More visibility in search is a top priority, according to a survey on websites

Shazamme's partner website platform, a leading website development platform for digital agencies, SaaS platforms, and web professionals, today released the report ‘What SMBs Want from Their Websites: Insights for Digital Marketing Agencies,’ offering an in-depth look at what small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners expect from their websites. 

The report reveals that 31% of SMBs aim to boost their visibility in search engines in the next 12 months, naming it their top priority for improving their websites in the near future. Additionally, 30% of SMB owners are focused on enhancing lead generation efforts, while 28% of small businesses are keen on increasing brand awareness through their websites. Other top improvements SMBs are looking to make include driving more web traffic (28%) and selling services directly on their websites (27%).

Other key findings include: 

• Websites are crucial revenue drivers for most SMBs: An impressive 98.7% of SMB owners estimate their website will contribute to their revenue in 2024. Nearly 43% say more than half of their revenue will come from their business website.

• Small business owners prioritize ease of updates and maintenance: 43% value the ability to easily update and maintain their website, followed by cost-effectiveness (41%) and customer support availability (40%).

• Training and implementation remain challenges: For 43% of SMBs, training and implementation are key challenges when it comes to maximizing website performance and value. Similarly, 42.5% of SMB owners name content creation and management as a key challenge.

• Omnichannel capabilities are critical: For 22% of SMB owners, the top priority for enhancing the customer experience on their websites is integrating social media sharing and engagement features. Additionally, when asked how their website contributes to business success, SMBs rank selling services online among the top three areas, alongside lead generation and providing information.

“Our survey shows that SMB owners overwhelmingly recognize the value of a website. They also understand that maximizing their website’s potential requires consistent updates, training, and improved search visibility. There is clearly an opportunity for digital marketing agencies to address more of SMBs’ challenges and provide tailored solutions,” 

The survey, conducted online by Global Surveyz Research, included 300 SMB owners from the US and Europe, representing businesses with 1 to 99 employees. These businesses spanned various industries, including travel & hospitality, real estate, financial services, professional services, healthcare & wellness services, and retail & restaurants. The respondents were recruited through a global B2B research panel and completed the survey in the first half of 2024.