User generated content (UGC) refers to any form of content created and shared by customers rather than by businesses. This can include things such as reviews, photos, videos and social media posts.
One of the key benefits of using content created by your customer is that it can help to build trust and credibility with other potential customers. When other users see that a product or service has been positively reviewed or recommended by people like them, they are more likely to trust that it's a good choice.
Here are 5 ways you can make the most of the user generated content your customers are creating for you.
Highlights
Encourage customers to leave reviews
Make it easy for customers to leave reviews on your website or on third-party review sites like TripAdvisor or Google, and encourage them to share their positive experiences utilising your products or services.
Use user-generated images and videos
Re-purpose any photos and videos customers create of themselves using your products and credit them in the caption; you could even utilise Instagram's collaboration tool to enhance the reach of your post.
Tip: Add a note to your postal orders asking customers to follow you on your social channels, and provide your handle so they can tag you in their posts.
Host a contest
Host a contest on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook where customers can share photos of themselves using your products in the comments, their own pages or to their stories, with the winner being chosen based on the number of likes or shares. This can help to increase engagement and drive more traffic to your social media pages.
Share testimonials
Collect testimonials from satisfied customers and share them on your website or social media pages. This can help to build trust and credibility for your brand.
Reward your customers for creating UGC
Provide an incentive to your customers to create photo and video content to post to their social media channels, and always ask them to tag your business page within the post. You could provide a discount code to those who tag your page in their posts.
By having your customers share their own social media posts raving about your product or service, they will be showcasing your business to a whole new audience. When people share content promoting a brand, they are effectively sharing it with their own followers and friends, which can help to increase brand awareness and drive more traffic to your website or social media profiles.