Before you think having a web filter is a bad thing, think about how much time your staff spends updating their Facebook status or tending their crops on Farmville while on company time. Of course, you don’t want to block Facebook from your marketing department, that would make their job a lot harder. However, using a managed web filter like ITC WEB you can block specific sites from being accessible to certain users – the ones most distracted. Almost every small businesses has had this or a related problem with the open web affecting productivity. The problem is your company may be experiencing a steady decline in productivity due to the increase popularity in social networking websites. Small businesses aren’t the only ones with this problem. I can tell you my first hand experience being employed by a large and once popular social networking website Bebo. We blocked access from most staff too. Of course, I’m sure other reasons were to keep staff from visiting competing social networking websites, but you can obviously see how useful a web filter can be.
Interested in more small business tips? Checkout 5 Mistakes Small Businesses Make With Their Technology.
Why Should I Use A Web Filter For My Business?
Let’s face it, humans are for the most part naturally curious and social. Every now and then I too find myself distracted by the internet with the 10’s of blogs and forums I visit on a daily basis. When on Facebook or LinkedIn, it can be even more distracting with 15 or so minutes spent every couple of hours checking updates or accepting friend/connection requests. So, you’re probably wondering, when does social networking become a problem for my business? Having your company distracted by social networking websites becomes a problem when it affects productivity. Some small businesses that have come to us for a solution simply don’t want their staff wasting the company’s dime on internet and web distractions. But for the most part, it’s a problem when it affects productivity, efficiency, or the communication with your staff.
Now, if you’re into social networking like 99% of the modern world, think about how much time you spend “connected”. Frequent status updates, friend requests, uploading pictures, keeping in touch with family, or playing games on Facebook. When on social networking websites, minutes can easily become hours and for the truly engaged 1 hour becomes a few hours. So think about at work when the boss steps out, is your staff taking a few minutes away from work to tend their virtual crops? Are you having any productivity issues due to staff spending time on social networking websites? Have you implemented a web filter for your business and if so, how as it helped? Join the discussion on our Facebook or LinkedIn – If you can. Enjoy!
