Fiverr Small Business Month Survey: Marketing Seen as Key Growth Driver, Yet 70% of Owners Spend Less Than Five Hours a Week on It
Rhea-AI Summary
A recent survey by Fiverr (NYSE: FVRR) of nearly 6,000 small businesses across 25 countries reveals a significant marketing challenge: while business owners identify marketing as crucial for growth, 70% spend less than five hours weekly on it. The study highlights three main digital marketing priorities: building brand awareness (42%), creating engaging content (40%), and customer retention (33%).
To address these challenges, 46% of small businesses use freelance services for their primary business, with another 48% using them for side hustles. Freelancers primarily handle visual brand elements (45%) and strategic marketing services (28%). Looking ahead, 49% of businesses plan to prioritize digital marketing and social media investments, while 39% focus on branding and 34% on content creation. Notably, 77% of small businesses are already using generative AI for business or personal needs.
Positive
- 77% of small businesses are embracing AI technology for business or personal needs
- 46% of small businesses use freelance services for their primary business
- 49% of businesses are planning to invest in digital marketing and social media
- 64% of businesses are utilizing social media marketing as their primary promotion channel
Negative
- 70% of business owners spend less than 5 hours weekly on marketing despite its importance
- Only 37% leverage paid advertising for promotion
- Only 35% utilize SEO and content marketing
- Marketing challenges persist in brand awareness and customer retention
News Market Reaction – FVRR
In the trading session that priced this news, FVRR gained 1.34%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Research highlights how small businesses are investing in marketing and embracing AI to stay competitive
NEW YORK, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marketing challenges from brand awareness to customer retention are the top concerns facing small businesses, yet
The comprehensive report, done in acknowledgement of Small Business Month, reveals three critical digital marketing priorities, with building brand awareness (
“Small business owners recognize that marketing is critical to their success, yet most simply don’t have the time or resources to give it the attention it needs,” said Rivi Bloch, GM of Catalog at Fiverr. “This survey underscores a growing reliance on freelancers and AI tools to bridge that gap, helping entrepreneurs stay visible and competitive even with limited hours to invest.”
To help overcome limited time and in-house resources, the survey found that nearly half (
Other key highlights of the survey include:
- Despite current marketing challenges, small businesses plan to prioritize digital marketing investments through 2025, with half focusing on digital marketing and social media (
49% ), followed by branding (39% ) and content creation (34% ). - While nearly two-thirds of small businesses rely on social media marketing (
64% ) as their primary promotion channel, only about one-third each leverage paid advertising (37% ) or SEO and content marketing (35% ). - Small business owners are rushing to embrace AI, with
77% currently using generative AI for business needs, personal needs, or both. Only17% said they were not planning to incorporate AI tools into their workplace within the next year.
To learn more about Fiverr’s Small Business Month Survey, click here.
Methodology
To inform this report, Fiverr collected nearly 6,000 responses from small business owners and entrepreneurs across 25 countries between July 2024 and March 2025. The findings reflect the perspectives of active Fiverr users on current priorities, investment areas, and growth strategies during this period.
About Fiverr
Fiverr’s mission is to transform the way the world creates and works together. We’re shaping the future of work with the world’s leading open platform, seamlessly connecting top talent and cutting-edge technology with businesses around the globe. From expert freelancers in over 750 skilled categories to best-in-class GenAI models and agents, Fiverr provides the most advanced and comprehensive talent and tools for digital services—helping businesses get mission-critical projects done fast and cost-effectively.
From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, millions trust Fiverr for projects in software and AI development, digital marketing, finance, business consulting, video animation, music, architecture, and more.
Learn how to future-proof your business with exceptional talent and cutting-edge tools at fiverr.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Press Contacts
Tommy Lee
press@fiverr.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/238bf8b8-4eca-4ed3-b527-f5c6524e557a
