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What can Instagram not do for you?
Instagram is very good at showing people what you do. It is poor at the things a customer needs just before they decide to call or visit.
- It does not show your address, timings and services in one place that Google can read
- It is built around a feed, so your most useful information scrolls out of sight
- Customers who are not on Instagram, or do not want to log in, cannot see much
- You cannot choose how the page looks, or what sits beside your posts
A customer who searches your business name wants to find your timings, your location and a way to reach you in a few seconds. A website is built for that one job.
Do posts show up on Google?
Sometimes, but not reliably, and rarely for the searches that matter to a local business. A person searching "dentist near me" or "birthday cake in Indiranagar" is more likely to see Google Maps results and websites than Instagram posts.
Your Instagram profile may appear when someone searches your exact name. For everything else, a website with a page for each of your services gives Google something to show.
Who owns your followers?
Not you. The account, the audience and the reach all depend on a platform that can change its rules, its feed, or what it shows to your followers at any time. Accounts can also be locked, hacked or banned, sometimes by mistake, and getting one back is slow.
A website at your own domain is the one place online that is yours. Followers come and go. Your address does not.
When is Instagram enough?
Be honest about this, because it sometimes is.
- You sell to a small circle that already knows you, and you reach them by message
- You take orders over DM and your customers are happy with that
- You are testing an idea and do not yet know if it will last
If that is you, Instagram plus a Google Business Profile can carry you for a while. The moment customers start asking "where are you?", "what do you charge?" or "are you open Sunday?" in your messages, you are answering questions a website could answer for you.
What should a website hold that Instagram cannot?
- Your address with a map, and your opening hours, always current
- Each service on its own page, so Google can match it to what people search
- Prices or price ranges, if you are happy to share them
- Clear buttons to call you or message you on WhatsApp
- An enquiry form that sends the details straight to your email
- Your privacy policy and business details, which build trust with new customers
How does a website work with Instagram?
They do different jobs, so use both.
- Use Instagram to show your work and keep in touch with people who already know you.
- Use your website to answer practical questions and to be found by people who do not know you yet.
- Put your website link in your bio, and link to your Instagram from the site.
- Keep the details the same in both places: name, address, phone number and timings.
Think of Instagram as the shop window and the website as the shop. People are drawn in by the window, but the shop is where they decide.
What next?
If you do not have a website, our Managed Website plan builds up to 10 pages for ₹0 and keeps them running for ₹2,999 a month, GST included. If you want to see the whole offer first, start on the home page.
Questions people ask
Is a link in bio a website?
Not really. A link in bio page is a list of buttons. It helps people jump to one place, but it does not hold your services, your address and your questions answered in text that Google can read. It is better than nothing, and it can point to a real website once you have one.
Does Google index Instagram?
Google can show some public Instagram pages and posts, but it does not do so for most searches that a local business cares about. You cannot control how the page appears, and it competes with every other account. A website gives you much more say over what searchers see.
What if my Instagram account is banned or hacked?
You can lose your posts, your followers and your way of reaching customers overnight, and recovery can take weeks. This is the strongest reason to hold something you own. A website, a Google Business Profile and a list of customer phone numbers mean one lost account does not end your business.
Do I need both a website and Instagram?
For most local businesses, yes, because they do different jobs. Instagram helps people discover and remember you. A website answers practical questions and is found through Google searches. If you can only do one at a time, choose by where your customers first look for you.
How long does a website take to build?
With our Managed Website plan, your website goes live within 7 working days of you sending your details and making your first payment. It can take a little longer if we are waiting on content from you or on your domain being connected. Other providers vary, so ask for a date.
