Let’s talk UGC content!

You may have noticed that brands have started using content created by their customers, followers, and friends on social media to help promote their products and services. This has become one of the most effective social media marketing strategies a brand can utilise and is called UGC (or user generated content).

It can feel absolutely wonderful to plan, style, and execute an aesthetically pleasing campaign photoshoot to help promote your products and services, however, social media marketing agency experts all over the world agree that pairing your curated photoshoots with UGC content on your social media channels is a more effective and authentic way for brands to engage with their customers and build a loyal client-base. 

Want to know more about UGC and how you can use it to bring in new customers? Keep reading for everything you need to know about UGC.

What is UGC?

UGC is content created by social media users or genuine customers of a brand. It can take many forms such as images, videos, reviews, and testimonials in a brand’s social media marketing strategy to create a more authentic online presence and attract new clients.  

Back in the day, before the internet became essential to our day-to-day lives, many people relied on word-of-mouth and friends recommending their brand to their community to gain new customers. UGC works in a similar way, allowing your current customers and clients to spread the good word about your brand to their own social media following and hopefully, increase sales. 

Who can create it?

Anyone can! It’s all about real and honest user experiences – so whether they’re a content creator, consumer, or somewhere in between, UGC is a new way people can share their authentic opinions and experiences of a particular brand with their friends, family, and social media followers, which a brand can then use on their own social media channels as well — it’s a win-win situation!

You can find this content by looking at images your brand has been tagged in on Instagram and TikTok or reach out to a well-known influencer, celebrity, or media personality who’s already a customer of yours to create UGC content for you on their own platforms, which you can then repost.

A 2021 study revealed that 80% of respondents said UGC highly impacts their purchasing decisions. If someone like them trusts a brand, then they feel like they can trust them as well. 

Why is it important? 

UGC takes authenticity to a whole new level. Consumers can really get a feel for a product or service when it’s promoted by someone just like them. 

Not every brand may have a wealth of UGC content to work with, and this is where you can engage with a UGC creator, a social media marketing agency, or a creative agency that also offers social media marketing (like Style Media!) who can help you create a library of UGC content.

Influencer campaigns are an effective way of reaching new audiences through social media, but depending on who you’re working with, the costs can be hefty. Working with a UGC creator on an ongoing basis can keep you keep costs down, whilst also providing you with the authentic content you need to connect with your audience and drive sales. 

Want to start using UGC in your social media marketing strategy? Let us know and we can help you get started.