77% of companies have out-of-date information on web sites

Results published by NOP Research reveal that nearly eight out of ten UK companies are publishing out-of-date information on their web sites. The research, commissioned by Mediasurface, a provider of internet content management software, has raised concerns over the accuracy of the information that business and consumers rely upon on the net.

The report found that 77% of companies publish out of date information on their sites, yet 83% of over 100 UK marketing managers surveyed said that their web sites were important business tools used by senior management.

Nick Gregory, vice president of marketing at Mediasurface said:

“With the internet growing at a rate of more than 7 million pages each day , it has become an enormous resource for all of our work and lifestyle needs, if it brings useful and timely information. In an age where knowledge really is power, the validity, quality and timeliness of information is essential. Out-of-date information is no more use than yesterday’s newspaper, and companies whose web sites contain useless and out-of-date information will lose customers in droves.”

58% of respondents said it often took more than one working day to get essential information up onto the site, lessening both the usefulness and the longevity of that information.

Gregory said that the solution is to make the content owners the content publishers, whether they are in sales, HR or marketing.

“If key individuals have the ability to add and edit content on their site through a browser from anywhere, without the need to learn any specialist IT skills - this cuts out the problem of delays, and ensures control over e-business content.

"It also allows the web specialists to be doing other tasks that play to their skills, rather than constantly having to ensure new information is going on to a site.”

Failure to control content caused problems for the e-commerce site of UK retailer Argos. Sony televisions were shown for sale at £2.99 instead of £299 and the company was threatened with legal action when it did not honour the sales made before the error was noticed.

Depending on the circumstances, it is possible that a company could be liable if someone relies on outdated or incorrect information on its web site.