Why the New META Announcement Proves Your Business Needs Its Own Website

Social media has been a game-changer for businesses, offering a platform to connect with audiences, build brand awareness, and even generate sales. But if the recent announcement from META has taught us anything, it’s this: your business needs its own website now more than ever.

The New META Announcement: What Happened?

META (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) recently announced changes to its platform algorithms and ad structure, potentially limiting organic reach for businesses. While they’re encouraging businesses to lean further into paid ads and content, these changes emphasize the risks of relying solely on social media to engage with your audience.

This isn’t the first time social media platforms have shifted gears, and it won’t be the last. Each change reminds us of one critical lesson: you don’t own your social media presence—META does.

Why a Website Is Critical for Your Business

Social media should be part of your strategy, but it cannot be the entire strategy. Here’s why having your own website is essential in 2025 and beyond:

1. You Own Your Website, Not the Platform

When you rely solely on social media, you're at the mercy of platform changes, algorithm updates, or even account bans. A website gives you full control over your content, design, and functionality, ensuring your business has a stable foundation.

2. Your Website Is Always Accessible

Social media outages happen (we’ve all seen Instagram go dark for hours), but your website is always there. It serves as a 24/7 storefront for your customers, allowing them to browse, shop, and book services anytime.

3. A Website Builds Credibility

Your website acts as your business's digital HQ. It shows customers you’re serious, professional, and trustworthy. It’s also the first place potential customers will check when deciding whether to work with you.

4. Data Is Power

Platforms like META may limit the data you can collect on your audience. With a website, you own your analytics. You can track customer behavior, optimize their experience, and make smarter business decisions.

5. It’s Your Digital Hub

Social media can drive traffic, but your website ties everything together. It’s where you showcase your products, services, and branding, and where your customers can complete their journey—whether that’s booking a consultation, making a purchase, or signing up for your newsletter.

The Risk of Relying Only on Social Media

Imagine this: META makes another sweeping change, reducing the organic reach of your content to a fraction of what it was yesterday. Your engagement drops, your audience stops seeing your posts, and your sales suffer. This is the risk of putting all your eggs in the social media basket.

By owning a website, you’re protecting your business against these risks. Social media should drive traffic to your site, not be the end destination.

How to Get Started

If you don’t have a website yet, now is the time to start. If your current site needs an upgrade, don’t wait for the next social media upheaval to take action. Here’s how we can help:

• Custom Website Design: We craft websites tailored to your small business, blending creativity and strategy for maximum impact.

• SEO Optimization: We ensure your site is easily discoverable by potential customers searching for your products or services.

• User-Friendly Features: From online booking to e-commerce capabilities, we make your site work for you.

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Don’t Wait for the Next META Announcement

Take control of your business’s online presence today. With a professional website, you can grow your brand on your terms—not META’s.

Ready to build or revamp your website? Schedule a free discovery session with us to get started. Let’s create a website that works for your business and ensures your success no matter what happens on social media.

Boosting Business and Community Growth: The Benefits of Coworking Spaces

Coworking spaces have gained popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional office spaces for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. The concept involves a shared workspace where individuals from different professions and industries can work independently or collaboratively. Coworking spaces provide more than just a desk and a chair. They offer a community of like-minded individuals who are committed to supporting and encouraging one another. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the benefits of coworking spaces, as exemplified by this Q&A with Emily Vanest and Tina Aalsma from Switchboard, our "home" in Indy.

A: How does being part of a coworking space benefit small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those just starting out?

S: The two biggest things that coworking spaces give their members are:

1) Low-cost access to resources needed to work or to launch your business. We have great high-speed wifi, printing and scanning, professional spaces for meetings, and a community of other workers who could be good connections for you as you grow. As your business expands, you can move to a desk or a private office. You don't need the capital to buy your own building or even fit out a home office. You can have 24/7 access to a shared space for around $100/month.

2) A community. Even before the pandemic, many people had already realized that working from home in isolation wasn't good for them. Mental health suffered, work/life balance suffered, and productivity suffered. Getting out of your house, interacting with other humans, and even working alongside other people who are also working tends to really boost all of those things.

A: In addition to providing workspace, what kinds of community-building activities and events does Switchboard offer its members?

S: Some of the community events that we have done: Happy hour, member lunch, Switchboard anniversary parties, treat breaks, walking tours, clothing exchange, lunch and learn, Plugged In (breakfast and a speaker). We bring our own lunches and eat together on Thursdays.

Rita Avellar working on a warm sunny day

A: How does Switchboard help support and connect with the broader community beyond its membership, such as through partnerships or charitable initiatives?

S (Emily): I personally feel very committed to women-owned businesses and minority-owned businesses. We donate our space for events that allow these groups to launch or flourish their businesses. We discount memberships for nonprofits and local students. I'm personally involved in my neighborhood association and am on the board of the community development corporation that oversees this neighborhood. Our space is located in the heart of a growing commercial district filled with independently owned small businesses. We are part of the local merchants' association, encourage our members to shop local, and purchase from local vendors for our events and daily needs whenever possible. When we designed our building, we had a lot of our furniture built by neighborhood furniture designers and purchased our art from neighborhood professional artists.

