How to Encourage More User-Generated Content

Consumers trust user-generated content (UGC) more than sponsored content because it’s believed to be more genuine and honest. One report found that 85% of users feel that user-generated content is more persuasive than photos or videos. If you haven’t gathered much UGC, it’s time to start. You don’t want to miss out on the benefits of this effective – and free! – way to market your brand.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can encourage more user-generated content for your products and services.

Create Buzz

If you want your fans talking about you on social media, give them a reason to do so! Take a page from Coca-Cola’s book with their “Share a Coke” campaign, which has been successful in over 50 countries.

The brand swapped out the Coca-Cola name with the names of people, encouraging fans to find their names and share the photo on social media. This created a huge amount of user-generated content as well as brand recognition.

While you may not be able to launch a campaign quite as far-reaching, you can learn from these types of strategies. To get people talking about your brand, use a creative marketing hook, take advantage of teasers/hints and offer incentives.

Use Hashtags

Hashtags are a great tool to spread awareness about a particular promotion or event. Choose a savvy hashtag and share it with your fans. Be sure to explain how they should use your hashtag. Should they post a picture of themselves at your store? Should they snap a photo of themselves wearing your branded clothing? Being clear about your hashtag keeps content consistent and provides guidelines to your users.

Sponsor Contests, Quizzes and More

Another way to get UGC is to sponsor contests on social media. Ask a question that relates to your brand. If you own a local pizza parlor, you might ask what your fans like best on their pizza. If you sell a line of clothing for kids, you can ask parents to choose between the styles they like best.

For the people who participate in your contest, enter their names into a drawing. Not only do contests encourage engagement, but also they get people talking and generating UGC. Remember, be clear about the reward that participants can expect in return.

Conclusion

User-generated content comes directly from your customers. Some brands have a hard time handing over this control to their customers, but it’s a smart thing to do. To make the most of UGC, lead the conversation and be available for monitoring. This way, if anything negative is said about your brand, you can be there to resolve it.

For more information about getting more user-generated content for your brand, call WSI Star Web Solutions. We love helping our customers connect with their fans for better brand awareness and increased sales.