How to Use UGC in Your Social Media Strategy

Trust us when we say UGC (user-generated content), should always be part of your social strategy. UGC is any form of content created by a person outside of the brand. This can be a brand audience member, follower, fan, consumer, or influencer. As an agency that specializes in digital, social, and influencer marketing, we know how impactful UGC can be, so let’s talk about why it’s important and how you should utilize it in your strategy.

User-generated content not only brings a human element to a brand’s page but it also exemplifies authenticity. Users gravitate towards authentic content like UGC, so when this type of content is on a brand’s page, there is usually an increase in engagement. Engagement increases when UGC is created because people tend to trust other people over a brand. So when a user sees a creator on a brand’s page, they are more drawn toward the product since they are seeing someone use it. For example, if a consumer/creator is filming their reaction to trying a food, people will most likely continue watching the video. Generally speaking, people will trust the person tasting the food rather than the brand whose objective is to promote and sell to their audience, whether the product is good or bad.

Another reason why UGC should be a part of your social strategy is because it is a form of cost-efficient marketing. The brand strictly relies on the person creating the content. This also cuts costs when it comes to in-house content creation, which is always a plus!

Now that we have spoken about the “why,” let’s discuss the “how.” How should you use user-generated content in your social strategy? You can add photo/video content, blog posts, customer testimonials, and other forms of content to your social accounts. Another form of user-generated content can be added by incorporating UGC contests and campaigns into your strategy. Encouraging your audience to create user-generated content can enhance your brand’s social pages, increase analytics, and build a community for your brand that people will want to be a part of. By adding UGC to your social strategy, you are more likely to increase the visibility of your content, brand awareness, authenticity and realness, and overall engagement of your brand.

Foodie Tribe always weaves in UGC to our social media strategies, and not only does it work, but we love to see what our audience creates! Visit our Instagram to check out the user-generated content we post on our own page.