1. the short answer
Yes, if you want to stop losing customers to competitors who show up when yours doesn't. Instagram and Google Business are great for staying visible to people who already know you. A website is what shows up when someone doesn't know you yet, and is searching for exactly what you sell.
2. what happens without one
Picture someone searching "bagel shop Muswell Hill" or "electrician near me" on Google. Without a website, you're relying entirely on your Google Business listing and hoping you rank on maps. With one, you can rank in the actual search results too, on pages built around the exact things people are searching for, doubling your chances of being the one they click.
81% of consumers research a business online before making a purchase or a visit, most of it starting on Google, not Instagram. If there's nothing for them to find beyond a profile page, that search often ends at a competitor who does have a site.
3. the trust problem
Rightly or wrongly, people judge a business by whether it looks established. 84% of consumers view a business website as more credible than a social media page alone. It doesn't need to be flashy, it just needs to exist. A clean, simple site quietly answers the questions people have before they've even asked them: are you legitimate, what do you actually offer, where are you, how do I get in touch.
4. the control problem
Instagram can suspend or restrict an account with little warning and even less recourse. Algorithm changes can also drop your organic reach to a small fraction of your followers overnight, so posts that used to reach hundreds of people might now reach a handful unless you pay to boost them. A website is the one piece of your online presence you fully own. Nobody can deactivate it, throttle its reach, or bury it under someone else's ad.
5. when instagram-only genuinely works
There are cases where it's fine for now: very early-stage businesses testing an idea, or ones that trade purely on repeat, word-of-mouth custom with zero interest in growth. If that's not you, and you want more people finding you, a website earns its keep quickly.
6. what a website doesn't need to be
This is the bit that puts people off: they imagine a big, expensive, months-long project. It doesn't have to be. A focused site with your services, real photos, clear contact details and a couple of good reviews does most of the work. You can build on it later.
7. the practical next step
Look at what's actually costing you: how many people search for what you do, each month, in your area? Free tools like Google's Keyword Planner give you a rough number. Multiply that by even a modest conversion rate, and it's usually clear a website pays for itself well within the first year.