If you've ever Googled "web design stats," you know there are about a million of those floating around. You'll find things like "small businesses with websites have a 53% greater chance of success" or "conversion rates can jump by more than 100% after adding a call-to-action"—who didn’t see that one coming?

But this post isn’t about serving up the same obvious facts. We’re here to dig into the juicy insights from Duda's latest survey report that can actually help agencies. We're talking about stats that tell you what potential clients really want and the trends you can hop on before they blow up. You see, these stats are not just nice to have. To succeed, you must understand SMBs’ unique preferences and unmet needs and tailor your services, marketing efforts, and commercial approaches accordingly - so these stats are a must!

Ready? Let's go!

1. 98.7%
of SMB owners estimate that their website will contribute to their revenue in the coming year

Moreover, 42.5% of SMB owners expect more than half of their total revenue to be generated through their business websites. 

The question is how.

Well, we’ve got answers;

• Lead generation (38%): SMB owners are aware that websites are essential for capturing and nurturing potential customers. Through contact forms, downloadable resources, and targeted landing pages, many small businesses are already generating valuable leads that can be nurtured into customers.
  
• Providing information (37%): SMB websites are an essential source of information about products, services, and the business itself. Well-crafted content, detailed product descriptions, FAQs, and informative blog posts help build trust and educate potential customers, leading to informed purchasing decisions.
  
• Selling services online (36%): despite the current misconception that eCommerce is solely for retail, many SMBs already use their websites to sell services. 

The opportunity for you:  SMBs are counting on their websites to make serious money in 2025, and you can help them level up by offering transactional websites that allow them to sell services online, not just display them. From booking appointments to offering subscriptions or digital products, a site that actually facilitates sales—not just leads—can completely transform their revenue streams. These sites are simpler to create and manage since service pricing is usually stable, and there's no need for inventory management or complex operations. 

Show SMBs how an eCommerce or service-selling platform integrated into their website can turn it into a 24/7 revenue machine. You’re not just building a website—you’re helping build their business.

2. For 43% of SMBs, the ability to easily update and maintain their website is the top factor when choosing software for building
their site

Nearly 31% of SMB owners say "more visibility on search engines" is their top wish for their sites, followed closely by "better lead generation" and "more brand awareness."

An interesting data point is that cost-effectiveness is another big deal, with 41% of SMBs emphasizing its importance. Given tight budgets, SMBs look for affordable yet effective solutions.

Lastly, customer support, ease of use, variety of templates, and features tailored to their needs are all key for 40% of SMB owners.

The opportunity for you: Your clients don’t just want a shiny new site—they need something they can manage without pulling their hair out. And, if you can make that site rank higher on Google and boost lead generation, you're basically their hero. Build websites that are easy to maintain and optimize for SEO, and you’ll create long-lasting client relationships. As for cost-effectiveness, agencies can think about offering various pricing models or packages that cater to different budget levels. To dive deeper here, check out our How to effectively price your agency’s services for growth blog post.

In short, digital marketing agencies should prioritize simplicity, affordability, great support, and customization in their offerings to meet what small business owners want most.

3. 26% of SMBs are still building their sites with custom code

Many SMBs are still building their sites using custom code (26%), which can be technically demanding and harder to maintain. In contrast, only 23% use user-friendly website building platforms.

The opportunity for you: As we noted, the ability to easily update and maintain is the top factor for SMB owners when choosing software for building their website. Agencies can emphasize the benefits of website building platforms, such as Duda, which allow them to build professional sites while offering easier updates and better long-term maintenance than custom code.

Agencies can also highlight how these platforms may help with SEO efforts and lead generation strategies. According to our survey, more visibility on search engines is the top improvement SMBs would like to implement on their business website in 2025. And lead generation was pointed out by SMB owners as the top way their website contributes to their business.

Offering services that include building on these platforms and providing ongoing support can set agencies apart, attracting SMBs seeking both ease of use and improved online visibility.

4. 43% of SMBs say training and implementation are their top challenges in maximizing website performance and value

The opportunity for you: Most SMB owners don’t want to fumble around trying to figure out how to use their new website. Offering training, clear documentation and education tailored specifically for SMBs, and ongoing comprehensive support can set your agency apart. Be sure to shout about these services in your marketing.



For example, Fix8 Media, one of Duda’s valued customers and a successful agency, holds dedicated bi-weekly training sessions for clients on the Duda platform.

5. 22% say their top priority for enhancing CX is integrating social media sharing and engagement features

At the same time, SMBs want their website to play nice with other software tools they’re using. A whopping 88% stress that integration is crucial, while 37% report facing major issues with it.

The opportunity for you:  This is your chance to step in and offer seamless integrations with popular social media and business tools; you’re not just giving SMBs a website—you’re giving them a full-fledged business hub. Tackle the tech headaches for them, and they’ll never think about switching agencies again.

Crowd Digital Marketing, for example, uses Duda’s connection with popular apps like HubSpot and Salesforce to offer greater value to their clients and help them save time.

That’s a wrap on our 2025 web design statistics

These insights aren’t just numbers; they’re your secret weapon for connecting with SMBs and giving them what they really need! Want to dive deeper? Check out Duda’s latest survey report for more great insights that can help you stay ahead of the game.