The Newbie’s Information To Person-Generated Content material (UGC)

Need to flip your viewers into your greatest advertising and marketing asset? Person-generated content material, or UGC, makes it doable.

When used properly, it builds belief, grows your group, and fills your content material calendar with genuine posts.

On this information, you’ll be taught what UGC is, why it really works, and 17 methods to gather and share it successfully.

What’s user-generated content material (UGC)?

Person-generated content material (UGC) is any piece of content material created by somebody outdoors your model. That could possibly be a fan, buyer, influencer, or ambassador. 

It might are available many varieties. Opinions, testimonials, images, movies, feedback, memes… If it options your model however wasn’t made by you or your workforce, that’s user-generated content material.

UGC is extremely helpful for each creators and types. It might function a robust advertising and marketing asset that may allow you to develop sooner. 

Right here’s why:

• Builds belief and social proof. Folks belief content material from their friends way over polished model promos. 
• Expands your attain. Each UGC put up shared introduces your model to new audiences, serving to to spice up model consciousness.
• Boosts engagement and loyalty. Whenever you function another person’s content material, they really feel seen and appreciated, making them extra prone to stick round.
• Saves money and time. UGC helps fill your content material calendar with out the price or effort of manufacturing every thing your self. And it’s approach cheaper than different paid advertising and marketing techniques.
• Makes your model really feel human. Genuine, relatable content material from actual folks helps to humanize your model far more successfully than ‘faceless’ promotional content material.
• Drives conversions. Corporations that use UGC of their advertising and marketing technique obtain 4.5% extra conversions than those who don’t.

15+ UGC methods for creators

Now we’re all clear on what UGC is and why it’s helpful, let’s have a look at some confirmed methods and suggestions you should use to leverage it to develop your model.

1. Create a branded hashtag

Arrange a singular branded hashtag for followers to incorporate in any content material they share about you. This may make it simpler so that you can discover user-generated content material and reshare it.

Intention to maintain your model hashtag brief, catchy, and memorable. It may be evergreen (you utilize the identical hashtag for all of your UGC campaigns) or campaign-specific (you create a brand new hashtag customized for every UGC marketing campaign).

Instance: Apple’s #ShotOniPhone is a good instance of how you can execute a model hashtag marketing campaign successfully. 

The model inspired iPhone customers to share their finest images and movies utilizing the hashtag. Apple then curates these submissions and options one of the best ones in its world advert campaigns.

2. Run a UGC competitors

Gamify your UGC marketing campaign by making it a contest.

Ask your viewers to create and share content material about you utilizing a particular hashtag or immediate, and provide a prize for one of the best submission.

You may arrange a UGC competitors utilizing a social media contest software like SweepWidget. It’s tremendous straightforward to make use of and has a bunch of neat options, like interactive leaderboards and tiered rewards.

Instance: Among the finest-known UGC competitions is Doritos’ annual Crash the Tremendous Bowl contest, wherein customers are invited to create their very own Doritos advertisements and submit them for consideration. 

The model then selects its favourite fan-made industrial and airs it through the Tremendous Bowl, with the creator taking house $1 million as a money prize.

3. Incentivize with giveaways

A basic strategy to drive UGC is to host a giveaway. 

The thought is that customers must share content material about your model/product and tag it utilizing your marketing campaign hashtag to be entered into the giveaway draw for an opportunity of profitable the prize.

It’s much like a contest. The distinction is that with a contest, the prize goes to one of the best submission (as chosen by your self, a panel of judges, or different customers), whereas with a giveaway, the winner is chosen at random.

Once more, I’d suggest utilizing SweepWidget to handle your UGC giveaway. It helps 90+ entry strategies throughout all social platforms. You may set every thing up in underneath quarter-hour.

Instance: Glossier provided customers the possibility to win a signed KATSEYE magnificence bag as a part of a giveaway launched to rejoice a model collab. 

