Social Media

Discover effective strategies to boost user-generated content for your brand. Engage your audience, build trust, and drive growth with these actionable tips

What is user-generated content?

User Content (UGC) refers to original content such as images, videos, reviews, testimonials, etc. that were created not by marketing teams but by actual users of the product UGC captures the opinions and experiences of users use the actual use and attract potential customers. The use of UGC helps increase brand awareness visibility and encourages vibrant communities, attracting new customers through authentic support from passionate users.

As consumer backlash towards more immersive marketing social media strategies grows, UGC has become a cornerstone strategy for big brands like PepsiCo, Apple, Disney and Warby Parker.

By 2022, the global UGC market was valued at USD 4.4 billion and is expected to grow from 2023 to 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.4% .

Why is user-generated content important?

User Guide (UGC) is critical for several reasons:

1. Increased trust and credibility: UGC delivers an authentic experience for real time users, building trust with potential buyers who value peer opinion over traditional advertising.

2. Increased brand engagement and loyalty: Creates active engagement and a sense of community by encouraging users to contribute content , thereby strengthening brand engagement and customer loyalty.

3. Amplified Authenticity and Relatability: UGC makes brands relatable by showcasing real instagram stories and experiences, and increasing authenticity to suit different audiences.

4. Improved conversion rates and purchase intent: UGC acts as social proof, showing potential customers that others are interested and supportive of the product or service, increasing conversion rates and purchase intent.

5. Lower marketing costs: The advantage of UGC is that brands reduce the production costs associated with content creation, and continue to create interesting content for users the.

6. Broad reach and measurability: UGC is often shared across social media platforms, extending a brand’s reach beyond its immediate audience and increasing visibility organically.

7. Social Proof and Impact: Good UGC, like surveys and testimonials, influences the perceptions and decisions of potential customers, validating the quality and value of offerings .

Integrating UGC into marketing strategies can significantly contribute to a brand’s success by building trust, enhancing communication, increasing authenticity, and positively influencing purchasing decisions.

Who Creates User-Generated Content?

User-generated content (UGC) is free promotion that helps brands reach more people.

Here’s who makes UGC:

• Customers
• Social media followers
• Brand advocates

What if employees create content about the brand they work for? This is called employee-generated content (EGC). It’s a type of UGC as long as the posts are real and not asked for by the brand.

For example, if a store worker shows off their company’s new products on their personal social media, it’s EGC.

But if someone is paid to make content that looks like UGC but is really an ad, this is not user-generated content.

Types of User Content (UGC)

1. Organic UGC:

• Research and Testimonials: Real customer stories shared as social proof.
• Images: Images of consumers using the product, often grouped with hashtags.

• Videos: User-generated content such as product reviews/customer reviews or demonstrations.
• Social Media Content: Positive comments or posts about a brand.
• Blog Post: Mention or review a brand in a blog post.

2. Paid UGC:

• UGC Creators: Content created by paid content creator to display content authentically. Both types of UGC increase brand credibility, engagement and reach on digital platforms.

Now that we’ve covered the importance of UGC, let’s explore how you can make the most of it. Here are eight tips for promoting more user-generated content from your audience.

Best Ways How to Get More User Generated Content (UGC)

1. Start with UGC hashtag

Creating a unique hashtag is a powerful way to encourage conversation about your brand on social media. Not only does it build community, it also builds engagement—posts with one hashtag get 29% more engagement.

You can use popular industry hashtags or create your own. Tools like Storefries or Talkwalker can help you research and choose effective hashtags. Promote your hashtag on social media accounts, email campaigns, your website, and other means.

Give people a reason to use your hashtag, e.g.

• Launching a campaign on a new brand
• Providing the right to disclose
• Host a competition for prizes
• Partnering with influencers to acquire social media
• Invite customers to share information about using your products

For example, Apple launched the #ShotOniPhone campaign . iPhone users can hashtag social media content for the chance to have their photo featured on an Apple billboard.

Remember that the goal is not only to spark conversation but also to connect with your brand.

Image Source: Ads of the World

2. Ask for UGC through a Call To Action (CTA)

If you want more user-generated content (UGC), you have to ask for it directly. Many companies overlook this simple step, assuming that people will share content without prompting.

The most effective way to trigger action is with a strong Call To Action (CTA). This can be presented as a button, image, or text that triggers engagement. Here are some examples of effective CTAs.

• “Use the hashtag #stylezone to get featured”.
• “Share your story with us using the hashtag #stylezone!”
• “Tag a friend who loves our products + use #stylezone!”
• “Show us how you use our product (don’t forget #stylezone)!”

The key is to keep it simple and straightforward so people can easily get involved. If the process is too hard, they may not like it and move on.

Here’s an example from topvintage boutique on Instagram.

Finally, don’t forget to thank people for taking the time to share their stories with you.

Image Source: topvintage_boutique

3. Add a sign to your store or website

Your store or website is the cornerstone of your marketing strategy, making it a great place to store user-generated content (UGC).

An effective tactic in a physical store is to display a sign that encourages existing customers to take a photo or share a social media post with a specific hashtag.

