Creating your own website to showcase your services may be the first thing that comes to your mind when starting a business. And that’s obviously a great place to start to showcase your services!
On the flip side, I realize that not everyone has the funds or the technical know-how to create a website. You also might want to launch your business to test the waters first or while you’re waiting on your website to get built.
P.S. I’m running a limited time sale on most of our Showit templates while they get a much needed upgrade with all of Showit’s latest updates — so if financials or time are your biggest obstacles right now, using Showit templates could be your best solution. We’re talkin’ like, 80% off sale so head on over to the shop to check it out!
Fortunately, we’re living in an age where even if you don’t have a site of your own, there are still plenty of ways you can showcase what you do through various channels. As an alternative to having a website, it’s essential to understand how you can show off what your business does without needing a primary hub.
And though it might take a little more work at the beginning, it’s still possible to gain the traction your business needs to thrive.
Continue reading for platform suggestions to showcase your services — despite not having a website!
First, my greatest tip
Before we get into all the platforms you can use to showcase your services without having a website, I want to share a super important tip with you that will help boost your chances for success.
Diversify the number of platforms you’re on.
I know that it can feel overwhelming to keep up with #alltheplatforms, but the more you spread your business across the internet, the better of a chance you’ll have of booking clients.
Remember that not everyone uses the internet in the same ways.
Once you’ve gotten a solid fanbase or steady stream of clients, you can perform an analysis on which platforms are bringing in the most clients and which ones are a sunken cost. But at the beginning, it’ll be important for you to get your name on as many platforms as possible.
The great thing about some of these platforms that we’ll talk about today is that some are a set-it-and-forget-it — as in, it won’t be something you need to update every single day. So hopefully that will take some of the overwhelm out of setting your business up online.
Alright, let’s get into it!
Social media platforms
Love it or hate it, social media isn’t going away anytime soon. And with the rise in popularity of all social media apps, it’s the perfect place to showcase your products and services and create a connection with your ideal clients.
I know social media isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (hell, it took me months and lots of marketing meetings with my team to feel 50% comfortable with social media), but the experts aren’t lying when they say social media is a powerful tool to market your business.
Here are some social media platforms you can use right now.
Instagram and Facebook Business Pages
Of course, we couldn’t leave out Instagram and Facebook. The platforms’ ever-growing popularity makes them great platforms to showcase your business’s services and products. Make sure you have a business account to gain access to features that will help you grow your business online, such as insights, quick replies, and the ability to add your business email.
While this post isn’t going to get into Instagram and Facebook strategy for any of these platforms, you definitely want to research strategy from Instagram and Facebook marketing experts.
And yes, I highly encourage you to update your Facebook Business profile. Set up auto-posting from your Instagram to your Facebook as well so you can attract potential clients exclusively using one platform over the other!
Here’s some important information you’ll want to know so you can assess whether or not this platform is best for your business and schedule:
- Time commitment: high
- Upload quality: medium to high
- Resources to get you started: Jade Beason, Modern Millie, Brock Johnson
YouTube
A powerful way to connect with your audience and build a loyal fanbase is through YouTube. You can create valuable videos offering insider secrets, tips and tricks, and other useful information about your industry.
You can also, of course, create videos that explain your business and the services you offer. However, remember that people go to YouTube to learn or to be entertained — not to watch ads. (Again, I highly recommend learning from the experts since I’m not a YouTube expert!)
The most significant benefit of YouTube is that you can create real fans who would love to support you when you do promote your services!
Plus, YouTube has one of the best creator’s funds out of all the social media apps, so it’s another way to generate extra income for your business! So while YouTube content might take you more time to create than Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, you can reap amazing rewards if you stick to it.
- Time commitment: high
- Upload quality: high
- Resources to get you started: Jade Beason, ThinkMedia
TikTok
TikTok is where a lot of Instagram Reel trends originate from, so it’s worth being on the platform if you want to get ahead of the trends. You can also repurpose content from TikTok to your Instagram, which could help your efficiency when it comes to content creation.
It’s also a great place to let your personality and quirkiness shine a bit more! If you’re anything like me, that’s a must when it comes to finding the motivation to create content.
With all this being said, I still recommend watching videos from experts to learn the differences in marketing strategy and the platforms’ algorithms though because they’re still two different platforms that require different strategies.