To enter the giveaway, customers needed to discover one in every of Glossier’s three billboard advertisements throughout LA, snap a selfie in entrance of it, and share it on Instagram. This amplified their advert attain considerably.

Associated studying: 8 Social Media Giveaway Concepts + Examples You Can Use

4. Repost fan content material in your socials

Present your followers you worth their help by reposting fan content material to your individual socials (be sure to credit score them if you do). You might even make it a weekly function (e.g. #FanFriday) if you happen to plan to share consumer content material often.

Not solely does reposting UGC function highly effective social proof for you, but it surely additionally incentivizes followers to create extra sooner or later for the possibility to be featured in your social account. 

Instance: Taylor Swift requested her followers to put up their tour outfits on social media with the hashtag #TSTheErasTour or submit them on her web site. Then, she reposted her favorites.

Bonus tip: I’d suggest utilizing a social media scheduling software to make it simpler to repost your individual fan content material at scale.

Associated studying: Methods to Repost on Instagram & Methods to Repost on TikTok

5. React to fan submissions

Don’t simply repost UGC. React to it. This makes followers really feel seen and encourages extra submissions.

For example, you might movie your response to feedback in your content material or social media posts about you, or duet or sew fan movies. 

Instance: YouTuber PewDiePie would put up one YouTube video every week reacting to posts his followers had shared on his subreddit as a part of his weekly ‘LWIAY (final week I requested you…)’ sequence.

These movies have been successful, racking up tens of millions of views and inspiring hundreds of individuals to put up content material for him to react to. 

6. Show UGC in your web site

Characteristic user-generated content material in your web site as social proof. This might embody product pages and touchdown pages.

There are instruments that may automate this. For instance, Gleam’s Galleries function can auto-pull UGC from social media by way of hashtags and @mentions and show them in a responsive gallery in your web site. This works notably properly if you happen to’re working picture competitions.

Apart out of your web site, you may also repurpose UGC for different model channels. Emails, social media accounts, and so forth. This may assist to construct belief and credibility.

7. Flip UGC into advertisements

UGC makes nice promoting content material. Take one of the best UGC that reveals your model in a optimistic gentle and use it as social proof in your paid promotions to spice up authenticity and belief.

Instance: Coca-Cola’s ‘Share a Coke’ marketing campaign. As a part of a intelligent UGC initiative, Coke began printing names on its bottles. 

Folks would attempt to discover a bottle with their identify on it and, once they did, they’d share their finds on social media. Coke then took these posts and turned them into advertisements to humanize their model, showcasing actual moments from actual folks having fun with their drinks.

Bonus tip: In case you’re partnering with an influencer and have had them share UGC about your model, contemplate boosting their put up to maximise its attain.

8. Share evaluations and testimonials

Opinions and testimonials are two of essentially the most useful types of UGC, particularly if you happen to’re a creator who sells one thing to your viewers (like a course or merch line).

Take glowing evaluations of your merchandise and share them in every single place: On social media, in your advertisements, on product pages, and so forth. This may assist drive gross sales and enhance conversion charges.

To get extra evaluations, be proactive about it and ask your prospects to go away them in your post-purchase emails and at different moments of excessive satisfaction. 

Make it straightforward for them to take action with QR calls, call-to-action buttons, and so forth. You might even provide small incentives, like reductions or entry right into a raffle.

9. Launch a Duet or Sew problem

Encourage followers to Duet or Sew your video on TikTok and add their twist. That could possibly be a response, remix, or continuation. It’s a inventive strategy to generate tons of UGC quick whereas having enjoyable along with your viewers.

Instance: Gossip Woman actor @Edwestwick requested viewers on TikTok to sew his video to ‘inform me you’ve watched Gossip Woman with out truly telling me you’ve watched Gossip Woman’ as a strategy to promote the present.

It was an enormous success, racking up 32+ million views, 290k feedback, and galvanizing hundreds of TikTok customers to sew their reactions.