Consider offering incentives such as discounts or opportunities to feature on your website or social network. Not only does this encourage engagement, but it also increases customer engagement with your brand.

Image Source: Temu

4. Influencer Partnership

Influencers can be powerful allies in a marketer’s strategy. They have the potential to reach a wider audience and increase engagement. According to the Influencer Marketing Hub , for every $1 spent on influencer marketing, companies can earn $18 in return.

What really sets influencers apart is authenticity. When an influencer talks about your brand, their followers are more likely to listen because they trust the opinions of those they follow.

There are many ways to work with influencers to create content with user-generated content (UGC):

1. Marketing Research and Social Media Posts: Send products to influencers so they can view or feature in their social media content. This approach is cost-effective and can stimulate valuable UGC.
2. Paid Partnerships: Pay influencers to create specific posts or campaigns that feature your brand. This approach ensures targeted exposure and content that is aligned with your marketing objectives.

3. Contests and giveaways: Partner with influencers to host a contest or giveaway. Make sure the rewards are connected to the influencer’s audience to maximize engagement and UGC.
4. Content Collaboration: Collaborate with influencers on creating content such as blog posts, infographics, or social media campaigns. This collaborative approach leverages their creativity and audience engagement skills to increase brand visibility.

Connecting with influencers not only increases your reach and engagement but also leverages their trust to create authentic user-generated content that has cut promote your brand environment.

5. Make it a condition to enter for a giveaway

Gifts are a great way to create user-generated content (UGC). Make it an environment that really gets people talking. Here’s how to do it:

1.Entry Requirements: Ask participants to share your post with a specific hashtag, tag a friend in the comments, follow you on social media, or sign up for your newsletter .

2. Provide an incentive: Make sure the reward is something compelling and in line with your followers’ interests. This will encourage more people to get involved.

By seeking access to UGC, you will encourage more engagement and gain valuable feedback for your brand.

6. Hold a Contest Followers Can Vote

If you want to generate user-generated content (UGC) and get people talking about your brand, a voting contest is a great way to do it.

Here’s how:

• Align with Your Goals: Ensure the contest aligns with your objectives. If you want more engagement, hold a vote for the best customer service story. If you want to promote a new product, hold a vote for the most creative use of your product.
• Encourage Participation: Make the contest exciting and easy to enter. Ask participants to submit their stories, photos, or videos related to your brand, and then let your followers vote for their favorites.

• Promote the Contest: Advertise the contest across your social media platforms, website, and email campaigns to maximize participation.

No matter what type of contest you hold, make sure it’s something that will get people talking about your brand

7. Make a fuss of those who create it

It’s important to show appreciation when someone creates user-generated content (UGC), especially if it’s unsolicited. This not only values ​​their efforts, but encourages others to do the same.

Here’s how to do it:

• Share their stories: Reshare their stories on your social media channels, giving them credit and praise.
• Feature them: Write about them on your website, in your newsletter, or in a dedicated blog post.

• Show gratitude: Publicly thank them for their contributions, whether in the form of comments, posts or through personal messages.

By celebrating and acknowledging UGC creators, you show that you value their input and encourage a sense of community and loyalty around your brand.

8. Create an Aesthetic Around It

Aesthetics are important on social media, and people love visually appealing content. To make your user-generated content (UGC) look great, create an aesthetic element from the get-go.

Consider the example of Mcdonald’s:

Logo: Include your brand’s logo prominently. This boosts brand recognition.

Personalization: Add personal touches like the customer’s name. This shows that you care about individual customers.

Visual Appeal: Ensure the product looks great. For example, a drink with a swirl of colors can be very eye-catching.

Recognizable Backdrop: Use settings that are associated with your brand. Seeing a product in its natural, branded environment can make others crave the experience.

By creating a consistent and appealing aesthetic, you encourage more customers to share their experiences, enhancing the overall look and feel of your brand on social media.

Related blog:  Types of social media content

Image Source:Mcdonald’s

Best ugc platforms for creators

1. Yotpo

Yotpo has great tools for collecting reviews, ratings, and Q&A forums. It works well with social media. These features help brands gain trust and credibility through real customer feedback.

Yotpo makes it easy to share reviews on different platforms, improving the brand’s online reputation.

2. TINT

TINT provides tools to help brands collect, store, and share user-generated content (UGC). It gathers content from social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Brands can use TINT to create custom galleries.

TINT is great for marketing on many channels because it helps keep content consistent and engaging across different platforms.

3. Emplifi

Emplifi makes it easy to collect user-generated content (UGC) from different places. It uses AI filters to quickly find the best content.

Emplifi also works with social media scheduling tools, making it simple to manage and plan when to share the content.

Conclusion

So, is using content made by social media users a good idea? Definitely! We hope you found this article “How to get more user generated content” useful. Like anything, using user-made content has its good and bad sides, but we think the good parts are better than the bad ones.

If you’re thinking about using user-made content in your next project, follow our tips and try our tools we talked about earlier. Everything should turn out great!