What is User Generated Content and How to Use UGC Content

You know that exhilarating feeling when you discover a new fave product and can’t wait to tell a friend (or a few thousand followers on Instagram or TikTok)?!

That’s UGC, which stands for user-generated content. You might be thinking, “Wait, isn’t that just content created by customers?” Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. So, let’s dive into what User Generated Content is and how it has evolved over the years.

What is UGC?

First things first, UGC refers to any type of content that is created by users or customers. Anytime someone posts online about a business or product they love, that’s considered user-generated content or UGC. Yep, that means you’ve likely shared UGC before without even knowing it!

This includes everything from social media posts, reviews, blogs, testimonials or verbal endorsements, videos, and photos. Essentially, anything that is created by someone who is not officially affiliated with your brand is considered UGC. And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good shoutout from a satisfied customer?

How has UGC Changed From its Original Form?

Back in the day, UGC was pretty straightforward. Customers would leave reviews or maybe share a photo of a product they purchased. But with the rise of social media and influencer culture, UGC has taken on a whole new meaning. Instead of customers creating content, we’ve seen the rise of the UGC Creator where brands will send products to creators or pay UGC Creators to create content on their behalf. And they are creating eye-catching, interesting content that blends in as native content. 

What Makes UGC Valuable?

Well, for one, UGC has become a powerful marketing tool for businesses. Instead of relying solely on their own marketing efforts, brands are leveraging creators – who they’ve hired to create UGC style content, in order to reach new audiences and build trust with customers. And because UGC is created by real people, it often feels more authentic and relatable than traditional marketing content. 

The level of creativity and production value that goes into UGC these days is next level. From flat lays to unboxings, customers, influencers and creators are putting in serious effort to create content that is visually appealing and engaging. And with the help of editing apps and other tools, even the most amateur creators can produce high-quality content.

What Are the Benefits of UGC?

Well, for starters, it’s a cost-effective way to generate content. Instead of hiring a team of photographers and designers, brands can rely on their own customers to create content for them. UGC also helps to build trust and credibility with potential customers. When people see real-life examples of your product or service in action, they are more likely to trust that it will deliver what it promises.

UGC also helps to increase engagement and brand awareness on social media. When customers create and share content related to your brand, it can lead to increased likes, comments, and shares, which in turn can lead to more visibility and followers. And because UGC often feels more authentic than traditional marketing content, it can help to foster a sense of community around your brand.

So all this to say that UGC has really come a long way from its humble beginnings as customer reviews and photos. 

The demand for more UGC style content has really led to the rise of the Creator economy and UGC Creators are becoming solid partners for brands to rely on. 

How Brands Can Work with UGC Creators

Working with UGC Creators can be an ideal way to get content that fits your brand aesthetic and marketing goals. UGC Creators will often be on top of creative trends and will bring a unique vibe to the content. 

They can create short-form videos or capture photos in a more natural way by shooting in their homes, during outings or as a “come with me” experience. Creators will also often show the product in use, a before-and-after and speak to the benefits THEY love about your products or services which performs better than the average studio photos or highly-produced videos on a set! 

Working with UGC Creators can help take some of the burden of content creation off your plate. Plus, you can get amazing content for high-impact ad creative if you’re using Meta Ads or TikTok Ads to market your products/services. 

If you’re considering working with UGC Creators, we have an amazing email template for you to use during your outreach. Snag the best UGC Creators, download your FREE email template now.