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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Jan 25, 2024
2 min read

Harlequins have named their matchday squad for Friday's Gallagher Premiership fixture against Leicester Tigers at a sold-out Stoop (KO 19:45 - Live on TNT Sports).

The squad features several changes following the 47-19 win over Ulster, with five players unavailable due to the Six Nations, alongside the return of Jarrod Evans and Cadan Murley, and a potential debut for loan signing Arthur Clark.

In the pack, Fin Baxter starts at loosehead prop alongside Jack Walker at hooker and Will Collier at tighthead. Joe Launchbury captains Quins for the first time, joining Irne Herbst at second-row. George Hammond shifts to blindside flanker to partner Will Evans at openside and James Chisholm at number eight.

In the backs, Max Green makes his first start at scrum-half, alongside the returning Jarrod Evans. Andre Esterhuizen and Will Joseph reignite their centre combination, with Louis Lynagh on the left wing and Nick David on the right. Tyrone Green continues at fullback.

Amongst the Impact Players, there's returns for prop Santiago Garcia Botta, scrum-half Lewis Gjaltema and fly-half Will Edwards. Second-row Arthur Clark, who joined the Club on loan from Gloucester, is in line for his debut, with Cadan Murley making his return from injury.

Director of Rugby Billy Millard commented: "It's never an easy match against Leicester but the group have worked hard this week and we're looking forward to the challenge on Friday night. With several changes required this week it's excited to welcome back some boys from injury and reward others with an opportunity."

Harlequins Starting XV: 1. Fin Baxter 2. Jack Walker 3. Will Collier 4. Joe Launchbury (Captain) 5. Irne Herbst 6. George Hammond 7. Will Evans 8. James Chisholm 9. Max Green 10. Jarrod Evans 11. Louis Lynagh 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Will Joseph 14. Nick David 15. Tyrone Green

Impact Players: 16. Sam Riley 17. Santiago Garcia Botta 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Arthur Clark 20. Archie White 21. Lewis Gjaltema 22. Will Edwards 23. Cadan Murley

Not Available for Selection (injury): Luke Northmore, Jack Kenningham, Dino Lamb, Stephan Lewies, Will Porter

International Duty: Joe Marler, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Oscar Beard

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

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