One In 10 Small Business Owners Spend Up To A Full Working Day On Social Media

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A new study by Markel Direct, the small business insurance specialists, has revealed the growing expectations many UK tradespeople and small business owners feel to maintain an active social media presence alongside running their business.

The study, which asked 501 UK small business owners and tradespeople how they use social media to market their business, revealed the hidden workload that comes with trying to stay visible online. More than three quarters (76%) spend time every week creating or editing social media content. For most, that means an additional one to three hours of work every week (54%), while more than one in ten (11%) spend up to a full working day each week managing their online presence.

The findings build on a previous study by Markel Direct, which looked into overworking among the self-employed. It discovered that more than half (57%) regularly work beyond their normal hours, while 40% said they feel pressure to remain reachable outside working hours, and 57% admitted to working through illness.

Running a business now means running social media too: half feel stressed to stay visible online

The findings suggest many small business owners are effectively becoming self-taught social media marketers alongside running their actual business. More than two-thirds (69%) have never hired anyone to create content on their behalf, while 65% say they have never received any social media training.

Despite this, many still feel an increasing responsibility to stay active online. More than half (55%) say they feel pressure to create content regularly, while nearly three-quarters (73%) believe customers now expect businesses to be active on social media. At the same time, nearly two-thirds (63%) say they struggle to stand out from competitors online.

The study also highlighted that for some small business owners, maintaining an online presence is also causing a negative impact. Nearly a quarter (24%) say they have experienced negative comments online, while one in four (25%) have deleted or edited posts following criticism.

The fear of negative reactions is also affecting confidence online, with nearly four in ten (38%) saying they have held back from posting due to fear of backlash. Among younger entrepreneurs aged 18–24, more than half say fear of negative reactions has stopped posting online.

Social media drives growth, but raises legal concerns

Social media is a clear growth driver for small businesses, and many owners are aware of the responsibilities that come with posting content online – however, the study revealed significant gaps remain when it comes to protection and preparedness.

The research found that only 39% have insurance in place to cover legal action relating to issues such as copyright infringement or breaches of confidentiality linked to their social media activity. In contrast, nearly half (47%) say they do not have this type of protection, while a further 8% are unsure whether they are covered.

Despite the potential consequences, some businesses continue to share client work online without following clear processes. Nearly one in five (19%) admit they do not always obtain client permission before posting images or videos of completed work on social media.

Worryingly, more than a quarter (28%) say they would not know what steps to take if a client raised a legal concern about content they had shared online.

Rob Rees, Divisional Director at Markel Direct, said:

"Social media has become one of the most powerful ways for small businesses to showcase their expertise and attract new customers, but many business owners don't realise that the same rules around consent, copyright and confidentiality apply online as they do offline."

"Many entrepreneurs have effectively become marketers overnight, often without formal training or dedicated support. Taking a few simple steps, such as obtaining written permission before sharing client projects and understanding what insurance protections are available, can help reduce the risk of disputes further down the line."

To read the full study, visit the Markel Direct website.

Please note: This article provides guidance for information purposes only. It should not be relied upon wholly when making or taking important business decisions – always seek the services of an appropriately qualified professional.

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Oct 17, 2023
2 min read

A new initiative to provide Devon and Somerset with an innovative tool to support tourism has taken another step forward.

Following the successful outcome of the Feasibility Study earlier this year, the next phase of the Tourism Data Hub project will see the development and build of a cloud-based Data Hub solution to gather and analyse data from a variety of sources.

This will include information from accommodation providers and attractions, transport networks, parking providers, the Meteorological Office plus third-party data to help analyse occupancy, revenue, footfall, and sentiment.

The Tourism Data Hub will allow businesses to identify future trends and to react accordingly or to monitor data from previous weeks or months.

Richard Stevens, Chair of Destination Plymouth and LEP Board Director commented,

“The development of the Tourism Data Hub will bring enormous benefits to the whole region, allowing our businesses to use real-time data to make better business decisions and grow as a result. It’s great to see Devon and Somerset leading the way in how we use data as a sector.”

Destination Plymouth is undertaking the procurement for the Tourism Data Hub for the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise area of Devon and Somerset. The project is funded by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) with Destination Plymouth acting as lead body, working with a number of key partners.

David Ralph, CEO of the Heart of the South West LEP, said:

“The procurement of the South West Tourism Data Hub is a significant step towards enhancing our region's vital tourism and hospitality sectors. We are delighted to be supporting this initiative, which will not only drive recovery from the challenges of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis but also foster innovation and growth.”

The Tourism Data Hub project will build a sustainable comprehensive data and research programme to support tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses to help drive productivity across the Heart of the South West LEP region of Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

The Tourism Data Hub will provide tourism businesses, Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and the wider business community with consistent, robust, and valuable data insights into consumer and business behaviours to enable more efficient market targeting and product development to drive recovery post-Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.

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One In 10 Small Business Owners Spend Up To A Full Working Day On Social Media

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