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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Jul 11, 2024
2 min read

AAB, a leading professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, has announced

the promotion of five team members into key leadership roles. This move not only

underscores AAB’s dedication to fostering talent and commitment to excellence but also

signals a continued trajectory of growth with 150 team members promoted across the 12

AAB office locations.

The newly appointed individuals bring a wide range of experience and the new roles will be

critical as the company expands its team across the UK and Ireland.

Helen Daniels assumes the role of Audit Partner in the AAB Leeds office. Helen has been a

key member of the Audit team specialising in owner managed businesses and the financial

services sector.

Lynn Gracie has accepted the position of Private Client Partner based in the AAB Aberdeen

office. Leading the Private Client International Tax team, Lynn provides specialist tax advice

connected to internationally mobile individuals, including Non-Residents and Non-UK

Domiciles, providing holistic tax solutions across global jurisdictions.

Gregor Angus, who joined AAB in March 2023 has been promoted to the role of Business

Development Partner, North of Scotland. This appointment marks a commitment from AAB

to drive further growth in the North of Scotland region across all service lines.

Based in the AAB Aberdeen office, Andrea Begg has been promoted to Business Advisory

Director. In her new role, Andrea will continue to deliver the highest standard of service and

advice to owner managed and family businesses over a number of sectors. Andrea is also in

the AAB tax investigations team.

Assuming the role of Business Advisory Director based in the AAB Glasgow office, Gillian

Rushton joined AAB in March 2016. Gillian provides business advisory tax services to a range

of clients across all industries, as well as a being a member of both the AAB technology

sector team and the tax investigations team.

Emma Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer of AAB commented on the promotions:

“Helen, Lynn, Gregor, Andrea and Gillian are dedicated team members at AAB and it is a great pleasure to recognise each of these individuals with their promotion to our leadership team."

"We are committed to promoting from within, ensuring that every team member has the

opportunity to progress their career. As we continue to grow, their contributions will be

pivotal in driving our vision forward and maintaining the high standards our clients know we

can deliver to support their own business and individual growth.”

Since securing investment from August Equity in 2021, AAB has trebled in size and now

employs c1,000 people across 12 office locations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the

United States, with strategic plans in place to continue to scale the business rapidly,

supported by the promotions.

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

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