Leveling up the digital divide with local business support

Maybe* is an innovative UK tech company founded by digital and retail experts. Our vision is to empower high street businesses and SMEs to use social media to compete against internet only businesses, ensuring thriving high streets in villages, towns, and cities.

The heart of the business problem we have identified is that consumers use social media to search for goods and services at a vastly higher rate than businesses use it to promote products/services and there is an urgency to offer local business support and training.

79% of UK consumers spend  more than one hour per day on social media, but only 31% of businesses have social media accounts and only 19% of those with accounts are actively posting on social media. Staggeringly, of those businesses who do use it, 91% do not post at weekends, when their customers are using it most. You can download the full data here.

local business support

If unaddressed, this huge disconnect will have significant negative impact for local economies and placemaking as consumers turn to businesses with effective online presence and abandon High Streets and local businesses.

Maybe* works with Local Authorities to change this by delivering social media tools and is currently delivering training to over 25,000 businesses through UK CRF and EDRF projects. We are also a UK Government High Streets Task Force Partner.

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How Maybe* helps Local Authorities deliver Local Business Support

Our projects provide local businesses in any area with the knowledge and tools they need to leverage the power of social media for sustainable business growth. Maybe* reaches local businesses in any UK area and offers them access to a suite of training, tools and business support.

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Social media training
Our expert training, available to all, is aimed at non-specialists (principally owners and staff of businesses, community organisations, social enterprises and start-ups in retail, hospitality, leisure, service, personal care, tourism, and voluntary sectors). Our training includes online workbooks, videos, and case studies (from local businesses), all available on demand. These are supported by experts through a telephone helpline and live chat.
See a example of our on demand training hub here.

Maybe* Video Hub

Social media tools
The programme includes access to Maybe*’s social media management platform, giving businesses a way to compare their social media performance with any other business, and all tools and insight they need to use social media effectively.
See all tools here.

Maybe* dashbaord

Vouchers
Our project includes vouchers for participating businesses that can only be spent on social media advertising, enabling participants to maximise the impact of their learning by testing the effectiveness of social media marketing for them.

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Maybe* local business support

See how Maybe* offers local business support

This project can be deployed immediately over one, two or three years. We engage with an agreed number of local businesses and invite them to enrol in the programme. This ensures an agreed minimum number of businesses access funded social media tools and training that local businesses need to thrive. The businesses that engage the most receive an agreed value of social media advertising vouchers that we train them to spend.

Read testimonials from businesses who have previously benefited from this programme.

Learn more about how this program can be deployed in your area.