Do You Really Need a Website If You’re on Instagram?

Let’s be honest—Instagram feels like everything right now. It’s where your audience hangs out, where sales happen in the DMs, and where “link in bio” does some serious heavy lifting. So if you’re a small business, a freelancer, or a creative doing well on IG… do you really need a website?

Short answer? Yeah. Long answer? Let’s break it down.

Instagram Is a Beast—But It’s Not Your Backyard

Instagram is visual, fast, and built for connection. You can build a following, tell your story, and show your work—all in a scroll-friendly format. For a lot of people, it feels like a website. But here’s the catch: you don’t actually own anything on that platform.

Your account? It’s rented space. If IG decides to shut you down, change the algorithm, or roll out some pay-to-play feature that tanks your reach—you’re out of luck. No matter how good your content is.

What a Website Does That Instagram Can’t

A website isn’t just about “looking professional” (although yeah, that helps). It gives you control. It’s where your brand lives outside of platform rules and scroll fatigue. And that matters more than you might think.

Here’s what you can’t really do on Instagram:

• Control the narrative — IG posts are fleeting. A website lets you build out your story with intention, not just trends.
• Organize content — Want to show your portfolio and tell people how to book you and collect emails? A site makes that make sense.
• Get found on Google — No matter how pretty your Reels are, they’re not ranking on search engines.
• Scale your offerings — Selling something? Booking clients? Running a workshop? A website lets you set it all up in one spot.

More Than a Bio Link: What a Website Can Actually Do for You

Let’s talk real life. Here are a few things that start making sense the moment you have a proper site:

• You look 10x more legit — First impressions matter. A site says “I take this seriously,” even if it’s a simple one-pager.
• You stop repeating yourself — Answering the same questions in the DMs every day? Add a FAQ or a services page and free up your time.
• You can actually track stuff — With Google Analytics or simple plugins, you’ll see what people click, where they’re coming from, and what content’s working.
• You become findable outside of Instagram — People searching on Google don’t find you through your IG handle—they find you through your site.
• You can build an email list — Which is still the most reliable way to reach your people without fighting an algorithm.

It’s not about making something fancy—it’s about setting up a foundation you can actually grow on.

Still Not Sure? Try This

If you're on the fence, ask yourself:

• Could I keep connecting with clients if my IG disappeared tomorrow?
• Do people ask for more info than I can fit in a caption?
• Am I sending people to Linktree… when I could just send them to me?

If you answered yes to any of those, a website’s not just a good idea—it’s your safety net. And honestly, it's also your power move.

TL;DR? Instagram’s Great, But You Still Need a Home Base

Social media can drive traffic. It can build hype. But your website is where people go when they’re ready to trust you, buy from you, or book your services. One doesn’t replace the other—they work together.

So yeah. You can build a whole vibe on Instagram. But if you want to build a brand that lasts? Don’t skip the website.

‍