Sixty per cent of Artificial Intelligence search tools like ChatGPT and Gemini help boost revenue for small businesses, according to a new Clutch survey. However, that same survey also shows that most of these businesses still block AI crawlers.
Clutch said small businesses benefit from AI-powered search and chatbots. Their data points to 44 per cent of these businesses reporting more leads, 42 per cent more website traffic, and 33 per cent more inquiries. And despite referral traffic concerns, they say small businesses are gaining visibility.
“For small businesses, AI search is a double-edged sword,” said Hannah Hicklen, who oversees tech content at Clutch. “It can drive visibility and growth, but only if companies embrace the technology rather than block it.”
In its report Clutch said more than half of small businesses block AI crawlers. For 43 per cent of respondent small businesses, those blocks are primarily over content ownership and intellectual property. Other respondents are concerned about brand misrepresentation, and 16 per cent reported unauthorized scraping of proprietary content in the past year.
“Bot traffic is also a problem, with 71 per cent experiencing performance issues like slower website speeds and disrupted content,” said Clutch. They added that several small businesses are balancing visibility and control: “over 60 per cent report AI has positively impacted their business, however 57 per cent still choose to restrict access.
The way businesses respond to AI crawlers continues to evolve, though Clutch’s data shows 73 per cent of respondents plan to reconsider their policy towards AI crawlers in the next 12 months.
