear in Google search results for local trade searches. Google prioritises Google Business Profiles, websites, and directory listings over social media pages.
Search "plumber in Birmingham" and look at the results. You'll see the Google map pack, websites of local plumbers, maybe a Checkatrade or Yell listing. What you won't see is a Facebook page. That's because Google's algorithm doesn't treat Facebook pages as authoritative local business sources.
This means a Facebook-only tradesperson is essentially invisible on Google — which is where the customers are. A website, even a simple one, can rank in Google search results and bring in customers who would never have found your Facebook page.
What Does a Facebook Page Do Well?
Facebook is brilliant for showing off your work, building local awareness, and staying in people's minds. It's a great complement to a website, but a poor replacement for one.
Posting before and after photos of your work gets likes, comments, and shares from local people. That builds awareness over time — when someone in your area eventually needs a tradesperson, they might remember seeing your posts. Facebook keeps you visible in a way that a static website can't.
Facebook recommendations are also powerful. When someone posts "Can anyone recommend a good plumber?" in a local group, having an active Facebook page with good reviews means people can tag you and link to your page. This is genuine word of mouth at scale.
Local community groups are goldmines for tradespeople. Being active in your local Facebook groups — not spamming, but genuinely helpful — builds your reputation and leads to direct recommendations. This is something a website can't do.
Should I Have Both?
Yes — a website and a Facebook page serve different purposes and work best together. Your website catches people who are actively searching for a tradesperson. Your Facebook page builds awareness with people who might need one in the future.
Think of it as two different stages of the customer journey. Facebook plants the seed — someone sees your work, notes your name, maybe follows your page. When they eventually need your trade, they search Google. Your website appears, they recognise the name from Facebook, and they call with confidence.
The website is your shop front. Facebook is your word of mouth. You need both, but if you can only have one, the website wins every time because it catches customers at the point of decision — when they're actively looking to hire.
What If I Can't Afford a Website?
A basic website for a trade business doesn't need to cost a fortune. But even if budget is genuinely tight, there are things you can do right now that matter more than either a website or Facebook page.
First priority: set up and optimise your Google Business Profile. It's free and it's what actually shows up when people search for your trade. Add photos, get reviews, fill in every section. This alone will bring in more calls than a Facebook page.
Second priority: get a simple website. Even a single-page site with your phone number, services, photos, and a few reviews is enough to start. It gives Google something to index and gives customers a place to check you out. You can build on it later.
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. A basic website that works well on mobile and has your phone number at the top will outperform a fancy Facebook page every single day of the week.
What About Instagram for Tradespeople?
Instagram is essentially the same as Facebook for this conversation — great for showcasing work, poor for catching active searchers. It's another social media channel that complements a website but doesn't replace one.
Instagram works slightly better than Facebook for visual trades — kitchens, bathrooms, landscaping, decorating — where the before-and-after photos are genuinely impressive. If your work is visually striking, Instagram can build a following that leads to enquiries.
But the same limitation applies: people don't search Instagram for "plumber near me." They search Google. Instagram builds your brand. Google gets you calls. You need the Google side sorted first.
How Do I Move From Facebook-Only to Having a Proper Website?
Start by getting your Google Business Profile set up if you haven't already — that's the quickest win. Then get a simple website built that's fast, mobile-friendly, and focused on getting phone calls.
Your website doesn't need to be complicated. A homepage with your phone number, a services page, a gallery of your work, and a contact page. If you serve specific areas, mention them. If you offer specific services, list them. That's enough to start ranking on Google and converting visitors into calls.
Keep your Facebook page active alongside your new website. Link to your website from your Facebook page so people who find you on social media can easily get to your site. Post your work on Facebook and drive people to your website for more details. The two work together.
At SwiftLead, we build trade websites specifically designed to generate calls — fast-loading, mobile-first, with your phone number impossible to miss. But whoever builds your site, make sure the goal is clear: turn visitors into phone calls, not win a design award.
The Bottom Line
A Facebook page keeps you visible locally and helps with word of mouth. A website catches customers at the moment they're searching for a tradesperson and converts them into calls. You ideally want both, but if you're choosing one, choose the website.
If you want help getting more leads online, SwiftLead can sort your website, Google Maps, reviews, and ads — so your phone actually rings.
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