Have you ever unboxed a new iPhone in a live broadcast or purchased shoes from an Instagram shop and posted a photo to your social media accounts? If yes, you have produced consumer-generated content or user-generated content.
What is UGC?
Content regarding a product or service produced by people, not the brand, is known as user-generated content, or UGC. It may consist of blog articles, podcasts, videos, reviews, and social media postings. Additionally, customers may join in Q&A forums, post pictures of their purchases, and unboxing videos. Because they are ardent brand advocates, brand loyalists are also a fantastic source of user generated content.
Why is user-generated content important to brands?
Since user-generated content originates from third-party customers rather than the company itself, it is crucial for companies nowadays. According to Hootsuite, user-generated content enables consumers to participate in a brand's development rather than just observe it from a distance. This increases brand loyalty and gives consumers a sense of purpose.
UGC is genuine, based on actual experiences, and free of manipulation and embellishment, in contrast to brand-created material. It functions similarly to word-of-mouth marketing, which has long shaped customer preferences. However, what particular advantages does UGC offer?
Social Proof That Affects Purchase Choices
When prospective customers seek out other people's opinions on a product or service, this is known as social proof. People depend on UGC in the same way that they would on recommendations from friends, family, or coworkers because they trust actual customers more than they do marketers. UGC gives customers more trust.
They are more likely to buy a thing when they witness others who are similar to them wearing or using it. 60% of customers agree that material from friends or family impacts their purchasing decisions, according to a Stackla poll.
Genuine Content
By using user-generated content, companies demonstrate their willingness to engage in genuine dialogue with consumers, strengthening their bonds. For instance, by encouraging patrons to post about their experiences, Sugar Factory rose to fame as one of America's most Instagrammed eateries.
This strategy offers customers a stress-free, enjoyable method to promote the business. Customers may produce their own content in many ways, and UGC has a power that traditional advertising cannot equal.
A Humane Method
Because UGC builds communities around common interests, it fosters the feeling of belonging that humans inherently want. Customers want to be a part of the excitement when they see others using a product. Higher online traffic, greater interaction, better brand exposure, more innovative content, and more conversions are the results of this.
How do brands acquire and use UGC?
You can usually find UGC by searching hashtags or looking for content where your brand is tagged or mentioned. To get more content, you can ask users to share by hosting giveaways, contests, or campaigns with branded hashtags that encourage them to participate. You can also ask questions in your brand’s post captions to get followers to engage.
Brands benefit greatly from the sentiments, opinions, and attention that their consumers share in the cutthroat internet world of today. It helps new customers make purchasing decisions and demonstrates to companies that consumers adore their items. UGC is a popular option for marketers because to its ability to increase sales and persuade consumers to make a purchase.