The dot com bubble of the 90s plunged websites into the spotlight, and for the next 30 years, websites became a crucial part of digital strategies. Most would argue that they still are an important part of a brand’s online presence, perhaps the most important. But as apps and social platforms have entered the battle for our attention, others would argue that websites have found their role becoming a little redundant.
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So, do we still need websites in 2025? This article explores this question in more depth. Continue reading to find out more.
The Case For:
SEO
Despite what you may have read online, SEO is far from dead, and it can be a great way to get in front of potential customers who have yet to discover your brand. But it’s fair to say you’ll struggle to implement an SEO strategy without a website. An efficient SEO strategy relies on targeting the correct keywords, but then also taking the user to the correct section of your website – something which obviously can’t be done without a website!
SEO benefits certain industries more than it does others, so work out if you need an SEO strategy as part of your wider marketing strategy. If the answer is yes, a website isn’t just important, it’s imperative.
Trust
Ask yourself if you’d trust a brand that didn’t have a website; many consumers wouldn’t. You can think of visiting a website as carrying out background checks on a new employee. And if you couldn’t find any information about them, you may be a little bit skeptical. Even for brands that don’t actively sell through their website, as is the case for most B2B businesses, this shows the importance of having a website.
For those offering a service, using a website to host past work, case studies and client reviews also works to increase trust with leads.
Related: How to Migrate Your Website to WordPress: A Complete Guide
Ecommerce
Perhaps the biggest argument for putting time and money into a website in 2025 comes from e-commerce businesses. Platforms like Amazon have moved the goalposts in terms of selling online, but for many businesses, their own website is still the most important place when it comes to online sales.
In industries like fashion, a brand’s website is likely to be where the most revenue comes from. If it isn’t, it probably signifies an issue in terms of brand awareness rather than an issue with the website. In other industries like confectionery, a solid website strategy can support offline strategies to diversify income streams.
Related: What is the Best eCommerce Platform for a Small Business?
The Case Against:
Apps
In recent years, many people would argue that apps have become more important than websites as a result of mobile browsing. Ask any member of Gen Z, and they’ll likely tell you that the majority of their browsing time is spent on mobile apps, whether that be their favourite social media app or they’re favourite shopping app.
This doesn’t necessarily make websites obsolete; Uber has both an app and a website, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out which one is more important!
Related: How To Build Billion Dollar Apps
Social Media
Just as it was important to have a website 20 years ago, the same can be said now for social media. When looking for more information about a business or brand, social media has become the go-to for many users.
But along with this, social media ads have become a goldmine, especially for ecom brands. Let’s imagine a startup pet food brand. Would their limited marketing budget be best served by going into a new website or working with a TikTok marketing agency? If it’s quick success and brand awareness that the brand wants, then the latter is probably the better option.
Related: How AI is Revolutionizing Social Media Content Creation
AI
It seems like everyone is talking about AI, but could this also be reducing the importance of your website? With the likes of ChatGPT and Gemini being able to answer queries quickly and effectively, many users are turning their backs on traditional search engines, which often lead users on a wild goose chase from website to website. Obviously, this is great if the user lands on your website, but most are now starting to seek solutions without any website interaction through AI.
Related: AI-Powered Web Development Tools
Final thoughts
It’s fair to say there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to websites in 2025. To one business, a website may be its most important asset, while to another, the budget may be better spent on social media marketing or developing an app.
The truth is that most businesses probably require a hybrid approach. Regardless of how much business comes through your website, it can still be beneficial to have one even if it just to build trust with your audience.
The correct approach will ultimately depend on your business. A startup fashion brand must have a website to drive sales, while a business selling FMCG may be best focusing on getting their products into supermarkets and wholesalers.