What is #UserGeneratedContent? Chances are, you’re more familiar with it than you think.There are many different kinds of content to utilise online and UGC is right up there alongside them all - standing out as potentially the most effective.It isn’t just the job of a brand to create interesting content online, consumers also lend a helping hand. As a consumer, you generate content with your testimonials, reviews and by sharing images and video of products online.
That is what we call User Generated Content (makes sense now you think about it, right?).
As a business owner, this is an ideal thing your customers can do (apart from spending their cash with you!). It showcases your products and services in an honest and trustworthy light, reaching consumers you have been missing at very little to no additional cost.
It’s true what they say, people buy from people.You can never have too much brand awareness and using UGC across your online platforms is a smart way to grow your brand and ensure you maintain a credible reputation.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even take it one step further and act on the insights you gain from consumers.
This golden form of content has been the centrepiece of many successful online marketing campaigns from the world’s biggest brands. Take Starbucks back in 2014 for example; they asked people to doodle on their white coffee cups, submit a photo entry online and the winner’s design featured on their coffee cups for a limited time. Great for publicity, valuable customer feedback and not to mention an abundance of content supplied to them. 4,000 customers submitted entries across 3 weeks. That’s a lot of Instagram posts.
You do not have to run a larger than life marketing campaign in order to increase your UGC. Gather your past testimonials, browse through Instagram, contact your consumers and ask for feedback. It’s easy and not to mention, vital for your brand awareness.
The one thing to remember is, ASK your consumers for permission to use their comments and images and throw them a little credit.
