As technology advances, small businesses face the challenge of keeping their websites up-to-date and relevant. According to our recent Local Pulse Report™, 34% of small businesses are likely or extremely likely to make changes to their websites this year.

Priorities for 2023

When asked about the priorities for 2023, small business owners stated they wanted to make changes in several areas.

One fundamental change that small businesses are focusing on is making their websites more user-friendly. Nearly half (48%) of small businesses plan to upgrade their websites in this way. This could involve simplifying the navigation, using more intuitive design elements, or adding helpful resources such as FAQs or customer service chatbots.

Another popular area for upgrades is adding more content to the website. 42% of small businesses plan to do this to provide more value to their customers and establish their brand as a thought leader in their industry. This could include blog posts, case studies, infographics, and other content that educate and engage visitors.

Ecommerce capabilities are also a priority for 26% of small businesses. This could involve adding an online store, integrating with a payment gateway, or implementing other features that make it easier for customers to purchase products or services online.

Making the website more mobile-friendly is another critical change for 24% of small businesses. With more and more people using smartphones to access the internet, small businesses must have a website that is optimized for mobile devices. This could involve using responsive design, simplifying the layout, or adding mobile-specific features such as click-to-call buttons.

Eighteen percent of small businesses also want to upgrade their websites with more booking or scheduling features. This could include online appointment scheduling, event registration, or other functionality that allows customers to easily make reservations or set up meetings.

Reputation monitoring and review generation capabilities are also on the radar for 18% of small businesses. With the proliferation of online reviews and ratings, it's vital for small businesses to keep track of what customers are saying about them. This could involve implementing review widgets, integrating with review platforms, or using other tools to monitor and respond to customer feedback.

Integration with a customer relationship management (CRM) system is a priority for 15% of small businesses. A CRM system can help small businesses keep track of customer interactions, sales leads, and other important data. By integrating this data with their website, small businesses can create a more seamless experience for their customers.

Optimizing the website for search engine optimization (SEO) is a goal for 12% of small businesses. This could involve adding keywords to the website's content, creating a sitemap, or using other tactics to improve the website's visibility in search engine results.

Finally, 7% of small businesses are looking to improve the security features of their website. This could involve implementing SSL certificates, password protection, or other security measures to protect sensitive customer data.

Overall, small businesses have a variety of options when it comes to upgrading their websites in 2023. By focusing on user experience, content, ecommerce capabilities, mobile friendliness, booking and scheduling features, reputation monitoring, CRM integration, SEO, and security, small businesses can create more effective and engaging websites for their customers.