The Power of User-Generated Content: How It Can Transform Your Digital Marketing Strategy
By EmoryDay
April 8, 2025
5 Minute Read
In today’s digital landscape, consumers are seeking connections and real experiences. They want to buy products and solicit services from companies and brands that come across as authentic and genuine.
Adding user-generated content (also known as UGC) to your digital marketing strategy is a fantastic way to keep it real, so to speak, so your brand can work for you.
What is User-Generated Content?
Buffer defines user-generated content as "original, brand-specific content created by customers and published on social media or other channels."
- Images
- Videos
- Testimonials
- Reviews
- Podcasts
- Social media posts
- Customer blog posts
- Case Studies
- Community forums
Why Companies Should Leverage User-Generated Content
UGC has become a powerful tool for companies looking to improve customer and lead engagement, build trust, and improve conversions.
Here are some excellent reasons why your business should consider incorporating UGC into your digital marketing strategy.
1. UGC boosts credibility and trust.
Much of UGC comes from past and present customers' products and service reviews. Most consumers trust recommendations from real people more than brand promotions. So, when potential customers see real users vouching for your brand, it greatly enhances your credibility.
Plus, according to Hootsuite, "86% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand that shares UGC compared to 12% who are likely to purchase a product promoted by influencers." More often than not, people trust brands that share UGC from real, everyday individuals rather than celebrity influencers.
2. User-Generated Content is 100% authentic.
Hootsuite states that "no other content type is more authentic than UGC from your customers."
Unlike polished brand campaigns, UGC showcases real experiences, unfiltered opinions, and genuine interactions. This authenticity builds trust because potential customers see relatable content created by people just like them.
3. User-Generated Content encourages engagement and community building.
UGC fosters a sense of community and belonging because it gets your customers engaging with your brand.
Plus, when customers share their experiences, they feel connected to the brand and tend to become advocates. According to Hootsuite, "sharing audience content also works to develop and deepen audience/business relationships, driving more brand loyalty."
User-Generated Content
86% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand that shares UGC
4. It's incredibly cost effective content that can be shared across all of your channels.
UGC is essentially free word-of-mouth marketing. Sure, you can offer rewards, like discounts or giveaways to encourage your customers to provide authentic user-generated content, but you'll be spending very little money to make even more.
UGC provides brands with free, authentic material that can be repurposed across various marketing channels. It's a win-win situation: your customers feel valued, and you gain valuable content at little to no cost.
5. UGC can organically improve your SEO.
User-generated content often includes organic keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for, which improves your SEO rankings.
Tips for Leveraging UGC in Your Digital Marketing Strategy
- Encourage and incentivize content creation by asking your customers to share their experiences with your brand. You can also reward them with discounts or giveaways.
- Ask and incentivize your employees to create UGC, They can post new products or services on their social media channels. They can even post about business trips and any conferences they attend.
- Create hashtag campaigns to encourage social media users to tag their posts. This makes it easier to collect and showcase their content.
- Feature UGC on your website and social media channels. Post customer reviews, testimonials, and images on your website and social media channels to reinforce credibility and social proof.
UGC Can Supercharge Your Digital Marketing Strategy
User-generated content is an invaluable asset for businesses of all sizes. Just to recap, UGC builds trust, enhances engagement, is cost-effective, and provides an organic way to grow your brand's presence.
By strategically leveraging UGC, you can created a more authentic, customer-centric marketing strategy that drives real results.
EmoryDay Can Help Your Business Leverage User-Generated Content!
At EmoryDay, we know that content is king - and user-generated content is the secret weapon to amplify your brand! Our team of marketing experts is here to help you harness the power of authentic content to drive engagement, build trust, and grow your business.
Are you ready to incorporate UGC into your digital marketing strategy? Let us help you harness its power for your brand's success!
From dynamic content marketing to cutting-edge digital strategies, we've got the expertise to take your brand to the next level. Let's make your content work smarter, not harder!
Just fill out our contact form or give us a call at (888)494-3810.
Resources
https://blog.hootsuite.com/user-generated-content-ugc/
https://buffer.com/resources/what-is-user-generated-content/
Frequently Asked Questions
User-Generated Content (UGC) is any original content created by customers, employees, or brand advocates and shared on social media, websites, or other digital platforms. This can include images, videos, testimonials, reviews, social media posts, and more. UGC helps brands build authenticity and trust by showcasing real experiences from real people.
UGC is a powerful tool for digital marketing because it builds trust, enhances engagement, and increases credibility. Consumers are more likely to trust content created by real users rather than polished brand advertisements. Additionally, UGC is cost-effective, encourages community building, and can even improve SEO rankings by incorporating organic keywords.
Businesses can encourage UGC by:
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Asking customers to share their experiences with the brand.
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Offering incentives like discounts, giveaways, or exclusive deals for user-submitted content.
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Creating branded hashtag campaigns to make it easier to collect and showcase content.
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Featuring customer reviews, testimonials, and social media posts on websites and marketing materials.
User-generated content naturally includes keywords and phrases that potential customers search for, helping to improve SEO rankings. Additionally, UGC increases engagement and time spent on your website, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant. By sharing UGC across multiple platforms, brands can expand their reach and visibility.
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