10. Begin a viral development

Begin a easy, repeatable development that followers can take part on. For instance, a dance or bodily problem tied to your model. If it goes viral, it may well spark large UGC.

Instance: YouTube star David Dobrik launched the ‘Chipotle Lid Flip’ problem to advertise his model associate, Chipotle. 

It inspired different customers to document themselves flipping the lid off a Chipotle bowl in inventive methods, and it went insanely viral, producing tons of UGC movies for Chipotle and an enormous buzz across the model.

11. Discover untagged UGC with social listening

Not all UGC is tagged. Generally, followers will put up about you with out tagging you or utilizing your model hashtag. 

Use social media monitoring instruments like Brand24 to uncover these hidden gems as quickly as they’re posted, so you’ll be able to interact with and reshare them.

You may arrange alerts to trace key phrases and model phrases, and get notified about essential conversations as quickly as they occur, so you’ll be able to leap straight into the dialog.

Associated studying: Brand24 Assessment: Social Listening Made Straightforward?

12. Faucet into community-driven storytelling

Give your followers an opportunity to inform their story about their relationship along with your model. 

For example, you might ask followers to share what your content material means to them, the way it’s impacted their life, or why they’re a part of your world. 

This sort of heartfelt UGC builds deep emotional connections, strengthening group ties and boosting loyalty.

Instance: YouTube channel Good Legendary Morning as soon as invited followers to share what the present meant to them. 

The responses have been heartfelt movies about how GMM helped viewers via robust occasions. They have been featured in a milestone episode, turning fan tales into highly effective, community-centered content material. 

13. Collaborate with influencers

Associate with influencers to kickstart your UGC campaigns. Their attain and credibility can encourage their followers to affix in and get issues off to a working begin. 

Instance: Moncler launched the #MonclerBubbleUp problem, collaborating with a community of in style influencers and celebrities, like Charli D’Amelio and Bella Poarch. 

The problem had customers wrapping themselves in objects resembling Moncler’s puffy coats, then transitioning into the precise product utilizing TikTok’s modifying instruments. 

It reached over 2.3 billion views in a matter of days and have become one of the vital viral hashtags of the yr, exhibiting the ability of influencer partnerships for driving large UGC.

Bonus tip: Use influencer analysis instruments to search out micro-influencers that align along with your model.

14. Begin an envoy program

Flip your greatest followers into ambassadors who often create UGC to your model. Supply perks like free merchandise, unique entry, or early drops in trade for content material to incentivize participation.

Instance: Gymshark’s Athlete program rewards ambassadors with free gear and entry to Gymshark services, resulting in a gentle stream of genuine UGC content material from health influencers.

15. Encourage followers to remix your content material

Among the most partaking UGC comes when followers remix your content material in enjoyable new methods. Assume fan edits, memes, duets, and mashups.

Encouraging this creativity not solely builds model consciousness but in addition humanizes your model, making you extra relatable.

Instance: Charli D’Amelio actively engages with fan-made content material. For example, up to now, she’s favored a number of fan edits, prompting pleasure amongst her followers. One follower shared their pleasure at having her edits favored by the star in this TikTok video. 

These sorts of interactions deepen the creator-fan connection and inspire extra followers to take part by creating their very own UGC remixes.

16. Make the most of worker advocacy

When most individuals consider UGC, they consider customer-generated content material. However employee-generated content material counts as UGC too. 

Arrange worker advocacy campaigns to encourage your workforce to put up their very own experiences and private takes on working to your model, or reshare UGC on their accounts to amplify its attain.

Bonus tip: You’ll want a social media administration software that gives worker advocacy options for this. Vista Social is a reasonably good possibility.

17. Take into account hiring skilled UGC creators

Not all UGC needs to be natural. You may rent skilled UGC creators who concentrate on producing authentic-looking content material for manufacturers, like testimonials, product demos, or unboxing movies.

