The SMB Churn Crisis: Study shows why half your advertisers leave — and how to stop it

A brand-new study of small business owners uncovered a startling truth: nearly half of SMB advertisers stop working with their media partner within the first 12 months. The reasons are clear — high costs, lack of visible results, and poor lead delivery. For publishers, this churn is more than a setback; it’s a revenue crisis that threatens long-term sustainability. But it’s also an opportunity. By understanding what SMBs really want — fast ROI, new customers, and tools that help them grow — newspapers can transform short-term relationships into loyal, recurring revenue streams.

REGISTER BELOW for this must-see webinar as we unpack the study’s key findings and reveal how publishers can act on them. You’ll learn how inTandem by vcita, an AI-powered platform built for publishers, helps newspapers deliver the digital presence services SMBs demand — from booking and payments to real-time lead management. This isn’t just about fixing churn — it’s about making your newspaper indispensable to the businesses you serve.

What you will learn

• Why nearly 50% of SMB advertisers leave within the first year — and the top reasons driving churn.
• What local businesses expect from publishers: fast ROI, new leads, and growth support.
• How publishers can expand beyond ads and websites to become essential digital partners for SMBs.
• Why poor lead delivery is costing publishers revenue — and what SMBs really want instead.
• How inTandem by vcita empowers newspapers to retain clients, strengthen relationships, and unlock recurring revenue

SPONSORED BY:

PANELISTS:
Rachel Nulman-Schapiro
VP Product Marketing
vcita

Moderated by

Mike Blinder
Publisher
E&P Magazine