Integrating social media with websites is bottom of the list of marketing objectives

- Top priority for website strategies is increasing the amount of information online
- Only 8% say using their website a hub for social media is a priority
- 63% of marketers say the biggest challenge is keeping content fresh and engaging

London, 30 September 2010:  Marketers are prioritising content creation and personalisation in their website investment strategies for the next 12 months and putting social media on the backburner, according to a survey of 250 marketing decision makers, commissioned by EPiServer.  Increasing the amount of information available topped the list of the top three areas of focus (58%), followed by providing more personalised content (45%), then developing a member or customer portal (37%).

Perhaps surprisingly, social media barely features in the website strategies of UK marketers for the next 12 months. Only 8% of respondents said providing a hub for social activity was a key purpose of their website, putting it at the bottom of their list.  Less than half (47%) stated they run any social media activities at all.

The most common objectives for a website presence were focused around more commercial aspects, with driving sales leads cited by 39% and converting website visitors into customers by 34%.  Dealing with customer service enquiries was also highlighted as a goal by 30% of respondents.

Encouragingly, 30% of marketers said their budgets for digital marketing are growing, which bodes well for those looking to increase content creation and introduce communities. However, the road may not be easy for marketers as the top three biggest challenges in managing their website content were: keeping content fresh and engaging (63%); understanding what visitors want (37%); and putting in place personalised content (20%).

The results of the survey, along with top tips and best practice guidelines, are available in a new guide -  Online Strategies 2010 - available to download from http://www.episerver.com/onlinestrategy.

“As the web continues to grow in importance, delivering engaging online experiences will become increasingly important for businesses that are looking to engender brand loyalty, improve their business online and deliver real return on investment,” said Maria Wasing, VP of Marketing Europe at EPiServer. “However, as the survey demonstrates, there are some major challenges for businesses to overcome to ensure their online presence is up-to-date, fresh and engaging. By having the right approach and combining content, community, commerce and communication in an innovative way, companies can ensure that they are meeting the heightened expectations of online visitors and customers.”