Whaimes have changed. Today, there’s no place for one-way communication between the brand and its customers. Instead, engagement is the name of the game. One way to achieve this is through user-generated content (UGC), check its benefits and how to increase sales using it.
80% of people say that UGC impacts their purchase decision, and 71% agree that user-generated reviews make them feel more secure in their purchase decision.
So, how can you leverage UGC to increase sales? This article will talk about what UGC content is, how it can be used effectively, and its impact on sales.
What Is UGC (User-Generated Content)?
UGC is content customers create and publish on social media and other channels. It is voluntarily created and can be a review, social media update, podcast, video, blog post, or any other content created by customers. In simple terms, if it involves your brand and is up, moreover, and under sharing by customers, it’s UGC.
What Makes UGC Important?
UGC is up across all customer journey stages, from awareness to purchase. The following are the two main reasons why UGC is so important to brands:
UGC Boosts Authenticity and Increase Sales
Authenticity in marketing is crucial because it builds trust with customers. So, UGC helps brands to do this by creating content that resonates with their target audience. This is because UGC comes from real customers, making it more relatable and effective than a brand’s content.
UGC Drives Conversions Through Social Proof
Social proof is the idea that people will be more likely to take action when they see that others have already taken that same action. UGC provides this kind of proof. Seeing reviews from real customers or seeing their friends using a product will help to increase conversions and make the customer more confident in their purchase decision.
5 Ways You Can Leverage UGC to Increase Sales
The following are five ways you can use UGC to increase sales:
Feature UGC on Your Site and Increase Sales
One way to use UGC is to feature it on your website. You can display customer reviews and ratings, photos of customers using your product, or links to customer-created content. Moreover, this helps to create a more engaging experience for customers and increases their trust in the brand.
Consider using a background remover to create high-quality images of customers using your product. This will help to create a more professional and polished look for your website.
Promote a Hashtag Contest
Contests are a great way to get customers present in your brand and give away rewards. Create a unique hashtag for the contest and then ask customers to post photos or videos using that hashtag. This will help to spread awareness of your brand and drive sales.
Encourage Customers to Generate UGC to Get Sales Increase Benefits from User-generated Content
Encourage customers to generate UGC by offering incentives. You can do this through discounts, giveaways, or other rewards that make it worth their while. In addition, this will help to increase customer engagement and build a sense of community around your brand.
Collaborate With Influencers
Influencers are one of the most powerful tools in a marketer’s toolkit. They can help to spread awareness of your brand and amplify your message. Consider partnering with influencers and offering them incentives to create UGC for your brand, such as a free product. This will help to increase sales and build customer trust.
Run a Contest or Giveaway to Get Sales Increase Benefits of User-generated Content UGC
Running a contest or giveaway is another great way to get customers involved and generate UGC. Offer rewards for the best customer-generated content. This will incentivize customers to create content for your brand and help to increase sales.
Key Takeaways
UGC has become an essential part of marketing because it can help to build customer trust and increase conversions. Now that traditional marketing strategies are not as effective, brands need to rely on UGC more than ever.
Here’s a recap of what we covered in the article:
- UGC is user-generated content created and shared by customers.
- UGC boosts authenticity, drives conversions through social proof, and increases sales.
- Share UGC content on your website to create a more engaging customer experience.
- Organize contests and giveaways to incentivize customers to generate UGC.
- Leverage influencer marketing to amplify your message and boost sales.