(Tina): One of the reasons that Switchboard does not have an on-site coffee shop or restaurant is because we want to encourage our members to visit the wealth of local businesses within walking distance. We have filled our space with local artists' work. We purchase handmade cards from local artists and provide them (with stamped envelopes) for our members at times like Mother's Day and Father's Day, or just because.

A: In your experience, what are some examples of businesses or organizations that have benefited from being part of the Switchboard Coworking community, and how?

S: Two of my favorite stories: Richard and Nate Walsh joined Switchboard in 2017 as software developers with some ideas. Their business grew and expanded, but pivoted dramatically during the pandemic when they began creating a system for HIV patients in rural communities to get access to medical care and support. Their hardware and software have been purchased and invested in by the Indiana State Department of Health and are being sold to other states. Their business expanded to an office, then 2, and they are adding 2 more offices in our new building. But better than that, they met David and Elise here. David was starting his own real estate investing app and had just hired his assistant Elise. They shared a desk, where they became friends with Richard and Nate. Eventually, they all bought houses in the neighborhood and became friends outside of work. Their neighborhood community helped carry them through the pandemic. Davis now has over 40 employees and 3 offices at Switchboard. That little app earned him #1 on Forbes Magazines' top 8 real estate companies to watch in 2019.

Other Switchboard members include architects, lawyers, data analysts, financial advisors, Executive Directors of nonprofits, real estate agents, filmmakers, therapists, students, and more.

Furniture built by neighborhood furniture designers and purchased our art from neighborhood professional artists.

A: How has Switchboard Coworking adapted to meet the needs of its members during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what lessons have you learned about the importance of flexible and adaptive workspace solutions?

S (Tina): After the pandemic, many of us have a harder time showing up for things that are not very convenient. But we need connection more than ever. We try to build in opportunities to connect while still respecting our members' needs to do their work. Since we all need to eat, free lunch is a beautiful way to connect.

About half of our members were classified as essential workers. They continued to work out of space throughout the pandemic. We followed all directives and recommendations but didn't have to adapt too much. We always have members who are immunocompromised in our space and care very much about cleaning and sanitizing appropriately. We wore masks and distanced and protected each other. We have a really great community and have always prioritized caring for each other and thinking about the needs of others. People working through the pandemic needed community more than ever. . . needed to talk, to see other people's eyes, needed to get out of their houses. And we were able to do that safely. We never had anyone contract or spread COVID at Switchboard, which is really amazing.

Also important, our members believed in us and were willing to continue supporting us throughout the pandemic. Many people who could not come into the space still chose to pay their memberships and their office leases. Because of that, we were able to stay open and fiscally solvent (even thriving) during a time when many businesses (including many coworking spaces) had to close.

Rita Avellar during cancer treatment

Personal note: As someone who underwent cancer treatment last year, I found that going to a coworking space, even if it was just once a week or once a month, was a great way to distract my mind and get work done in a safe and clean environment that was beneficial for my physical and mental health. Switchboard proved to be an incredible partner during those grueling 8 months, and I will always be grateful for the support they provided me.

Newsletters: Why Your Small Business Needs Them (And No, They're Not Just for Your Grandma)

Ah, newsletters. They may not be the most exciting thing to talk about but trust us, they're worth your attention. Sure, you might think that they're a thing of the past, reserved for your grandma's knitting club or the local garden society. But in reality, newsletters are still a powerful tool for any small business's communication strategy.

First off, let's talk about the benefits. Newsletters are a great way to keep your customers up-to-date with what's happening in your business. Whether it's new products, upcoming events, or even just a friendly update on what you've been up to lately, newsletters are the perfect platform to get the word out. Plus, they can help you build brand loyalty and trust with your audience, which is key for any small business.

Now, we know what you're thinking. "But who actually reads newsletters anymore?" Well, the answer might surprise you. According to a recent study, 81% of people still subscribe to at least one newsletter, and 40% of those people said they look forward to receiving them. That's right, people actually WANT to hear from you (as long as you're not spamming their inbox, of course).

So, how do you create a newsletter that people actually want to read? Here are a few tips:

1. Keep it short and sweet: Nobody wants to read a novel-length email. Keep your newsletter concise and to the point.

2. Add some personality: Newsletters are a great way to show off your brand's personality. Don't be afraid to inject some humor or personality into your content.

3. Make it visually appealing: Use images, colors, and fonts that reflect your brand's aesthetic.

4. Offer something of value: Whether it's a discount code or a free download, give your subscribers a reason to keep coming back.

Now, we know that creating a newsletter can be time-consuming, especially if you're a small business owner wearing multiple hats. But trust us, the benefits are worth it. Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or just someone who loves to stay connected, newsletters are a fun and effective way to communicate with your audience. And if you need help building a newsletter strategy that works for you, feel free to contact us! We're always here to help.

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Next time you're thinking about skipping your newsletter, remember: Grandma would be proud.