Only about 10% of UK firms surveyed update their websites on a daily basis.

A worrying number of firms could be taking their foot off the internet pedal, according to two sets of research released by Streamline.net.

The study of 2,400 UK businesses finds that only 10% of small firms are updating their websites on a daily basis while one in three admit that updates are being done ‘infrequently’. A further study of 400 businesses finds that over half of the nation’s small companies are building and maintaining their website themselves.

However, the data reveals that many time-strapped business owners are limited to using their evenings to address their web presence. While businesses clearly see value in the web, the research suggests that many could be losing revenue by cutting corners with their web presence.

Streamline.net’s latest Small Business Bytes Survey finds that many small companies with a website struggle to maintain a compelling web presence. Despite two thirds having had a business website for two years or more, only one in 10 firms succeed in making updates on a daily basis. One in four companies admit to updating their websites on a monthly basis. Over half (54%) admit to making technical tweaks only ‘infrequently’.

In general, investment in the web is modest. For example, one third of companies surveyed use only a single domain name, and three quarters own less than six domains.

It appears that for many firms online marketing is an area that can be neglected. Alarmingly, nearly half of firms (48%) are not currently advertising on search engines. One in three (34%) are unable to quantify the popularity of their website as they do not look at their visitor numbers.

For many companies, the web is still not performing as strongly as traditional methods of generating new business. At present, ‘word-of-mouth’ is viewed as the most important driver, with the company website ranking third after printed advertisements in second place.

Claire Lewis, marketing manager at Streamline.net, said: “Important elements such as search engine submission and website measurement can transform the return from a website. There are now easy-to-use and affordable tools for achieving these to suit all budgets, so every company should check they have these bases covered”.

A further study of 440 UK firms finds that building and maintaining a company website DIY-style is a task undertaken by 57% of UK businesses. Only one in five firms report that they have the funds to pay an external designer to oversee all aspects of their online presence. The poll finds that more than half of those responsible for the website (55%) frequently use their evenings to tackle all aspects of their website. For 22% of companies, late-evenings is only time they have ever dedicated to their website.

Lewis added “Business owners have felt the pressure in recent years. It is perhaps understandable that work on the company website can often get relegated to evenings. However, every business should ensure they invest quality time and energy into presenting the right image and engaging with their website visitors. Leveraging an up-to-date website package can help, as today there are features designed to make the process far quicker and more enjoyable”.

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