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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Jun 6, 2024
2 min read

TL Dallas, one of the UK’s leading independent insurance broking and risk management companies, announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Marsh Commercial’s business in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in August 2024, were not disclosed.

TL Dallas is a fourth-generation family firm, owned by its management and staff and it has been in business for more than 100 years. It is one of the largest, and last remaining truly independent insurance broking firms in the UK, and has offices spanning the UK from Shetland to London. The company has a team of over 165 and provides a full range of commercial and personal insurance services including corporate, small to medium enterprises (SME), trade credit, demolition, farming and agricultural, health and care, books and collectables and private client.

As part of the agreement, TL Dallas will acquire Marsh Commercial’s teams in Elgin, Inverness and Kirkwall, adding to its existing business in the Highlands and Islands.

Polly Staveley, Group Managing Director, TL Dallas, said:

“The acquisition of Marsh Commercial’s business in Elgin, Inverness and Kirkwall represents a significant milestone for TL Dallas, as we continue with our strategy to serve local businesses with local teams, whatever their size. We see this as a major growth region for our business.”

Alistair Fraser, CEO, Commercial and Corporate, Marsh, added:

“I am pleased that TL Dallas, with its strong presence in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands where it serves personal customers and SMEs, will be the new custodian of our offices there."

"As the UK’s leading risk and insurance specialist serving SME clients in over 40 offices, Marsh Commercial will continue to serve SME clients in Scotland through its offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oban, and Perth.”

TL Dallas first expanded into Scotland in 1993 when it opened an office in Shetland, drawing on its experience in the shipping and textile industries. In 2000, the company opened a second office in Falkirk, before expanding into both Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2011.

Edinburgh is also the city where its founder, Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE (great-grandfather of managing director, Polly Staveley) started his business career in commercial shipping insurance, before founding TL Dallas in Bradford in 1919.

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

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