User-Generated Content Marketing

User-generated content (UGC) is any content—images, articles, videos, social media posts, etc.—created by users. It’s hard to push out enough content daily and weekly to stay on top and no all businesses have full time content creators. When you leverage User-generated content, it brings powerful content to your audience without the effort of content creation. This content should always support your company’s narrative and it will build a genuine connection between you and your customers.

Some key benefits of user-generated content marketing include:

Authenticity. Seventy-six percent of users believe that UGC is more honest and valuable than brand-created content. A photo snapped by a real product user, for example, is much more resonant than a stock photo your company found somewhere online.
Brand loyalty. Sharing user-generated content helps establish trust and brand loyalty. Think of the users already talking about your brand as brand ambassadors. By incorporating their viewpoints, you show that you value what they have to say.
Encourages engagement. Users are twice as likely to share user-generated content with friends and family, so if increased engagement is your goal, UGC marketing is a great tactic to try.

Always Ask Permission

First things first: before you begin sharing a user’s content, you should always ask permission.

Introduce yourself or comment on their content you find valuable, and ask if you can share it with your company’s network. Sometimes, it’s as easy as commenting on a photo with, “Hey [Name]! We love this picture. Mind if we repost it and share it with our following?”

Gaining permission from users not only safeguards your business, but also establishes a two-way line of communication, while showing respect for the work they put in.

Let your audience do the marketing for you! Referrals from people you trust are invaluable, when friends or family members recommend something to us, we’re more apt to try it.