Benefits of User-Generated Content To Boost Your Brand!

As a consumer, you already know the benefits of user-generated content (UGC). It’s a way to get impartial reviews from real people. You read online reviews from complete strangers. Even though you’ve never met them, you trust them. Whatever they say can decide if you buy a product or not. 

If you see more of these reviews, that’s even better. Now, you have enough information to use social proof to make a decision. 

Now, put yourself in the shoes of a brand. People depend on other people’s reviews when it comes to your business. This is why you should seriously consider incorporating UGC into your marketing strategy.

If you are selling a product or service through Instagram, this type of content is a must. We plan to explain the benefits of UGC in this article, so keep reading! First of all, what is user generated content?

What Is User Generated Content?

UGC is content customers create about particular brands or products. They upload this content to their social media profiles. They may give reviews or unbox products. It may sound like this is a paid promotion with the brand, but this is not what UGC is. It’s content that users make at their own discretion. 

Essentially, a user generates the content. They typically do it simply because they enjoy a product. Or, they may do it because they hated a service or product so much that they had to warn others. 

Social media users noticed that this type of content was earnest. Brands caught on to this as well. In response, they started to request UGC from customers.

What Is a UGC Creator? Aren’t They the Same as a Social Media Influencer?

A UGC creator is not the same as a social media influencer. Let’s discuss the differences. Of course, there is room for nuance when we discuss these points. We can only discuss the status quo in the general sense.

Compensation

Social media influencing is a job. This means that compensation and incentives are at stake when creating content. They typically don’t go out of their way to say good things about brands unless these brands pay them. 

What is a UGC creator? They are regular consumers who want to talk about a product. They usually want to recommend or warn others about their experience out of the goodness of their heart.

When influencers talk about a product, they stick to specific talking points. They may not have a full script. But they do have specific words they need to include per the brand’s request. Some may even omit their honest opinions when giving their paid review. 

Think of it like the commercials we grew up seeing on TV. They highlight all the good parts of a product and even inflate its greatness. They don’t talk about the drawbacks. 

Influencers essentially create cell phone commercials. UGC creators typically don’t have the backing of a brand. They use this freedom to give unbiased reviews of items or services.

Legal Requirements

Influencers should disclose to their followers that they are producing sponsored content. They’re not supposed to make it seem like they are giving a recommendation just for kicks. If a brand paid them, you should know. 

Instagram even allows particular labels on their content to indicate a collaboration.

Unfortunately, the average Instagram user doesn’t like to see these labels. It automatically gives the impression that the review is not impartial. They may keep scrolling when they see the labels. 

They may scroll until they stumble upon a video without the sponsorship labels. 

UGC creators don’t have to put a special label on their posts. Some even go further. They specifically write that the brand is not sponsoring them. This gives an extra layer of authenticity that influencers will never achieve. Their followers feel like they are more trustworthy and believable.

But let’s look at this a little deeper. UGC creators don’t have sponsorship now, but they may do these reviews, hoping they get one in the future. They may inflate the good parts of a brand so much that the brand sponsors book them in the future. 

If they do this, they are not impartial at all. They probably weren’t being honest if their end goal was a paid sponsorship.

3 Reasons Why You Should Share User-Generated Content on Social Media

Are you building an online brand? You should seriously consider incorporating some UGC. Perhaps you just don’t know the benefits of UGC. We assure you that this type of content is worth your while. We’ll explain why.

1. It’s Free Advertising

We love that Instagram Ads exist. It’s an effective way to boost your page. Still, if you could advertise your page for free, why wouldn’t you? 

A recommendation from someone who likes your content or product is a great advertisement, and it’s also free.

Re-posting this content on your Instagram Stories is a good way to fortify your reputation with current followers. But how do you reach new followers? 

The people who share your products or services in their content are advertising for you. They may have a following you haven’t accessed yet.

If they tag you, consider reposting it. This will give your followers the impression that you could share their content. They might also be looking for some exposure. You could even incentivize them to share your content in the future.

2. It Shows How People Use Your Content

Let’s say that you sell a product. People want to see how your product works in real life. 

Your photos and videos might be nice, but are they realistic? Your followers want to see what your products look like outside of your content. 

Are they the same size you advertised them to be? Do they live up to the hype? They want to hear a normal person confirm all the promises your brand made. 

This is where a UGC creator comes in. Potential customers may not completely believe what comes from you. This is even when you try to be as impartial as possible. 

