Websites are not just a showcase, as per Wordstream report. Around 70% of SMBs allow customers to buy directly online. That share rises to 85% for larger firms and falls to 66% for solo operators. Mid-sized businesses tend to sell less online, reflecting the prevalence of service-based operations such as home services, which make up 22% of respondents.
Lead generation is another key function. Nearly seven in ten businesses said their website is a significant source of leads. Larger businesses report the highest reliance at 84%, while those with two to 10 employees are at 56%. Tracking conversions may be easier for bigger firms, which could explain the difference.
Despite the benefits, 62% of SMBs said their model could function without a website (surprise, surprise). Mid-sized companies were most confident in this, while roughly half of sole proprietors felt their business would struggle without one.
Driving traffic and converting visitors was the top challenge, cited by 35% of businesses. Other hurdles included keeping content current, design and technical limitations, limited staff or time, and unclear strategy. Social media was the most common source of traffic at 64%, followed by organic search (52%) and referrals (51%). AI sources ranked lowest, though 18% of firms monitor traffic from AI.
The findings suggest that websites remain a key component for sales and leads. At the same time, small businesses face ongoing pressure to maintain visibility and optimize conversions.
Notes: This post was drafted with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed, edited, and published by humans.
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by Web Desk via Digital Information World
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