- Time commitment: medium to high
- Upload quality: low to medium
- Resources to get you started: Joseph Todd, Katie Steckly
Etsy
If you’re a creative entrepreneur selling products, Etsy is a great way to showcase your business! It’s basically a website, but instead of having to set up everything in the backend yourself or learning website design, you can let Etsy handle all the logistics.
All you have to do is write a bio, write your product descriptions, add social media links, upload photos and logos, and boom — your business is all set up to earn money.
You do have to pay a small fee to keep your business up and running on Etsy, but it’s a small price to pay for the ease and peace of mind you get from using their platform.
Here’s how to open an Etsy shop and Here’s a useful video detailing how to run a successful Etsy shop!
Third-party apps within your industry
If you’re in the wedding industry, for example, you could use third-party apps such as The Knot or Wedding Wire. The only downside to using these types of third-party apps is that they can get quite expensive to keep your business profile active and sometimes don’t offer the same ROI (return on investment) as these other methods.
That being said, it can afford you awards and recognition if you do end up becoming successful! It might be worth a trial and then assessing the following quarter if it’s truly working for you.
Here’s a great blog post breaking down a photographer’s experience in detail on The Knot. And here’s a blog post that asked wedding vendors about their experiences using The Knot vs. Wedding Wire.
Facebook Groups
Facebook Groups is a great way to connect with others within your industry and with potential clients who are looking to hire a professional like you.
To find a Facebook Group, just type your industry or niche into the search bar on Facebook. You can also type in your city if you’re a location-based business. When you join a Facebook Group, just make sure that you’re allowed to promote your business — some Groups are very clear that no selling is allowed or selling is only allowed on certain days.
Even if you’re in a Facebook Group that limits the amount of selling you can do, you can still provide value by offering answers to people’s questions. Make sure that you’re engaged and involved so that your name becomes recognizable! Think of Facebook Groups as an opportunity to digitally network.
For example, I’m a part of several Facebook groups, and simply answering peoples questions has booked Wolf & Willow more clients than any other effort so far! But I’ve had to be very on top of it and engaged to establish myself as an expert in these Facebook Groups.
Things I’ve done to achieve this are DM people, make quick Loom videos, and try to be the first to answer posts. I personally love doing this because I just love to offer my help, but I understand this could take more effort from someone who might not think to check Facebook that often. It’s a habit you definitely have to practice!
Some Facebook Groups I’m a part of are Boss Moms, Small Business Moms, and Designer’s Collective.
Another thing to keep in mind is to join Facebook Groups where your target audience is. For example, I’m in a lot of virtual assistant groups, mom boss groups, and female entrepreneur-focused groups because I know a lot of my potential clients are there. And when they ask a question about website design/branding/copywriting, I can jump in!
Google Business Profile
Google My Business or setting up a Google Business Profile is a free way to showcase your business’s information, hours of operation, and contact information.
If you’re an online business, you likely want to rank high on Google’s search engine results or at least show up when someone Googles your business name, which is why it’s so important to set your business profile up.
The great thing about Google Business Profiles is that you can just set it up and then leave it be. You don’t have to update it every day like Instagram or TikTok, and it’s a super effective way to get your business name out into the cyber-world.
You can read about how to set up your Google Business Profile here and learn more about how to attract clients using Google My Business here.
Canva
If you’re thinking, “Wait, I thought Canva was just for design!” this is going to blow your mind. Canva is much more than an intuitive design tool made for non-designers and designers alike. You can also create your own portfolio!
Creating your own Canva portfolio is as easy as using their other design tools — simply use their drag-and-drop tools and create a stunning portfolio that showcases your skills and qualifications sans the skills you need to learn to create a website.
Read more about Canva portfolios here!
Now you’re ready to grow your online presence without a website
Having a website is important for growing your business, but it’s not the only way to showcase your services. You can also use social media, third-party apps, and Google Business Profiles to showcase what you do without the need for a website.
If you’re just getting started or don’t have the funds or technical know-how to create a website, these platforms can be helpful in getting your business name out there.
If you’d like to compare these options to have a website, read this blog post all about why you may need a website for your business.
However, if you’re feeling like you’re ready to create a website and create something that’s truly, uniquely yours, let’s chat!
We offer various website services from full-service custom brand + website design to Showit template customizations to Showit templates. So there’s really something for everyone! Even if you’re not 100% ready, we can chat about your unique business on this call and determine what your best next step could be. Talk soon!
