You are scrolling through your Instagram, and suddenly see your friend using a skincare product with glowing results. What will you do at that time? Most of us will definitely take a pause, take note of the brand and visit their website. Now, that one picture post by a regular customer has more power to attract the attention of the target audience than a high-budget advertisement done by a celebrity or influencer.
This is the power of user-generated content (UGC) in the world of the digital marketing landscape to connect with the audience. It has emerged as one of the effective digital marketing strategies to win over customers’ trust, attention and loyalty.
Whether you are an established brand or have just started your business, make sure to partner with a creative branding agency offering digital marketing services to leverage UGC and stay ahead in the competitive market.
In this blog, we will delve into what user-generated content is, its benefits for businesses in the digital world and the ways to incorporate it as a part of the strategy.
User-generated content, also known as consumer content, refers to any type of content, like images, text, pictures, reviews or testimonials and even podcasts, that is created by the consumer rather than the brand itself. UGC is a brand-specific and is often shared on social media, websites and other forums.
Unlike branded content, which is planned and polished, UGC is organic and authentic. It reflects the real-life experience of the actual audience who have used the product or service. This authenticity has made UGC so popular in the digital age.
For instance, customers sharing reviews on shopping websites like Amazon or Flipkart is a type of UGC. Moreover, a YouTuber unboxing a product and giving their first impression is also UGC.
A reputed agency offering digital marketing services in Kolkata, like BUSFAM, always shares and reshares user-generated content to attract more eyes to the brand. For them, UGC is more than just a trend; rather, it is a necessity to drive results. Here is how it works for companies.
User-generated content like social media posts, images and testimonials seems genuine and relatable to customers who are looking for such products. This is because it comes from real customers and gives an idea to the buyers of how the product works.
UGC receives more interaction and participation from the audience. This leads to higher engagement rates on social media sites and other platforms. When brands repost customer content, it builds loyalty and increases organic reach.
Unlike branded content, which requires proper planning and budget allocation, UGC is neither time-consuming nor expensive. As the content is shared voluntarily by real customers, brands save a lot on production costs. In fact, UGC is one of the smartest ways to engage with the audience without any investment.
When customers talk about your brand on different platforms, it reaches more audiences. Each mention increases the discoverability in the search engine result pages. It also generates backlinks, which improve the brand’s authority and increase the rankings.
A reputed digital marketing service provider in Kolkata shares proven tips to help businesses use user-generated content across multiple platforms and maximise its effects.
Share customers’ photos, images and videos related to your brand on your social media pages. Don’t forget to tag the original user, as it shows more appreciation.
Encourage customers to share content with your brand’s hashtag. It helps to increase the brand’s discoverability and acts as free word-of-mouth marketing.
You can organise contests to encourage customers to share content related to your brand. Offer rewards like discounts or hampers to motivate them.
Collaborate with influencers who align with your brand to inspire their followers to share content from your brand. It drives awareness and encourages more users to follow the trend.
Highlight customer reviews, testimonials or photos on the homepage or in a dedicated gallery.
The future of user-generated content (UGC) is promising and will continue to rise in the future. This is primarily because customers' behaviour is shifting towards authentic, transparent and genuine products.
UGC is meeting the needs of the customers by delivering content that feels relatable. It is an essential part of every brand’s marketing strategy.
User-generated content is redefining the way brands are communicating with the audience. Digital marketing service provider in Kolkata encourages all brands to embrace UGC to gain a competitive edge in the online world.