Sheffield businesses set for digital boost via initiative

Hundreds of businesses across Sheffield are set for a boost as Business Sheffield announces a new digital initiative, in partnership with tech company, Maybe.

Businesses will be offered a year’s free access to a new digital toolkit providing support to reach more customers through social media and make more sales, online and in-store.

Research data reveals that 72 per cent of UK consumers are on social media platforms for up to 3 hours a day. By contrast, of the 24.6K businesses in the Sheffield area that are already on Google My Business, only 25 per cent use social media at all, and under 7 per cent are active daily.

Businesses that sign up will have access to resources to help them grow social media engagement and compare themselves with their peers so they can track their progress. They will also have the opportunity to be promoted online, free of charge, through a high street guide called Local Rewards.

Any business that has a Google My Business listing and is active on social media will be visible on Local Rewards. The social media posts that are performing best at any one time will be boosted to prime positions in the guide.

Business Sheffield will promote the guide as Sheffield gears up for festive shopping and entertaining, as part of a Christmas edition of the Make Yourself At Home campaign.

Councillor Paul Turpin, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills at Sheffield City Council, said: “The potential for more businesses to get discovered by local shoppers and visitors alike is huge - and that’s exactly what Business Sheffield has set out to achieve in collaboration with Maybe.”

Clare Bailey, Independent Retail and High Streets Expert, said: “Now is the time to ensure your business can weather the Covid storm by getting online or improving your digital presence.

“In my experience, businesses who kept in contact with customers via social media during periods of Covid restrictions were those who not only retained existing customers but also, in many cases, grew their trade well beyond pre-pandemic levels.

“I would urge all consumer facing businesses to embrace digital as a critical part of their customer communications and sales strategies.”