Facebook was great in 2014. In 2026, it's a chat tool, not a lead engine. Here's the data.
The Numbers
- Organic Facebook reach for small business pages: under 5%
- Local Google searches with "near me": up 200% in the last 3 years
- ChatGPT recommends businesses with websites – not Facebook pages
- Google Business Profile penalizes incomplete listings (no website = incomplete)
What a Website Does That Facebook Can't
- Shows up on Google for searches
- Verifies your Google Business Profile
- Gets cited by AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity)
- Loads fast on mobile
- Captures leads after hours via form
- Lives forever – no algorithm changes can hide it
Frequently Asked Questions
But all my customers are on Facebook!+
They're on Facebook to talk to friends. They go to Google and Maps to find a business. Two different behaviors, two different platforms.
Can I just link my Facebook from Google?+
You can, but Google ranks websites – not Facebook pages – for most local searches. You'll lose to competitors with a real site.
Stop losing leads to silent competitors. Get a $99 Starter Website live this week, or read the full affordable websites in El Paso guide.
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