Social Media is Rented Land: Why Your Business Still Needs a Website in 2026
I already know what you’re thinking. “Why should I invest in a website when I have a Facebook page that’s doing just fine?”
It’s a fair question. Social media is free, it’s easy, and that’s where the people are. But there is a fundamental truth about digital marketing that most “gurus” won’t tell you: Social media is just rented land.
The Danger of Building on Someone Else’s Property
Imagine building a brick-and-mortar store on a piece of land, but the landlord can change the locks, hide your signage, or tear the building down whenever they feel like it.
That is exactly what you are doing when you rely solely on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
- The algorithm can shift: One update can cut your reach by 90% overnight.
- You can be locked out: If your account gets hacked or flagged by an automated bot, your entire digital presence is gone.
- Zero ownership: You don’t own your followers, and you don’t own your content. The platform does.
Why Google Still Wins the “Trust” Game
Social media is great for “scrolling.” It’s a never ending supply of dopamine. But when someone is actually ready to pull out their wallet and spend money, they usually aren’t scrolling through a month’s worth of your posts to find your phone number or service list.
They go to Google.
They are looking for a professional business they can trust. In an era of AI-generated profiles and products, a dedicated website is your “proof of life.” It’s the digital equivalent of having a permanent office in town rather than a pop-up tent at a fair.
Three Things a Website Does That Social Media Can’t:
- You Control the Conversation: On your site, there are no competing ads, no “suggested posts” from your competitors, and no distractions. It’s just you and your customer.
- You Own the Data: When someone fills out a form on your website, that lead belongs to you, not a database owned by a tech giant in California.
- Search Intent: People on social media are there to be entertained. People on your website are there to solve a problem.
The Bottom Line
We’ve spent 30 years helping businesses navigate the changing tides of technology. The platforms come and go (remember MySpace?), but the core of a successful business remains the same: Trust and Ownership.
Remember this: Social media is where they find you. Your website is where they hire you.
Don’t leave your business’s future to an algorithm. Move off the rented land and into a digital home you actually own. Get a website.