You could find creators who know how you can produce paid content material that emulates the texture of conventional UGC on platforms like Billo.app, Twirl, and the TikTok Creator Market.

18. Host in-person UGC moments

In case you host occasions or have a bodily house corresponding to a retailer, sales space, or pop-up, you might arrange an attention grabbing space designed particularly to encourage social sharing. 

Assume picture partitions, branded mirrors, or selfie stations with ring lights and props. Make it straightforward (and tempting) for folks to snap a pic, tag you in it, and share it on-line.

Instance: Retail manufacturers like Glossier have in-store picture spots for patrons to take selfies and encourage them to share them with branded hashtags, serving to to drive UGC.

Finest practices for sharing UGC

Earlier than we wrap up, let’s have a look at some finest practices for sharing UGC.

In case you’re going to repost content material created by different customers by yourself model channels (your web site, social media accounts, advertisements, and so forth.), it’s essential to ensure you stick to those guidelines.

Get permission

It’s good apply to all the time get permission earlier than you share another person’s content material.

In some circumstances, you gained’t have to ask for permission straight because it’s already implied. 

For example, if the creator already tagged your model, talked about you within the caption, or used a branded hashtag you promoted (so long as you made it clear in your branded hashtag marketing campaign phrases that you just’d share consumer submissions), then you’ll be able to often assume they’ve given you permission already.

You additionally don’t often have to get permission if you happen to’re resharing utilizing the platform’s built-in instruments (like Instagram’s ‘Add to Story’ function).

In most different circumstances, you do have to get specific permission from the unique poster. 

That’s particularly essential if you happen to’re reposting on a special platform than the unique, you intend to make use of it in advertisements or industrial campaigns, or the content material consists of copyrighted materials or identifiable folks.

The best strategy to get permission is to easily DM the creator or touch upon their put up and ask if it’s okay if you happen to share it. If you wish to be tremendous cautious, a proper contract works higher.

Notice: If unsure, all the time contact a lawyer to make sure. In case you hadn’t guessed, I’m not a lawyer.

Credit score the unique creator

All the time attempt to give credit score to the unique creator if you share UGC in your socials or wherever else. This reveals respect and avoids potential PR or authorized points later down the road.

One of the best ways to provide credit score varies by platform. Usually, it’s as straightforward as tagging them in your put up caption, e.g., ‘Because of @thecreator for this superior picture!’

You may also tag them within the put up itself utilizing native tagging options, or within the feedback part. In case you’re making a video that includes UGC, you might even shout them out by saying their identify within the video itself.

Don’t edit UGC

Whenever you share another person’s content material, depart it unedited.

In case you should edit it, accomplish that in a approach that respects the unique creator’s voice. Don’t edit it in a approach that misrepresents the unique intent.

For example, don’t crop out essential context, rewrite captions to suit your personal narrative, or current the content material in a approach that modifications its which means. That erodes belief and might result in backlash and even authorized bother.

Vet the supply earlier than you share

Earlier than reposting UGC, take a second to test the unique creator’s profile. 

Sharing content material from somebody with a historical past of offensive, hateful, controversial conduct, or opinions that don’t align along with your model values can result in PR fallout.

Many creators and types have confronted backlash after retweeting posts from influencers who’ve been later uncovered for problematic views. A fast scan can save your model from unintended and undesirable associations and allow you to keep away from controversy.

Ultimate ideas

That concludes the creator’s information to user-generated content material.

Let’s recap what we’ve discovered.

UGC refers to content material created by customers outdoors of your model – like your followers or prospects.

It’s helpful for creators as reposting UGC can assist you to construct belief along with your viewers, strengthen your group ties, present highly effective social proof, and fill out your content material pipeline.

Use the methods we’ve checked out on this put up to curate UGC at scale. Then, share one of the best content material by yourself socials and throughout different model channels (like your web site and advertisements) to take advantage of it.

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