To understand the power of user-generated content (UGC), you must first understand what it is. User-generated content is any specific type of content whether it be a social media post, blog, review, photo, or comment that a customer has created on their own that promotes a product or service. Businesses using user-generated content on their website can see an increase of around 2.5x sales. For this reason, it has quickly become one of the most important and influential forms of marketing.
In this article, you’ll learn answers to the following questions:
- What are the benefits to UGC for your business?
- How does a business harness the power of UGC?
- How do you use UGC across social media?
The benefits of UGC to your business
User-generated content is a growing trend in marketing strategy and social media branding. Utilizing UGC increases your sales, nurtures consumer engagement, and even increases brand loyalty and trust.
88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation
We all know that word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool. Consumers are now trusting social media platforms as the modern day word of mouth. Consumers are relying on the opinion and experience of other consumers before making a purchase themselves.
Increase sales by 2.5 x when using UGC
Consumers can immediately see that your brand is trusted by other consumers. This means a positive review can instil more trust and therefore more sales.
71% of millennials engage with social media and User Generated Content daily
Millennials are the largest group of consumers alive to date, and they are actively seeking out and engaging with brands. In fact, millennials love reviews and value the experience of their peers way above any marketing campaign.
How Do you Utilize UGC?
The importance of UGC is undeniable, but how is your business suppose to encourage consumers to create content?
Helpful Crowd
Our platform allows you to easily incorporate UGC into your eCommerce or local business. With HelpfulCrowd, you can collect and share more star-reviews, comments, and Q&As from current and previous consumers to grow your brand.
Hashtag campaigns
Hashtags are ways to categorize important keywords or phrases. They are a great way to relate your brand voice and message while also encouraging consumer engagement. Creativity here is key! Your hashtag campaign doesn’t need to be #yourbusinessname, but something that evokes your message. Using broader terms here is a good way to increase your reach across social media.
Ask your audience to share!
If you want something, just ask. It’s perfectly acceptable for a brand to ask their consumers to share their products with them on social media. This is a great way to begin your hashtag campaign or to simply give your consumers a voice.
Types of UGC
UGC is as diverse as the people that utilize it. From different star-rating to comments, Q&A, and media reviews each UGC is unique and impactful to your businesses profits.
Star ratings
Star ratings provide a quick reference for consumers concerning the over-all opinion of the product. Studies show that providing star ratings to your consumers before check-out has a substantial impact on the amount of money a consumer is willing to spend. The graph from MarketingSherpa displays a clear increase in sales after interacting with star-ratings. 
Written reviews
Written reviews take the interaction of ratings one step further. The Spiegel Center’s research found that if customers went just beyond the star ratings and actually engaged with the reviews themselves, they were more likely to purchase, reports MarketingSherpa.
Q&A
Question and answer UGC allows you to reduce purchase barriers. When you are willing to answer potential consumer’s questions in a timely manner, they are more invested in the brand or product and more importantly your business credibility. The win/win for your business is that an answered question can turn a potential sale into a completed sale.
Media reviews
Content is king and all social media platforms are showing affection towards multimedia. UGC is no different. When pictures and video are created by consumers connected in a positive way towards a brand or product trust and sales increase. According to a study by Olapic, 70% of respondents in the U.S. and 53% in Europe indicate they would be more likely to buy a product after seeing a positive or relatable consumer-generated image of it online.
User-generated content is now a staple for eCommerce businesses given the generated profit and increase in brand recognition it creates. Helpful Crowd will help you to harness the power of UGC for your business.
