I believe there's nothing more important in running a business than strengthening your customer relationship. One way of doing this is by utilizing user-generated content on your website and social media to allow for a more welcoming environment. User generated content (UGC) can be a very effective and cost-efficient way to make your business more popular and widely known in your industry. User generated content simply means that you take previously created content by your customers or clients and repurpose it online. It’s a great way to save time, reach new audiences, and promote your business or brand. If you're looking to expand your reach online, UGC can be a valuable resource, as long as you know how to get it, use it, and benefit from it! Here are some tips to help you along the way...
1.) Audit Fan Photos
This exercise is a quick, easy way to learn how fans are already interacting with your product. Search for keywords and hashtags associated with your product in your industry (like #fanphotos or #productreview). See what kind of images come up, then reach out to those users who have taken them. Give them free stuff for being an early adopter—and ask for feedback about your product!
2.) Adopt A Hashtag Strategy
Create and promote a personal, actionable hashtag that brings the focus back to your fans. And if you do it right, it can have the added benefit of bringing new users to your account. This hashtag should be unique to your brand and should include one word or phrase that sums up what makes you unique. It’s an excellent way for your fans to get involved with your business—and help bring more eyes to your brand! An example of a great branded hashtag is #FlyDelta, which encourages travelers to share their favorite Delta experiences with others on social media.
3.) Promote Call To Actions Everywhere
You want to add a call-to-action and a hashtag to your bio in any place where you’re giving out your name, like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. A strong hashtag can help drive user generated content on social media as well as increase search engine optimization (SEO) by making it easier for users to find your website through searches. Use an action word like “share” or “pin” in your calls-to-action to encourage users to interact with you on social media.
4.) Add Signage To Your Store
If you have a physical store, create a point of interaction for customers to share their experiences and connect with your brand. Encourage them to add their photos and videos by displaying signage that allows for selfies in your store. Make it easy for customers to share these photos with their social networks, tagging your location and product to bolster brand exposure. On-the-spot advertising goes hand-in-hand with user generated content as well.
5.) Feature Customers’ Photos On Your Website
If you're looking to feature user generated content on your website, one great way to accomplish that is by featuring your customers' photos. Not only does it help to humanize your brand and business, but it also helps put a face to who you're selling products and services to. This can lead to more sales since customers are likelier to buy from brands they feel a personal connection with.
Utilizing user-generated content is a great way to expand your online reach. When you encourage your customers to provide photos or other information about your company, service, or products, you’re helping them feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves. Integrating UGC into your website and social media profiles will create a community around what you do and bring more people into that community. If your company has recently integrated UGC into its marketing strategy, please let us know! We would love to hear from you.
Xx,
Chase
