Can’t I Just Use Social Media as My Website?

Jump to:

• The Illusion of Social Media Safety
• Section 1: The Risks You’re Not Thinking About
• Section 2: Rent or Own?
• Final Thoughts

The Illusion of Social Media Safety

You’ve built a following and business feels steady, maybe even thriving! But what would happen if you woke up tomorrow… and your entire account is just… gone?

Before you think, “That won’t happen to me,” check out these examples. These are all from just one small business Facebook group.

Multiple business owners lost access to their accounts and all of them were either scrambling looking for help or begging for follows to get them recognized by the algorithm again. Some were hacked, others were locked out with no explanation. Years of content, customer conversations, and carefully-built audiences gone overnight.

And unfortunately, their stories aren’t unique.

Social media can feel like your business’s home base—but the truth is, you’re building on rented land. And when your landlord is an unpredictable algorithm (or a faceless moderation bot)… your business is more vulnerable than you think.

But here’s the good news: There’s a simple way to protect your audience, your content, and your sanity.

Let’s talk about why having your own website isn’t just a “nice to have”… it’s business insurance.

Section 1: The Risks You’re Not Thinking About (Until It’s Too Late)

Let’s be honest, social media has been a game-changer for small businesses.

It’s fast, it’s free(ish), and it’s often where your audience spends a lot of time. But here’s the part most business owners often don’t think about – you don’t actually own it. And that means you’re vulnerable to things that are 100% outside your control. I’ve seen so many posts like the ones below roll in from business owners:

• “My Instagram account just got hacked—help!”
• “Facebook locked me out, and I can’t get any support.”
• “My page just disappeared. No warning. No idea why.”

And it’s not just about hacks or shutdowns. There are smaller (but equally frustrating) risks too:

• Algorithms change overnight, and suddenly your reach tanks
• Your post about a totally normal product gets flagged as “sensitive content”
• A random software glitch kicks you out (and good luck getting a real human from support to help)

It’s not about fear-mongering, it’s about awareness and preparation.

And the truth is, digital risks in general are on the rise. According to the 2023 Cybersecurity Ventures Cybercrime Report¹, global cybercrime damages are expected to hit $10.5 trillion by 2025—up from $3 trillion in 2015. That includes everything from stolen data to business disruptions and recovery costs.

So if social media is your only online home, your business could be more fragile than you realize. So let’s talk about what you can do to protect yourself.

Section 2: Rent or Own?

Let’s talk about digital real estate for a second.

Social media is like renting an apartment. Sure, it’s convenient. You can decorate it with your branding, host a few great parties (read: reels and live videos), and invite people over… But at the end of the day, you don’t own the keys. The landlord (aka the platform) can change the rules, lock the doors, or sell the building—without consulting you.

A website is your home base. It’s the one place online where you set the rules, you own the space, and you control the experience your customers have.

Social Media (Rented Land)

1. Algorithm decides visibility

2. Subject to sudden shutdowns

3. Limited design control

4. Audience = followers on someone else’s platform

5. Hard to organize content long-term

Your Website (Owned Land)

1. You control who sees what

2. Stays live as long as you want

3. Full creative freedom

4. Audience = visitors you can turn into email subscribers and customers

5. Built-in navigation, archives, and searchability

Now, does this mean you should ditch social media altogether? Heck no! Social platforms are great for visibility and connection and they can be an amazing tool to use as part of your full marketing plan. Just understand that using these platforms as your sole online home can mean you are building your business on an unsure foundation. And when our livelihoods are in question, foundations are important.

Final Thoughts:

Don’t take unnecessary risks with your business.

Social media is an amazing tool… but it’s not a safety net. If your entire business presence lives on platforms you don’t control, you’re taking a bigger risk than you probably realize.

Having a website is a must in today’s world of business. A business website builds credibility, generates leads, and gives you control over your content and customer journey without the looming threat of getting locked out on a whim.

This is the point I generally hear business owners telling me they’ve tried to build a website and it was just too much and they can’t afford a web designer (we all understand the small business budget dance). So start small. Getting started doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Even a simple, well-designed landing page can be enough to start.

And our mission at Squeaky Shoes Media is to be a support and guide in this process. As part of that mission, we are preparing to launch a brand new, quick-launch solution just for small business owners like you! They will be affordable while still having a design cultivated by a professional, built off of best practices.

Sources

1. Parekh, M. (2024, July 23). Cybersecurity Ventures Report on Cybercrime. eSentire. https://www.esentire.com/cybersecurity-fundamentals-defined/glossary/cybersecurity-ventures-report-on-cybercrime