THE HONEST QUESTION
Do you actually need a website if you're selling at markets?
Maybe. Maybe not.
If you're only doing one local market and your regulars know where to find you, probably not. Instagram and word of mouth might be enough.
But if you're doing multiple markets, selling across different towns, or trying to build a customer base beyond the people who happen to walk past your stall — a website starts to make sense.
SIMPLE PAGE VS FULL SITE
You don't need a massive website with 10 pages and a blog.
A single landing page can be enough:
What you sell.
Which markets you're at and when.
How to contact you for pre-orders or custom work.
A few photos of your products.
That's it. One page. Easy to maintain, easy for customers to understand.
A full site with separate pages for products, an online store, a blog — that's more work and more cost. Only makes sense if you're selling online between markets or building a proper brand.
WHAT PEOPLE SEARCH FOR
Market customers don't usually Google "handmade soap vendor Gippsland." They find you at the market.
But here's what they do search for after meeting you:
Your business name — If they liked your stuff and want to find you again.
The market name — "Bairnsdale farmers market stallholders" or "who's at Sale market this weekend."
Specific products — "local honey Gippsland" or "handmade candles East Gippsland."
If you've got a website, you show up. If you don't, you're relying on people remembering your stall or finding you on social media.
BUILDING A FOLLOWING
Markets are once a week, maybe twice if you're hitting multiple towns. That's your main selling window.
A website helps you stay connected between market days:
Announce which markets you'll be at next.
Let people know about new products before market day.
Offer pre-orders so customers can collect at the market.
Build an email list for regular updates.
The website isn't replacing the market. It's extending your reach beyond Saturday morning.
SOCIAL MEDIA VS WEBSITE
Instagram and Facebook are great for market vendors. Visual, fast, easy to update.
But here's the problem: you don't own your social media audience. If Instagram changes its algorithm or your account gets flagged, you lose everything.
A website is yours. You control it. And when someone Googles your business name, your website shows up — not just your social media buried in search results.
The best approach? Both. Use social media for daily engagement and your website as the home base. I've written about how to balance social media and your website without doubling your workload.
PROMOTING MARKET LOCATIONS
If you're doing multiple markets — Bairnsdale, Sale, Traralgon, Mallacoola — your website is the easiest place to keep that info updated.
List your market schedule: where you'll be, when, and what you're bringing.
People can check before they drive out. Especially useful for seasonal vendors who aren't at every market.
This is way easier to manage on a website than constantly updating social media posts or stories.
PRE-ORDERS FOR REGULARS
If you've got regular customers who buy from you every market, make it easy for them to pre-order.
A simple contact form on your website: "Order for market pickup."
They tell you what they want, you pack it, they collect it at the market. No queues, no risk of selling out before they arrive.
You don't need a full ecommerce setup for this. Just a way for people to reach you and confirm their order.
EMAIL LIST FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Social media is noisy. Your posts get buried.
An email list is direct. People who sign up actually want to hear from you.
Use it for market announcements, new product launches, or special pre-orders. Keep it simple — one email a week, maybe less.
Your website can have a simple signup form. No fancy software needed. Even a free Mailchimp account works fine for small vendors.
GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE
Here's the tricky part for market vendors: Google Business Profile is designed for businesses with a fixed location.
But you can still make it work. Set it up as a service area business and list the regions you cover — Gippsland, East Gippsland, whatever fits.
When someone searches "local honey Gippsland" or "handmade candles East Gippsland," you have a chance to show up.
Keep your profile updated with your market schedule. Post photos from each market. Collect reviews from customers.
It's not perfect for mobile vendors, but it's better than nothing.
COST-EFFECTIVE OPTIONS
Market vendors don't have massive budgets. I get that.
A simple one-page site shouldn't cost more than $1,000-$1,500. If someone's quoting you $5,000 for a basic market vendor site, that's overkill.
Ongoing costs should be minimal: $100-$200 a year for hosting and domain. That's it.
If you want to DIY it, platforms like Squarespace or Wix can work. But be honest with yourself about whether you'll actually keep it updated.
NEED ADVICE?
I work with small businesses around Gippsland, including market vendors and producers.
If you're trying to work out whether a website is worth it for your stall, I can give you an honest answer. No hard sell, just advice based on what actually works for regional vendors.
And if the answer is "you don't need one yet," I'll tell you that too.