Firms Dedicate Dollars to Web Communication, but not People

In a press release, Charet & Associates said its latest online survey of communication professionalsfound that in part because of the lack of human capital dedicated to Web-based communications, real-time communication is suffering. A majority (82%) of respondents indicated that when visiting other Web sites they find information has not been updated, and just under half (49%) reported information is superficial.

Two-thirds (66%) of 119 participants in the survey indicated their organization had developed at least its third-generation Web site. However, only a little more than a quarter (28%) of respondents said their organization’s Web site is managed by a dedicated professional – one whose sole responsibility is Web-based communications.

Thirty-four percent of respondents said they have their Web site management residing within the PR/Communication department – the function most often mentioned as having day-to-day Web responsibility, according to the press release. Twenty-six percent said daily management of their organization’s Web site is handled by a cross-functional team of individuals.

Meanwhile, no respondents said his or her organization would be decreasing its monetary investment in Web-based communications, while three in five survey participants said their organization would either modestly (48%) or significantly (12%) increase their investments.

Charet & Associates is a New York-metro based recruiter of senior and mid-level executive talent in the marketing, communication, and PR fields.