How much is that software-as-a-service in the window?

Web sites catering to the many and varied needs of the SMB are pretty much the hottest thing going right now.  Category leaders like Constant Contact and Eventbrite are making a killing by providing smaller businesses with tools they can use to engage their customers more effectively and more professionally.

But SaaS websites also provide a great marketing opportunity for big companies who sell products.  Take HP, for example.  The computer and printer manufacturer thought well enough of the idea that it recently acquired Logoworks, a “web-based graphic design service provider”.  It ain’t hard to see the synergy there.

I predict that the value of SaaS websites is going to be driven even higher by the acquistive interests of  big companies who want to use them as customer acquisition and branding vehicles.