How Marketers Are Spending Their Money on Website Design : Insights from 11,093 Marketers
As the digital landscape evolves, so do the strategies companies use to allocate their marketing and design budgets. We wanted to get a sense of how marketers are adjusting their website design budgets , especially with the ongoing shifts in consumer behavior, technology, and design trends.
To better understand these changes, we surveyed 11,093 marketers to find out how they’re planning to spend their design dollars and where they are investing the most. Here’s what we learned:
SEO & Web Design: Why Marketers Are Focusing on SEO
A staggering 44% of marketers reported plans to increase their SEO budgets this year, citing SEO as a key driver of traffic and online visibility. As AI-driven search results are reshaping digital strategies, marketers are doubling down on SEO because they believe it’s still the backbone of their online presence.
facing unpredictable results due to constant changes in Google’s algorithms.
The Role of User Experience (UX) in Budget Allocations
User experience (UX) is more important than ever. 59% of marketers have expressed an intention to increase their UX budget, particularly because a positive UX is now crucial for higher search rankings and better engagement.
Marketers believe that improving site design and navigation enhances both SEO and conversion rates. However, 20% of marketers are reducing their UX budget, citing that they believe their current site is optimized enough, and further improvements may not result in higher ROI.
Mobile-First Design: Why It’s a Top Priority
With more people accessing websites via mobile devices than ever before, mobile-first design is no longer optional. Marketers are focusing on ensuring their websites are fully responsive and optimized for smaller screens.
25% of marketers reported an increase in their mobile design budgets, primarily due to the growing importance of mobile traffic. As mobile-first indexing becomes more critical for SEO, businesses are seeing the value in investing in mobile-optimized designs.
Content Strategy: Investing in the Heart of Your Website
Content is still king in 2025. A massive 63% of marketers are planning to increase their content budget because high-quality content is critical for SEO, UX, and conversion optimization. The challenge, however, is staying up-to-date with the ever-growing variety of content formats (e.g., blogs, videos, podcasts) that need to be created for different platforms.
Marketers are also allocating more budget toward repurposing content across multiple campaigns, making it more cost-effective. On the flip side, 4% are cutting content budgets, relying on AI to generate more automated content at a lower cost.
Paid Ads and Website Design: A Strong Partnership
When it comes to paid ads, 52% of marketers are increasing their Google ad spend in 2025, noting that it still delivers the best ROI. Interestingly, 64% plan to increase their spend on Bing ads as well, recognizing its lower competition and cost-effectiveness compared to Google.
This is important because integrating paid ad strategies with your website design can significantly enhance conversion rates. Marketers are working on landing pages that are optimized for conversion, ensuring that paid ads drive visitors to a seamless, well-designed experience that encourages action.
Emerging Trends: AI and Automation in Web Design
Marketers are increasingly turning to AI-driven solutions for website design and optimization. A remarkable 97% of marketers are investing in AI tools for SEO and web design, such as AI-driven design elements, content generation, and chatbots.
Although AI can automate many aspects of website design and content creation, there’s still concern among 17% of marketers who worry that AI might reduce creativity or lead to cookie-cutter websites that lack human touch.
What This Means for Your Strategy
Marketers are optimistic about 2025, with most planning to increase or maintain their website design budgets. SEO, UX, mobile-first design, and AI-driven solutions are at the forefront of this investment. Businesses that prioritize these areas and embrace the changes in digital marketing will likely see a return on their investment through increased engagement and conversions.
If you’re planning to redesign your website or optimize your digital strategy, now is the time to act. Focus on improving user experience, content quality, and SEO while embracing the opportunities that AI brings to the table.