We get asked this a lot: "Should I get a website first, or build up my social media?" It's a real question with a real answer — and the answer depends on what you're trying to accomplish.
A website ranks in Google search. When someone types "electrician Schaumburg" into Google, they're looking to hire someone right now. A website — specifically one with good local SEO — can appear in those results. A Facebook page or Instagram account almost never will.
A website is yours. You own it completely. Facebook can change its algorithm tomorrow and cut your reach by 80%. Instagram can shadowban you for reasons you don't understand. Your website cannot be taken away from you or have its rules changed without notice.
A website builds credibility differently. Professionals in most fields are expected to have a website. Not having one — or having a bad one — sends a signal to potential clients that you might not be established or serious.
Social media is where existing customers stay connected to you. Someone who liked your Facebook page sees your posts. They're reminded you exist. When they need your service again, or a friend asks for a recommendation, you come to mind. This is real and valuable — it's just different from getting found by new customers.
Social media also enables word-of-mouth at scale. A great before/after photo on Instagram, shared by a happy client, can reach hundreds of people in your local area who've never heard of you. This is hard to replicate on a website.
Think of it this way: a website is how strangers find you. Social media is how people who already know you stay connected to you. You need both eventually — but they serve different jobs.
For most Chicago small businesses, the right order is:
If your business is highly visual (food, design, fashion, fitness), social media — specifically Instagram — can drive real customer acquisition before you have a website. For these businesses, Instagram is a discovery platform as much as a social one. But even here, you'll want a website eventually to capture the leads that Instagram generates.
Spending hours every day on Instagram while having no website and no Google Business Profile. Social media is high-effort, low-ownership, and increasingly pay-to-play. A well-built website with good local SEO will generate leads passively for years. That's a much better use of your first few hundred dollars and hours.
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