3. It’s More Trustworthy Than Your Word

People spend their hard-earned money to get things. They expect to receive the advertised product. This is why people expect UGC creators to be honest. In fact, users expect them to be extra critical of your product. 

So when you get your amazing review, people value your product even more.

There is a long-standing conspiracy surrounding influencers. Some people believe influencers get the best version of the products in stock. They believe they may even get specially made products. 

That way, the influencer advertises something that truly is of high quality. This influences potential customers to snag the product for themselves.

It’s quite shocking to these customers when they realize that they didn’t get a high-quality product. The high-quality product was only for the influencer to push customers into buying it. 

On the other hand, a UGC creator has purchased a product with their own money. The brand typically has no idea that this person plans to share an impartial online review. 

They don’t have time to expedite shipping or improve the product in any way. This is what makes that user’s word so trustworthy. Potential customers think this is how the brand typically treats customers.

Hopefully, after seeing these reasons, you decide to share user-generated content on social media. It should be obvious now that it is a great idea for your brand.

4 Tips To Use in Your User Generated Content Strategy

Do you want to start promoting your page using this type of content? You will need a whole user generated content strategy. 

Yes, the strategy will be more technical than just telling your followers to tag you. If you want it to stick, you will have to put in some elbow grease. We have four tips here to help you in this process.

1. Customize a Hashtag for Customers To Use

You may have heard of using popular and niche hashtags. But have you incorporated customized hashtags into your content? If you haven’t, you are missing out on another facet of using hashtags. 

You want people to find all of this UGC, but they can’t go to everyone’s profiles to look for it. It would be ideal if all of this information were in one place. This is what using a hashtag can do for you. People can use the hashtag to find all your content in one place. 

Encourage them to use the branded hashtag when they post to their feeds. That way, when someone clicks on it, they go to a page of similar content. This is how people will know what to search for to find your content. Of course, tagging your page will be helpful as well.

2. Create a Highlight Album

When it comes to Stories, you can also have all of these posts in one place. You just have to create an album of all of this UGC. This is what Instagram Highlights are for. 

When you repost someone’s Story, save it to your Highlight. Label this highlight well so people know where to go. “Customer cam” or “Reviews” are potential names. Now, all of your customer feedback is in one place. 

Now, they have a permanent spot on your Instagram page, which is great for anyone who missed the original post. Keep a diverse batch of content in this album. They can be diverse in terms of clientele or products.

3. Ask Permission if They Didn’t Tag You 

You can’t repost a Story that did not tag you. Well, Instagram doesn’t allow you to do that with ease. You would have to resort to screenshotting and then posting it yourself. If they tagged you, Instagram would enable you to do that with a button. 

If you don’t see this option, you should be slow to screenshot someone’s story. In such instances, it’s best to go to the person and get permission. 

Consider liking and responding to their Story. Then, you can ask about sharing it on your profile.

Remember that their content is not automatically yours because it features your product. They may say no or not reply at all. Prepare yourself for those potential outcomes.

4. Host a Contest

You can incentivize customers to share photos and videos of your product. Host an Instagram giveaway. Make it a requirement that they share content of themselves using your products. Tell them that they stand to win a prize if they do. 

The prize can be more of your products or something unrelated. You get to choose. Some users may love what you sell but don’t care to share. This is how you encourage them to share their UGC as well. 

Of course, you want to ensure this giveaway pushes people to your Instagram page. It’s a great way to increase your following; many people tag your service or product on their Instagram Stories. It could give your brand extra exposure. 

Always make sure you pick your winner fairly. People will remember if you did something shady in the end.

Now, you have some great ideas for your next marketing campaign and know the benefits of user-generated content.

We Can Bring More Than the Benefits of User-Generated Content

Everyone loves authentic content. It brings a sense of groundedness to social media. All social media platforms could benefit from this. 

Still, authentic content may not be sufficient to draw the crowd you want. You’ll still have to do some extra work. You need deliberate targeted marketing. 

You may not be able to do this on your own, but it’s a good thing you are already in the right place. 

We would never deny the benefits of user-generated content. We just think that you could also benefit from our ample resources at Plixi. 

We have an in-house platform for Instagram influencers, and our AI targeting algorithm provides amazing support. 

We don’t just bring you fluff. In the end, you can achieve a following full of genuine supporters. They will like the things you post and even feel inspired to share with their followers. Are you ready to start growing your following on Instagram? Sign up with Plixi today!