Five hundred million people have flocked to Facebook. Many businesses are jumping on the Facebook Brand Business page and shifting content from their own websites to the social media giant.

At the same time, they are bemoaning the fact that their own Web traffic is dwindling. So maybe they shouldn’t use Facebook and lure people away from their company’s website?

Think of this issue in terms of pizza. More often than not, people like the convenience of having pizza delivered to their home or office.

On the flip side, sometimes they want to get out of the house. They want some ambience, maybe to watch a game on the pizza parlor’s big screen or be with friends.

One solution isn’t better than the other. They serve different needs and different moods. But the key distinction is that the consumer gets to choose.

Opting to build a Facebook page doesn’t mean you should shut down your website. Or vice versa. They serve the same consumer in different ways.

Your Facebook page will be:

Short and to the point – more of an appetizer.

A place where conversation can easily occur.

Mostly for your customers and business friends.

Relationship-focused, not sales-focused.

Your website will be:

Content rich – answering the questions prospects might have.

Greater in detail and volume.

Written for your prospects as well as for current clients.

Lead-generating and sales-focused.

It’s not an either/or. In today’s world, odds are you need both.

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan Marketing Group and blogs at www.drewsmarketingminute.com. He can be reached at Drew@MclellanMarketing.com. © 2010 Drew McLellan