User-generated content (UGC) is any content that is created and shared by your customers, fans, or followers on social media platforms. UGC can include images, videos, reviews, testimonials, or stories that feature your brand, products, or services.
UGC is a powerful way to enhance your social media marketing for several reasons:
- It increases your brand awareness and reach: UGC can expose your brand to new audiences and expand your social media presence.
- It builds your trust and credibility: UGC can showcase your social proof and customer satisfaction and establish your brand as authentic and reliable.
- It educates and entertains your audience: UGC can provide useful and engaging information and experiences that your audience can relate to and enjoy.
- It generates leads and sales: UGC can influence your audience’s purchase decisions and encourage them to buy from you or refer you to others.
- It helps with your content creation: UGC can supplement your own content and save you time and resources.
In this article, I will share with you how to improve your social media marketing with UGC. I will cover how to source, organize, get permission, and share UGC effectively. Let’s get started!
How to Source UGC for Your Social Media Marketing Strategy
The best way to source UGC depends on the social platforms your customers typically use and the type of content you want to collect. Here are some of the common methods to source UGC:
- Hashtag campaigns: You can create and promote a branded or campaign-specific hashtag and invite your customers to use it when they share content related to your brand, products, or services. You can also offer incentives, such as prizes, discounts, or features, to encourage participation.
- UGC contests: You can run and promote a UGC contest and ask your customers to submit content that meets certain criteria, such as a theme, a format, or a challenge. You can also offer rewards, such as recognition, exposure, or gifts, to motivate entries.
- UGC requests: You can simply ask your customers to share content with you, either directly or publicly. You can use social media posts, stories, polls, or messages to request UGC from your customers. You can also use email, SMS, or other channels to reach out to them.
- UGC platforms: You can use third-party platforms or tools that specialize in collecting and curating UGC from various sources. Some examples are Bazaarvoice, Pixlee, and Curalate. These platforms can help you find, manage, and display UGC easily and efficiently.
How to Organize UGC for Your Social Media Marketing Strategy
Once you have sourced UGC, you need to organize and document it so you can use it effectively. Here are some steps you can take to organize UGC:
- Save UGC on- and off-platform: You can use native features, such as bookmarks or saves, to store UGC on each social media platform. You can also create a folder or a database, such as Google Drive or Airtable, to store UGC off-platform. You can include the link, the handle, the screenshot, and other details of each UGC piece.
- Categorize UGC by type, platform, or purpose: You can sort UGC by different criteria, such as the type of content (image, video, review, etc.), the platform it came from (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), or the purpose it serves (awareness, education, conversion, etc.).
- Brainstorm captions and elements for UGC: You can prepare captions and other elements, such as hashtags, stickers, or filters, to add to UGC when you share it. You can also add notes about when and where to include UGC in your content calendar or marketing campaign.
How to Get Permission to Share UGC in Your Social Media Marketing Efforts
Before you share UGC, you need to get permission from the original creators. This is not only a matter of respect and courtesy, but also a legal requirement. Here are some ways to get permission to share UGC:
- Get permission before submission: If you source UGC through hashtag campaigns or contests, you can get permission before the creators submit their content. You can do this by clarifying the terms and conditions on your social profile or website, or by linking to a landing page that explains how you will use the UGC.
- Get permission after submission: If you source UGC through requests or platforms, you can get permission after the creators submit their content. You can do this by reaching out to them via social media comments, messages, or emails, and asking for their consent to share their content. You can also offer incentives, such as shout-outs, credits, or rewards, to thank them for their permission.
How to Share UGC in Your Social Media Marketing Efforts
After you have sourced, organized, and got permission to share UGC, you can start sharing it on your social media platforms. Here are some tips and best practices for sharing UGC:
- Use in-app features to share UGC: Some social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, have in-app features that allow you to share UGC natively, such as reposting or retweeting. This is the easiest and most convenient way to share UGC, as it automatically credits the original creators and preserves the original format and quality of the content.
- Use third-party tools to share UGC: If the social media platform you use does not have an in-app feature to share UGC, or if you want to customize or edit the UGC before sharing it, you can use third-party tools to share UGC. Some examples are Repost, Buffer, and Hootsuite. These tools can help you schedule, optimize, and monitor UGC across different platforms.
- Use UGC strategically and creatively: You can use UGC for various purposes and in various ways, depending on your goals and audience. For example, you can use UGC to showcase your products or services, to share customer reviews or testimonials, to tell stories or case studies, to inspire or educate your audience, to generate engagement or feedback, or to create fun or interactive content. You can also use UGC in different formats and styles, such as carousel posts, stories, reels, live videos, or user-generated campaigns.
How Ukiyo Visuals can help you with your social media marketing with UGC
If you want to take your social media marketing to the next level with UGC, you can opt for the service offered by us at Ukiyo Visuals. We are a company that specializes in helping individuals and businesses grow their social media presence and performance through our social media services.
We can help you source, organize, get permission, and share UGC effectively and efficiently. We have a team of experts who have years of experience and knowledge in social media marketing and UGC. We have helped hundreds of clients achieve their social media goals through our service.
We offer different packages and plans that suit your needs and budget. You can choose from our basic, standard, or premium plans, or customize your own plan according to your preferences.
To learn more about us and our social media services, you can visit our website or contact us here. You can also follow us on social media to get more tips and insights on how to improve your social media marketing with UGC.
