Siew Hoon (of Web In Travel) was hosting a panel and I asked the panelists a question:

“If you had finite funds and you were a small hotel owner, would you invest your precious cash in your own website or (you only have enough money for one) a Facebook fan page.”

The answer was a unanimous, “Website”.  A number of reasons were given by the panelists which seemed to come with some validity at the time but this is the kind of question that, everyday, comes loaded with new weighty evidence and new technology possibilities – specifically iFrame and in-Facebook purchasing.

For a number of months now I have seen all sorts of brands – from the BBC to specific movie promotions – not even bothering to promote their own properties – many of the URL formats have been simply www.facebook.com/(moviename) etc

So, at least some people in some organizations see some ‘more’ importance for their Facebook presence.  (Almost all of these would have a website too I expect – but the emphasis is important).

We hear lots of numbers don’t we?  No of Facebook users, Facebook referred traffic, likes etc.  And these numbers are still huge.  There’s no sign of them slowing down and we now hear murmurs of Facebook killing Google!

A cursory look at people’s phones on the train is a powerful and visual no-nonsense supporting piece of evidence.

Things have changed.  They’ve changed since I asked the question just a few months ago.  Numbers are bigger, technology is changing and Facebook’s prevalence is becoming even more ubiquitous. 

So, if I may, I’ll ask the question again:  Website or Facebook fan page?