Plenty of service businesses start with a Facebook page, a Google listing and a lead site like hipages. That can work for a while. But if you want more of the work you choose, at prices you set, a website usually becomes the thing that makes everything else work better.
- A Facebook page and Google listing are a good start, but you don't own them and they're hard to find for specific searches.
- Lead sites send you jobs, but the leads are shared and you pay for each one.
- A website gives you enquiries that only come to you, and it makes your Google listing stronger.
- If you're fully booked from referrals, you can wait. If you want to grow, you probably can't.
What you can do without a website
You can run a business without a website. Many tradies and practitioners do, at first:
- A Google Business Profile gets you onto Google Maps, with reviews and a call button. It's free, and it's the most important thing to set up first. Our Google Business Profile checklist shows how.
- A Facebook page shows photos of your work and lets locals message you.
- Lead sites like hipages send you jobs while you build a name.
Where that setup runs out
The problems start when you want to grow:
- People can't find you for specific searches. A Facebook page rarely shows up for "hot water repairs Norwood". A website with a page for each service can.
- Your Google listing has less to work with. Google uses your website to understand what you do and where. Listings without a website usually rank lower.
- You don't own the platform. Facebook can change what people see, and lead sites can change their prices.
- Lead-site leads are shared. You compete on price with other businesses for every job. See is hipages worth it for tradies.
- Customers check you out first. Many people won't call a business that only has a Facebook page, especially for bigger jobs.
What a website does that the others can't
A website is the one place online that's entirely yours. It can:
- Show up on Google for each service and suburb you want more work in
- Strengthen your Google Business Profile, so you rank higher on Maps
- Send enquiries only to you, with no per-lead fees
- Show your prices, reviews, licence and real work in one place
- Reply to customers instantly, even when you're on a job
When you can wait
You probably don't need a website yet if:
- you're fully booked from referrals and repeat customers
- you don't want to grow, or you're winding down
- your work comes almost entirely from a builder or another business
In that case, keep your Google Business Profile complete and keep collecting reviews. That alone puts you ahead of many competitors.
When it pays for itself
For most service businesses, one or two extra jobs a month covers the cost of a website. If your average job is worth a few hundred dollars and your site brings in a couple of extra jobs each month, it has paid for itself. Our guide to what a small business website costs has the numbers.
Already have a website but not sure it's working? Run it through our free website check to see what might be costing you enquiries.
Ready for enquiries that come only to you?
We build websites for Adelaide service businesses, write the words for you and have you live in about two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
It's a good start, but it rarely shows up for specific Google searches and you don't control it. Most businesses that want to grow need a website as well.
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Rhys builds and looks after every Reactive Web website himself, from Redwood Park in Adelaide, for local service businesses that want more calls, bookings and enquiries.
