User Generated Content (UGC) is any content created by consumers, brand advocates or employees that promotes a brand. This includes ratings, online reviews, customer photos and videos.
In the world of social commerce UGC is key to building authenticity and trust between brands and consumers.
Stats show the power of user generated content:
- 84% of consumers trust user generated content more than other forms of advertising.
- 55% of shoppers won’t buy without seeing user generated content.
User generated content social commerce is huge. It’s a modern influencer marketing strategy and product recommendation tool that influences purchasing decisions.
This article will show you practical user generated content social commerce sales tactics so you can connect with your audience and make more money.
What is User-Generated Content (UGC)?
User generated content (UGC) is any content created by individuals not brands.
This includes:
Ratings and Reviews | Customer feedback tools on products so others can gauge quality |
Photos and Videos | Products in real-life scenarios, often shared on social media |
Testimonials | Personal stories from consumers about a product |
- The power of ugc content is that it’s a modern product recommendation social proof tool in social commerce. Consumers are relying more and more on ugc content to make informed purchasing decisions. 84% of consumers trust authentic and relatable content more than other forms of advertising. This is because ugc content is authentic and relatable, whereas traditional marketing can seem biased or too polished.
- As potential buyers engage with ugc content created by other consumers they trust the brand more. Leveraging UGC brand loyalty can build credibility and community with their customers. This is key to influencing behaviour and sales in social commerce.
UGC in Social Commerce Sales
User generated content (UGC) influences consumer buying decisions. A stat shows 55% of consumers won’t buy without seeing ugc content first. So brands need to get UGC content into their marketing strategy mix as it’s a trust signal.
How UGC Increases Conversions
Visual consumer generated content creation like ugc images and videos from customers has been shown to increase conversions. Research shows visual content creation can increase conversions by up to 144%.
This is especially important for future of social commerce where visuals grab attention and boost engagement.
Long Term Benefits of UGC
The impact of user generated content goes beyond immediate sales; it builds long term brand visibility and loyalty. When consumers see products from their peers they feel more connected to the brand.
That connection builds community and encourages repeat business.
UGC in Social Commerce
Key effects of user generated content in social commerce:
Trust | Consumers see UGC as more real than traditional advertising |
Higher Engagement Rates | Posts with UGC get more interaction and more visibility on social media |
Long Term Loyalty | Brands that use UGC well build stronger relationships with their audience and get more customer loyalty. |
Getting ugc content into your marketing mix drives sales and builds your brand in social proof in social commerce.
UGC on Social Media
Brands can get the most out of user generated content (UGC) on various social media channels. Each social media platform has its own features to get user generated content into social proof in social commerce.
1. Instagram
Instagram is an ugc platform and all about user generated visuals so brands can use shoppable social media posts with product tags. Social media users can click on images and buy products featured in iser generated content instantly.
Brands can also create social media posts and stories with customer testimonials or product reviews.
2. TikTok
With its growing younger audience TikTok offers creative ugc content opportunities through its duet feature. Brands can partner with influencers or customers to create branded content that resonates with viewers. Brands can start challenges and trends and get users to create organic relevant content.
3. Facebook
As one of the biggest social media platforms Facebook supports various types of user generated content like online reviews, ratings and community posts. Brands can use Facebook groups, Facebook marketplace strategies to build communities around their products and get customers to share their experiences and have conversations.
Using these features gets you more visibility and sales in social commerce.
How to Get User Generated Content Social Commerce
Social media contests and giveaways are great ways for brands to get organic user generated content.
These tactics not only grab attention but also get you more visibility in a crowded market as explained in this article on running competitions and giveaways on social media.
Tactics:
Photo Contests | Get customers to share images of your products. This gets customers to be creative and show your brand in real life |
Video Challenges | Ask participants to create short videos of them using your products. Use TikTok or Instagram Stories to get more reach and engagement |
Hashtag Campaigns | Create a unique hashtag for your contest or giveaway. This makes it easy to track submissions and for users to participate |
Guidelines:
Clear guidelines are key to getting high quality user generated submissions.
Provide:
- Content Format: What type of content do you want? Photos, ugc creators videos or written reviews.
- Submission Process: Explain how participants can submit their entries and what tags or mentions to use.
- Judging Criteria: Tell participants how their entries will be judged so they can do their best.
By getting creative and clear brands can get the most out of user generated content (UGC) and community engagement.
How to Measure UGC Campaigns
To see how user generated content (UGC) marketing campaigns are performing brands need to know the campaign metrics.
