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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Aug 23, 2024
3 min read

Faversham Hop Festival is back on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, with Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, returning as principal sponsor for another year.

The Faversham-based independent family brewer and pub company has a host of hop-related offerings to top off the festivities through the weekend, including free beer and a rare glimpse into the brewery for families.

The town will come alive with music across four stages and in pubs and other venues throughout the town, with more than 70 bands and acts performing, dedicated busker areas and morris dancing, along with a fairground, magic shows and more.

A number of the brewer’s historic vehicles will feature in the morning parades through the town which traditionally open each day of the festival, organised by not-for-profit company Community Heritage Events Ltd., on behalf of Swale Borough Council.

Shepherd Neame is also sponsoring the main Brewery Stage over the weekend outside its Court Street brewery, with a music line-up that runs throughout the day from 10.45am until 5.20pm.

It has teamed up with Herne Bay artist Peter Gander to create a special Shepherd Neame Hop Spots map to help festivalgoers navigate the many venues and line-ups over the weekend, including its own nine pubs in the town. A digital copy of the map will be available online, and as a banner at selected Shepherd Neame pubs.

Shepherd Neame’s popular brewery tours are normally only open to adults, but festival goers of all ages will be able to enjoy special family tours throughout the weekend. Tours will be held on both Saturday and Sunday, with a family tour for two adults and up to four children costing £35, and a traditional tour priced £23.50 per person. Mini tours will also be held at a cost of £18.50 per person.

Beer lovers will be delighted to hear that seasonal favourite Late Red (4.5%) will be on offer at selected pubs during the weekend, alongside New World XPA (5.1%), the latest in Shepherd Neame’s Small Batch range of limited edition, craft keg beers.

This year’s limited edition green hop ale Hop Pocket (4.5%) will also be unveiled at the festival. Beer is usually brewed with dried hops, but Hop Pocket is made using fresh green hops which go from bine to beer in a matter of hours, giving it a delicious aroma and earthy kick. Shift Brewer Scott Wilkins travelled the short distance from the Faversham brewery to Parsonage Farm, Boughton-under-Blean on Monday (August 19) to select and help pick the first hops of the year for the brew with farmer Antony Rudgard-Redsell.

Pizza lovers can visit Shepherd Neame’s new Little Tom pizza wagon, which will be situated at The Limes in Preston Street over the weekend. Handmade sourdough pizzas will be on offer from 11.30am to 7.30pm on Saturday (August 31) and from 11.30am to 6pm on Sunday (September 1).

And there’s also an extra treat on offer, with the fantastic prize of beer for a year up for grabs! Festival goers simply need to scan the QR code which will be found on posters around Shepherd Neame pubs during the weekend, and on the Hop Spots map.

Chief Executive Jonathan Neame said:

“Faversham Hop Festival is a brilliant celebration of our hop heritage in Kent, and Shepherd Neame has been proud to support the event since it was first held more than three decades ago. It provides a fantastic boost to our town, attracting thousands over the weekend, and we look forward to joining in the celebrations across our pubs and at the brewery.”

For more information and a full line-up of bands at Shepherd Neame’s pubs, visit here.

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

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