Social media has reach. Google My Business has listings. Apps have installs. But none of them can replace what a real website does for your business — especially in 2025.
The argument against
It's a reasonable question. Three things made people start doubting websites — but none of them actually replace one.
Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook can get you in front of millions. But reach isn't ownership — you're renting your audience from a platform that can change the rules overnight.
GMB is great for showing up in local searches. But it only displays your hours, phone number, and a few photos. It can't rank for competitive keywords or sell your services in depth.
There's an app for that — but apps cost tens of thousands to build, require downloads, and only make sense at scale. A website works instantly, on every device, with zero friction.
The case for
No platform, profile, or listing can replicate what a proper website delivers for your business.
A website lets you rank for keywords your customers are actually searching. "Plumber in Manchester" or "best accountant for freelancers" — that's organic traffic that arrives without you posting anything.
Social media platforms own your followers. If they change their algorithm, your reach drops 80% overnight. Your website is yours — your email list, your visitors, your data, permanently.
No character limits. No banned topics. No competing ads placed next to your content. No feed algorithm deciding whether people see you. A website puts you completely in charge.
75% of consumers judge a business's credibility based on their website. Customers Google you before they call you. If nothing shows up — or if what shows up looks amateur — you've already lost the sale.
The numbers
This isn't opinion — the data is consistent and clear. Having a website changes your revenue trajectory.
The pattern is the same across every industry. Businesses that invest in a proper web presence grow faster, win more customers, and build more durable revenue than those that rely purely on social media or word of mouth.
And the gap is widening. As more consumers default to Google before making any purchase decision, businesses without a website are becoming progressively invisible to their best potential customers — the ones actively looking for what they offer.
Social media can help with awareness. But search intent is where the money is. When someone types "electrician in Bristol" into Google, they're ready to hire. A website catches them. A social media profile almost never does.
2025 changes everything
The old arguments against having a website — cost, complexity, time — no longer apply. AI rewrote the rules.
Type a sentence about your business. ChilledSites AI generates a complete, professional, multi-page website — design, copy, layout, navigation — in under a minute. No designer needed. No developer required.
The real difference
Social media is a treadmill. The moment you stop posting, you disappear. A website keeps working whether you do or not.
The data is clear. The cost is low. The time investment is minimal. In 2025, there is no good reason not to have a professional website — and ChilledSites makes it effortless.
Build my website — from £29/yearCommon questions
Your competitors are online. Your customers are searching. A professional website costs £29/year and takes 60 seconds to build. The only question is — what are you waiting for?