Why don't some people/businesses have their own websites and be on social media sites in addition to that?

It costs money to design and maintain a website. Social media does the hosting for free and they supply the tools as well.

I think it is the money, but from a business standpoint having one’s own web site is much superior to social media, which is very limiting in terms of format.

A lot of businesses have little to offer on a website, it is a minor piece of advertising that does nothing for their business. To the extent that it is little more than a modern version of the yellow pages, social media is a lot easier, a lot cheaper, and a lot more effective.

Some small outfits do not want to have web ordering or fit well with web interaction. And they don’t want to pay someone to monitor that too. “Joe’s Barber Shop and She Shine” can keep its presence in your mind with a Facebook post three or four times a week; a website is only useful if you need the address.

Cost is why many comapnies don’t have whiz-bang websites. It cost me over $5,000.00 to have mine re-done to be up to date and to where I or anyone else here can add and edit content. Then you have to be able to put in the man hours to create content or be able to pay someone else to do it.

To really get the most out of your websited, you also need to have a presence in many other parts of the social media world. YouTube videos and how-to’s, Linked In, Twitter, Facebook are other places I have content of my company that help get Googles attention to bring customers to my website. Many companies just don’t have the time or resources to devote to the demands of the internet. Also many companies really only need a low cost Go Daddy type website that is nothing more than an electronic brochure.

@zenvelo She Shine? What a service! I could use that!

I disagree with your premise though. You are right about some small businesses and some service businesses, but for many businesses market positioning, outlining available products and services, listing hours and contact information is key. For larger businesses, a press room listing recent news items and media kit materials, as well as board members, officers, and investor information is key.

@LuckyGuy and @zenvelo and @Cruiser I think @marinelife said it all.

@Cruiser “To really get the most out of your websited, you also need to have a presence in many other parts of the social media world. ...” That’s great of course, but I’m talking about other than those. before those. I think the independence is worth any amount of $ and time just ot not be are at the mercy of the social media website they are on.

And anyone who wants to learn about the business /person has to, join open an account on the the social media. I’ve heard a few people say I’ve quit (insert name of social media) and there are enough people who just never been interested in being on at all.

@flo unless you are a fortune 500 company and have brand/name recognition IMO you do need to network in and around social media and other sites that give your website exposure. Google demands content and connections to deem your website worthy of sending their searching consumers your way. Think of a stand alone website and a spider web with one thread to catch it’s prey. You will starve to death. The more websites you connect your website to as well as constant relevant new content you will not only get the attention of the Google search engine you will then benefit from more hits to your website. I went from 3 orders and 2 leads a month from a “billboard” website to 5–6 orders a day and 20+ leads a month with a dynamic website all because I plugged in to social media and it is growing by the month.

@Cruiser Am I proposing to just have a website, or in addition to being on the social medias?

@flo IMO it all comes down to what fits best for you. A good way to judge where you may want or need to position yourself on the internet is to google your company and google your competition or industry where your business interests lie. The search results will be a road map or blueprint for where you may need to or not need to invest time and effort into similarly participating in this social network that again may or may not be relevant to your business.

I recently hired a 20 something assistant who told me Twitter is so old school and proceeded to introduce me to Snapchat. She searched our company and products there and I was stunned to see all the pictures of stuff customers had made with my products and the passion behind these posts. So I tasked her with posting a pic or 2 a day and that will only add to the “web” we are weaving with our website, blog, Facebook, YouTube, blog and now Snapchat to keep our customers interested in what we do and hopefully bring in more customers.

@Cruiser So, you refuse to see my “in addition to social media” part in the title, and the detail of the OP, and in one or 2 other places?

@flo?? You question does not ask what you just stated. I read that you are asking why people/businesses have their own websites __and be on social media sites in addition to that__. I do get what you think I am refusing to see here? Now you are zigging and zagging after the fact and are all over the map with your questioning here. Not the first time you have done this too.

@Cruiser You are soooooooo right, I see the opposite of what’s there. I see ” don’t” in the title OP and I read “do”