Instagram or a website?
Instagram is strong for reaching new people, but on its own it often isn’t enough: someone who searches for you on Google finds your menu, prices, address and booking on a site, and the account follows the platform’s rules, not yours. The best answer is both; with Paftane a small site is live in 2 weeks with the Starter package.
Instagram onlyA profile, posts and messages
A studio you talk toAt a glance
Being found
Instagram onlyFollowers and Explore Followers and the Explore feed.
Google and Maps Google Search and Maps. For you: People who don’t know you yet but are searching find you too.
Information
Instagram onlyLost between posts Gets lost between posts.
Menu, prices, hours, address in one place Menu, prices, hours and address in one place. For you: You don’t answer the same question by message every day.
Ownership
Instagram onlyFollows the platform’s rules The account follows the platform’s rules.
Domain and site are yours The domain and the site are yours. For you: If the platform changes, your address stays where it is.
Cost
Instagram onlyFree; ads extra Free; ads cost extra.
The project once; hosting yearly The project fee once, Starter from $1,200; domain and hosting yearly, care optional. For you: You see the total in writing up front; the accounts are in your name.
Side by side
| Subject | Instagram onlyA profile, posts and messages |  A studio you talk to |
|---|---|---|
| Bookings and ordersFor you: Requests come in at night too, and none get lost. | By message, by hand | A form, bookings or a cartA form, a booking page or a cart |
| LookFor you: You set the first impression. | The same layout as everyoneThe same profile layout as everyone else | A shop window made for youA shop window made for your business |
Which one suits you?
Six cases where Paftane stands out and three where the other way fits better, both told honestly.
You want searchers on Google to find you, and bookings and orders out of your messages.
- AI assistants read it tooOpen to assistants like ChatGPT; llms.txt and structured business data in every package.
- Your own panel, every packageChange the words yourself and see visitors and incoming requests on one screen.
- Search Console and analyticsSet up on launch day, the accounts in your name; you see your visitors in your own panel.
- Fast on a phoneText loads first, images are sized to the screen; in every package, at no extra cost.
- First 30 days of care includedSomeone to write to when you get stuck; after that, monthly care by scope if you want it.
- Launch date written up frontStarter 2 weeks, Studio 3–4 weeks; you see the launch date on your sheet before work starts.
Your business is new and your customers already come from Instagram.
- Your business is new and you want to test the interest.
- Customers come from Instagram and you keep up with messages.
- You sell face to face and people need little information.
Use both: the link in your profile opens your site, and your site opens your Instagram.
Common questions
Not answered here? Ask Paf or tell us about your project.
Is Instagram enough, or do you need a website?
Instagram is strong for reaching new people, but on its own it often isn’t enough: someone who searches for you on Google finds your menu, prices, address and booking on a site, and the account follows the platform’s rules, not yours. The best answer is both; with Paftane a small site is live in 2 weeks with the Starter package.
Isn’t a Google Business Profile enough?
A profile is very valuable for your address, hours and reviews; you should have one. But it has little room: it can’t explain your menu, services, team and bookings in detail. A site completes the profile; the details on both are written the same way.
Does a small business really need a website?
Not every business does. If your customers only find you through word of mouth, you can wait. If people search for you on Google, or you can’t keep up with the messages, a small site makes your work easier.
Can I show my Instagram feed on the site?
Yes, the feed can be connected to the site. But the site’s real work is the menu, services and booking pages; the feed completes them.
Still not sure?
Tell Paf about your business in a sentence; it draws a sheet with the pages, the time and the price. Then you decide.