More than two-thirds of business owners are concerned that how they appear online could have a negative effect on their business, according to research.

The survey, by web hosting firm Fasthosts Internet, of 540 British businesses found that 78 per cent of business owners believe there to be personal material related to them on the internet, and 43 per cent admitted to anxiety that material posted online by others, like friends or partners, could have a negative effect on their business affairs.

The research also showed that one in five owners routinely 'Google' for personal material on rivals, while 48 per cent judge personal online material to be representative of a business person overall.

Another survey of 300 people who publish their own personal website, as opposed to social networking, found that 84 per cent of those believed this offered more control over their online image.

Nearly 80 per cent of personal website owners were happy to recommend the tool as a means of creating or modifying an individual's online image or identity.

The Fasthosts survey also found that the majority of UK business owners are now engaged with the issue of 'online identity', with over two-thirds expressing some degree of concern regarding how they appear online.

Significantly, the majority of British business owners, 78 per cent, now believe there to be personal material relating to them, such as photos, blog entries, Facebook profiles, on the internet.

Over 40 per cent of owners surveyed had a specific concern that what others may be publishing may have a negative effect on their business. And more than 17 per cent admitted to having later regretted posting one or more items of material.

Fasthosts said that while publishing material online is highly popular and enjoyable, some 95 per cent of those surveyed recognised that the online image it creates for an individual owner can have an impact upon their business.

Significantly, 86 per cent of owners believed that there could be a link between a proprietor's unfavourable personal online material and a decrease in sales revenue. The extent of alarm varies, with 48 per cent viewing this to be a 'significant' risk, and 46 per cent recognising a 'small' risk.

The level of concern on the issue of online material mirrors how heavily business owners themselves now use the web for researching each other.

More than 81 per cent of UK business owners routinely browse the internet for personal online material on business contacts.

One in five of those surveyed (21 per cent) admit to searching for material relating to other company owners such as competitors. A further one in five research their suppliers 'private lives online, and 18 per cent routinely look for material relating to their business partners and associates.

Interestingly, owners appeared to use the web far less to check job applicants, with only 11 per cent willing to do this.

steve_pain@mrn.co.uk

More than two-thirds of business owners are concerned that how they appear online could have a negative effect on their business, according to research.

The survey, by web hosting firm Fasthosts Internet, of 540 British businesses found that 78 per cent of business owners believe there to be personal material related to them on the internet, and 43 per cent admitted to anxiety that material posted online by others, like friends or partners, could have a negative effect on their business affairs.

The research also showed that one in five owners routinely 'Google' for personal material on rivals, while 48 per cent judge personal online material to be representative of a business person overall.

Another survey of 300 people who publish their own personal website, as opposed to social networking, found that 84 per cent of those believed this offered more control over their online image.

Nearly 80 per cent of personal website owners were happy to recommend the tool as a means of creating or modifying an individual's online image or identity.

The Fasthosts survey also found that the majority of UK business owners are now engaged with the issue of 'online identity', with over two-thirds expressing some degree of concern regarding how they appear online.

Significantly, the majority of British business owners, 78 per cent, now believe there to be personal material relating to them, such as photos, blog entries, Facebook profiles, on the internet.

Over 40 per cent of owners surveyed had a specific concern that what others may be publishing may have a negative effect on their business. And more than 17 per cent admitted to having later regretted posting one or more items of material.

Fasthosts said that while publishing material online is highly popular and enjoyable, some 95 per cent of those surveyed recognised that the online image it creates for an individual owner can have an impact upon their business.

Significantly, 86 per cent of owners believed that there could be a link between a proprietor's unfavourable personal online material and a decrease in sales revenue. The extent of alarm varies, with 48 per cent viewing this to be a 'significant' risk, and 46 per cent recognising a 'small' risk.

The level of concern on the issue of online material mirrors how heavily business owners themselves now use the web for researching each other.

More than 81 per cent of UK business owners routinely browse the internet for personal online material on business contacts.

One in five of those surveyed (21 per cent) admit to searching for material relating to other company owners such as competitors. A further one in five research their suppliers 'private lives online, and 18 per cent routinely look for material relating to their business partners and associates.

Interestingly, owners appeared to use the web far less to check job applicants, with only 11 per cent willing to do this.

steve.pain@birminghampost.net