Did you know that user-generated content (UGC) is more trusted than other types of online content? Nielsen shows that UGC is 92% more likely to be trusted than other forms of online marketing. Why? People are more likely to believe what their friends and family say than advertising by faceless corporations.
That’s why UGC matters – it helps create a connection between businesses and their customers. This blog post will discuss how to craft effective UGC to help your business connect with its customers more deeply.
Choose social networks best suited for your marketing campaign
The first step is to choose the social networks that are most suited for your marketing campaign. Not all social networks are created equal, and each one has its unique user base. For example, if you’re trying to reach millennials, you’ll want to focus on Snapchat or Instagram. But if you’re trying to reach baby boomers, you’ll want to focus on Facebook.
The point here is that your brand should resonate with your target audience so that your customers can make content for you. So, the first step is to be in all the right places so that the right people can see you.
Encourage customers to leave reviews
The second step is to encourage customers to leave reviews. Reviews are incredibly handy, and they help build trust with potential customers and help businesses improve their products and services.
If you’re not already encouraging customers to leave reviews, then you’re missing out on a valuable opportunity. There are a few ways to encourage customers to leave reviews, such as offering discounts or giving away freebies.
Another way to encourage customers to leave reviews is by responding to them. When you respond to positive reviews, it shows that you’re paying attention to what your customers are saying. And when you respond to negative reviews, it shows that you’re willing to listen to feedback and make changes accordingly.
Encourage customers to share photos and videos
The third step is to encourage customers to share photos and videos. Photos and videos are a great way for businesses to connect with their customers on a personal level. And they’re also a great way to generate word-of-mouth marketing.
Encouraging customers to share photos and videos is as simple as asking them to do so. You can invite customers to share their photos and videos on your social media pages or create a hashtag for them to use.
You can also encourage customers to share photos and videos by offering incentives. For example, you can offer discounts or free products in exchange for pictures or videos.
Create a fan page
This is where things get interesting. A fan page is like your military base, where you can post updates, photos, videos, and anything else related to your business. It’s also a place where your customers can interact with each other and spread brand awareness beyond the group.
But how does a fan page help you create UGC? Well, it’s simple. Your customers can post their content on your page, helping spread brand awareness and building trust with potential customers.
Plus, it allows you to interact with your customers more personally. You can answer their questions, give them advice, and thank them for their business. Use this poster maker to craft a thank you flyer for all your lovely customers, as well as the occasional post to keep your customers informed about your business.
Set the framework
Lastly, it’s essential to give your customers clear instructions on how you want them to create content for you. This may seem like a no-brainer, but many brands assume that their customers will know what to do without being given explicit instructions, and that’s not always the case. So, it’s important to spell things out for your customers to avoid confusion.
For instance, if you want customers to share photos of your product, give them specific instructions on how to do so. Tell them where to post the images (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and make it clear that you’re looking for high-quality photos.
Some parting words
Creating effective UGC is excruciatingly challenging because you’re not directly responsible for making your brand’s content – it’s your customers and followers who do the work for you. So, expect a lot of mishaps and mistakes. We have seen many small businesses use a set of social media graphic templates to streamline UGC and avoid a lot of guesswork from the customers’ end.
The beauty of UGC is that it has the potential to reach a much wider audience than traditional marketing methods. So, even if you only have a small group of customers or followers, you can still make a significant impact. Just remember, the key to crafting great UGC is to start small, be patient, and be willing to experiment.