Are you feeling worn out by all of the different content you and your marketing team is constantly creating? If so, then it may be time to consider generating more UGC from your customers.

Not only will doing this get your audience more engaged with your brand, but it’ll also help you build loyalty among your fans and followers. Putting your customers in the spotlight, allows other consumers to hear about your brand from those who are already using your products. See several ways to get the best UGC from your customers and the benefits of including this tactic in your marketing and social media strategy.

Collect Creativity & High-Quality Images

If you’ve taken a look at social media lately, you’ll notice that users are speaking and sharing in photos more than they are words. Images have a powerful way of speaking the truth. Positive, authentic photos of your products or service can be worth a thousand words, and also potentially thousands of sales.

Instead of just asking for images from your audience, come up with guidelines and opportunities for your audience to use their creativity, and maybe even humor, when submitting their photos. One idea is to collect product related pictures by asking your fans to submit their best images of your product in a particular environment or scenario. You might be surprised how much participation you actually get and how much time it’ll save your content team!

Launch Video Contests

Images are great, but UGC videos are even better. Narrow down what you want to promote and determine a purpose for using the content you’ll be collecting, For example, consider having consumers submit their best videos about your brands or products and showcasing them online, on billboards or in a commercial. Again, encourage creativity and set rules around the video length, any props to include and how to submit the final videos.

Design an Easy & Interactive Process

The best thing you can do for any UGC you set out to collect from your customers is to make the process simple and engaging. Some brands have even gone as far as creating a separate social platform for customers, giving them a place to share and show off their pictures with other consumers.

Below are a few additional tips to keep in mind.

• Promote your campaign on your own website and social profiles to gain traction.
• Offer consumers a prize to encourage participation.
• Reward customers for presenting your products or services in a positive light.

Create an Influencer Marketing Campaign

Influencers have the potential to bring in sales and reach new audiences. Tap into your social media influencers and biggest fans for content and share their positive reviews of your company and products. Influencer marketing and user generated content (UGC) are rapidly becoming the most widely-used online marketing strategies, especially with the rise in ad blocking. Both celebrities and real life influencers who are passionate about the products they’re recommending have large amounts of followers and a higher numbers of buying conversations and conversions. In fact, consumers are more likely to trust and act on an influencer recommendation.

Conclusion

Using UGC in your marketing strategy is an incredible opportunity to reach new audiences and drive more sales. Consumers see other consumers and influencers as more trustworthy and credible than when reviews and promotions come directly from the brand. While you want to have guidelines in place for collecting UGC, don’t forget to have fun with it and use it as an opportunity to engage with your consumers and potential customers.