A great website is an online expression of your image or personality. So it should reflect you, as an individual or as a company, in a way that helps your audience understand where you’re coming from and what you do.
I don’t think anyone would argue that the web would be better if every website looked and acted the same. Yet that’s exactly what people and companies do when they only engage with their audience on social platforms. They homogenize themselves — and lose control of the conversation.
Prioritizing Your Online Presence
When you’re running a small business, there’s never enough time in the day. I certainly understand why time-strapped people choose to prioritize their social media presence over their own website. That’s where the eyeballs are and where people are most likely to see what you’re saying – and give you that warm fuzzy “Like” or comment. And while Facebook is definitely an essential aspect of having an online presence, it shouldn’t come at the expense of owning the content on your website.
The first time you post on Facebook and skip adding the same update to your website, it might feel like a weight was lifted. Maintaining your website can feel like work, while Facebook makes it feel like fun. It’s right alongside pictures of your friends’ new babies, pets, and trips to faraway places . . . so how could it not be fun?
But as times passes and your website content languishes, you’re harming your online persona and reputation. Not updating your website for months at a time is a common content mistake and could lead potential visitors to wonder if you’re still alive!
Even worse, if you give them outdated or incorrect information, they’ll form doubts about the quality of your work. If you can’t handle small details, how can you be trusted to handle larger details or projects?
Related: Spring Clean Your Website With This 13-Point Checklist
Get The Right Tools to Push Out Content
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There are gobs of tools available to help!
For a lightweight approach, there are plugins for WordPress and other CMS engines to pull in your latest Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts, to name a few, and bring them back into your website’s feed. That keeps your site feeling fresh so people know you’re alive and where to interact with you online.
If you can put in a bit more work, tools like Meet Edgar can help you push website content out to your Facebook page — with a bonus of being able to send your content to multiple social platforms at once.
Another example: if you’re a band or musician, a tool like ReverbNation will let you post upcoming shows along with audio and video clips in one place and have them show up everywhere at once. And similar tools exist for other types of content as well.
So, never fear! You’ll find one that works for you and your business.
Related: Take Your Content Strategy Up a Level with a Content Audit
Update Your Website For Lasting Relationships
Ultimately, this boils down to prioritization. There’s only so much you can do in a day, so you’ve got to make hard choices about what you won’t do.
The allure of saving time by only updating Facebook or Twitter is definitely real, but it’s a mistake. Sure, there are lots of people on social media, but that’s exactly why it’s a loud and often chaotic mix of information. As a result, your unique personality can get lost in the noise. Social platforms are the “grand bazaar” of the web, and bazaars aren’t really a great place to form a lasting relationship.
Instead, turn your attention to building your website and create a place for lasting conversations and sustainable relationships.