Here are the key ones to focus on:
1. Engagement Rates
This measures how many likes, shares, comments and overall interactions UGC customer engagement posts get. When customer engagement is high it means the ugc content is resonating with the audience.
For more on how to measure social media engagement brands can check out this article.
2. Conversion Rates
Brands should see how many social media users take the desired action after interacting with user generated content, like buying or signing up for a newsletter.
This metric ties UGC to sales outcomes. To measure these outcomes focus on specific marketing KPIs.
3. Reach and Impressions
Find out how many people saw the user generated content and how far it went across social media.
A wider brand identity reach means more brand visibility.
4. Customer Sentiment
Monitor comments and reviews on UGC product pages to see what the public thinks about the brand.
To measure these metrics brands can use:
- Google Analytics: For website traffic driven by organic UGC.
- Hootsuite Insights: For social media analytics to measure engagement and reach.
- Sprout Social: Gives you reports across multiple social media channels.
By using these metrics and tools brands can improve their social media marketing strategy and future user generated content campaigns of social commerce will be more effective.
And check out this social media analytics guide to get more understanding and execution of UGC campaigns.
How to Implement UGC in Social Commerce?
UGC in social commerce can be very effective but there are some pitfalls to watch out for.
Knowing these is key for brand loyalty to get the most out of user generated content.
Watch Out For
- Not Verifying Authenticity: Brand specific content created should ensure all UGC submissions are real. Check for real user experiences and don’t use overly edited or staged content that may misrepresent the product.
- Ignoring Copyright: Using user generated content without permission can get you in trouble. Always get consent from cintent creators before sharing their content.
Trust-Building Strategies
Building trust with consumers through user generated content (UGC) requires a thoughtful approach:
- Show Real Experiences: Highlight real customer stories and online reviews. Feature different voices to reach different target audience segments.
- Provide Clear Guidelines: Give users clear instructions on how to create and submit content. Clarity helps to get high quality submissions and allows potential customers to be authentic.
- Engage with Contributors: Acknowledge and celebrate the contributors. Respond to comments or feature user content to create a sense of community and get others to participate.
- Use Visual Content: Use photos and videos of real life product usage to make it relatable. Visual authenticity often beats text based testimonials.
By doing this brands can create an environment where authenticity in user generated content flourishes and ultimately sales in social commerce.
Get the most out of UGC in your social commerce strategy: Future Steps
Brands should use UGC to drive sales and engage with consumers.
Effective user generated content strategies will get you more brand visibility and customer trust.
More Integration | Platforms will integrate shopping features to make the journey from discovery to purchase seamless |
More Personalization | Brands will use UGC for targeted marketing to make it more relevant to consumers. |
Authenticity First | Consumers will look for authentic endorsements so UGC is key to credibility |
Implementing these social media marketing strategies is crucial for brands to succeed in the social commerce landscape. By using user generated content you can drive sales today and build relationships for the long term.
Try and integrating user generated content for social commerce sales today and get ahead in this space.
Dario’s Conclusion
User generated content (UGC) is a social commerce superpower, driving trust and social proof, engagement and sales. It’s consumer created content like reviews, ratings, photos, videos and testimonials.
84% of consumers trust UGC more than traditional advertising and 55% won’t buy without it. UGC is now a must have for modern marketing strategies.
Brands that use user generated content can build authenticity, long term loyalty and increase conversions – visual content alone can increase conversions by up to 144%.
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook offer unique ways to amplify UGC through features like shoppable broader post, duets and community groups.
To win with UGC brands need to focus on authenticity, have clear guidelines for contributions and engage with their audience.
Measure campaign success through metrics like engagement rates, conversion rates, reach and customer sentiment and integrate UGC into your strategy to build connections, increase brand visibility and succeed in social commerce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can brands get user-generated content?
Brands can get organic UGC by running engaging contests and giveaways. Make sure to provide clear guidelines for participants to keep submissions high quality.
Which social media platforms to use for UGC?
Main social media platforms for UGC are Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Each platform has its own features to support UGC such as Instagram’s shoppable posts with product tags and TikTok’s duet feature for influencer collaborations.
How does UGC impact purchasing decisions?
UGC impacts purchasing decisions; 55% of consumers won’t make a purchase without seeing UGC first. Visual UGC can increase conversion rates by 144%, drive sales today and build brand visibility and loyalty for the long term.
What is user-generated content (UGC) and why is it important for social commerce?
User-generated content (UGC) is any content created by consumers or users of a brand, including ratings, reviews, photos and videos. Its importance in social commerce is growing as it’s a trusted form of product recommendation. 84% of consumers trust UGC more than traditional advertising.