UGC and it’s importance for your marketing strategy

UGC (User Generated Content) is becoming increasingly popular in the marketing space, but what is it exactly? Some say it’s influencer marketing while others have absolutely no clue.

If you’re apart of either of those groups, I’m here to help you out! If this is your first time here, my name is Lauren, and I am a Content Writer and UGC creator. Since starting my UGC journey a couple months ago, I’ve learned a lot of valuable information that I want to pass along.

By the end of this post you’ll have a solid understanding of what UGC is and how it can benefit your marketing strategy. Let’s start with the definition of UGC.

What does UGC stand for?

UGC stands for User-Generated Content and refers to organic and paid content that has been uploaded to a site or platform by a creator, rather than by the site’s owners or editors. Many assume that UGC is just another word for influencer marketing, however that is far from true. While the two are similar, the main difference is in the way the final content is distributed. This equation explains it all:

Common forms of UGC include blog posts, comments on product pages, reviews of services, photos and videos uploaded to social media, tutorials, and forum discussions. Since more and more people are beginning to use social media, the UGC space has become increasingly popular.

Many companies and brands are beginning to leverage UGC to build trust and credibility with their audiences, as well as to engage with current and new customers in more meaningful ways.

Why User Generated Content works

User-generated content is fun! It gets the people going! But, seriously, UGC is a great way to boost your brands’ marketing. Here are a few reasons why:

1. It helps to build trust and credibility: Consumers tend to trust content that has been created by other consumers, rather than by brands or advertisers. UGC helps build credibility with potential customers, as they see real people sharing their positive experiences with your product or brand.
2. It increases engagement with brand or product: UGC marketers resonate with customers. When consumers see that they are actively involved in the marketing process, they are more likely to engage with the brand and become long-term customers.
3. UGC provides social proof: Social proof is a psychological phenomenon that describes how people tend to follow the actions and opinions of others. When customers see their peers endorsing a brand or product, they are more likely to follow suit.
4. Helps save time and money: Content creation can be challenging, time-consuming, and expensive. Implementing User Generated Content into your marketing strategy can help save time and money by leveraging the content created by customers, rather than creating everything from scratch.

Overall, UGC can be a very effective marketing tool, but it’s important for brands to curate and manage UGC to ensure that it aligns with their brand messaging and strategy.

How to start as a UGC creator

If you are interested in becoming a UGC creator I’d love to help you! This isn’t just a field of work, it’s a community full of support and opportunities to grow. Here are a few steps I recommend that you take to get started with UGC:

1. Identify the platforms you want to be most active on. I recommend going where your target audience is and creating content there. Those platforms could include social media, review sites, blogs, and forums.
2. Create a portfolio of work. A solid portfolio will speak volumes when pitching to brands. If you have no experience, I recommend starting with items you have at home. For example you can take photos of your favorite skin care products, film product reviews, unboxing videos, etc.
3. Engage with your target audience. Engage with your audience by answering questions, replying to comments, commenting on their content and showing appreciation for their support. This will help you build a solid community of loyal followers.
4. Find your niche and establish authority there. It’s important to find a niche that you are passionate about and knowledgeable in. This will help you create content that is both authentic and valuable for your audience.
5. Create unique high-quality content. The UGC community is highly populated, so you need to create high-quality content that stands out from the rest. I recommend investing in good equipment, such as a camera or iPhone, tripod, and ring light and also taking the time to learn editing skills.
6. Carefully follow community guidelines. Make sure you thoroughly understand the community guidelines for the platform(s) you are creating content on. Violating community guidelines can lead to your content being blocked, removed, or your account being suspended.

For more tips like the ones above be sure to follow me on Instagram and Tiktok!

Good luck on your journey

Becoming a User Generated Content creator takes time and effort. I encourage you to stay consistent, be patient, and focus on creating content that adds value to your audience!

If you’re looking to build a solid UGC Creator strategy that works check out my UGC Creator Strategy Workbook. In just 1-hour you’ll craft a strategy that works for you, identify your niche, kickstart your portfolio and develop a solid brand pitch!