Instagram is the most powerful social media platform, with over 1 billion active monthly users. It is trendy among youth. Along with the social media platform, Instagram has also evolved as a powerful marketing platform.
Every marketer knows the importance of user-generated content in today’s online marketing world. UGC plays a vital role in the content marketing strategy of big brands. People love to engage with the UGC campaigns on social media.
So, in this article, we are going to discuss what is user-generated content, why user-generated content is essential, ways to collect UGC and some examples of user-generated content campaigns on Instagram.
So let’s go!
Table of Contents
What Is User-Generated Content?
Any type of content that is created by the users over the internet in order to share their experience with the brand is known as user-generated content (UGC) or user-created content (UCC). User-generated content is of many types like
- Texts
- Images
- Reviews
- Ratings
- Testimonials
- Blog Comments
- Videos
These are only some types of user-generated content. Users create UGC with their free will, so they are allowed to create any content.
Why User-Generated Content?
User-generated content is real and more authentic than any other form of content. People love to see and get engaged with the UGC. Most of the big brands around the world are now embedding UGC along with the regular content on their websites in order to market their product in a better and more effective way.
According to a report by Nielsen Consumer Trust Index, 92% of the people trust organic and UGC content than the content created by the brands. It’s easy to share user-generated content on Instagram.
Now let’s discuss some of the significant benefits of user-generated content in today’s marketing world.
Benefits Of User-Generated Content
1 Cost-Effective
User-generated content is content created by the audience for the brand. They are not paid for this by the brand. Hence, marketers don’t have to empty their pocket for the UGC. Brands have to curtate the UGC and manage it properly.
2 Authentic
Authenticity is one of the most essential things in the online marketing world. People are not going to buy from you until they trust you and UGC will help you in that. UGC contains authenticity along with it.
When you showcase user-generated content to the audience, you are showing your social side to the audience. This will help you to gain their trust and also helps the audience to make their purchase decision.
3 Fresh And Unique Content
People nowadays have a smartphone. So it’s straightforward for them to share their content over the internet. The audience will create a unique type of content than your marketing them.
People are creative nowadays. Hence, you will get a lot of fresh and unique content by organizing the UGC contest.
4 Higher Engagement
Most of the people all around the world love to see and get engaged with the user-generated content. According to some of the reposts, websites that include user-generated content along with the regular content get higher engagement.
Brands are organizing UGC campaigns on social media because people love to get engaged with the UGC campaigns on social media. Hence, UGC campaigns get higher engagement.
Now, it’s time to discuss some of the ways to get user-generated content on Instagram.
How To User-Generated Content On Instagram?
Step 1 Create A Hashtag Campaign
The first step is to create a unique, simple and easy to remember hashtag for your campaign. It is really important to notice that your hashtag should be unique and related to your brand so its people can easily remember it while posting on social media.
Step 2 Encourage Users To Share Their Content Under Your Hashtag
Afte creating the hashtag, the next big task for you is to encourage your users to create and share the content for your brand. You have to be creative while doing this. For example
If you are making a physical product, then you can print the hashtag on the box and ask the users to share their content under this hashtag. This is an excellent way to encourage your users to create UGC for you.
You can also encourage the users by organizing UGC campaigns on social media. People love to get engaged with the UGC campaigns on social media.
Step 3 Collect UGC
This is a fun task to do. You can easily collect the user-created content under your hashtag. There are many tools available in the market with the help of which you can easily curate and display user-generated content on one single screen.
While collecting UGC, you will come across many different types of content. You have to pick the best according to your need.
Step 4 Plan To Use UGC
This is one of the most important steps to do. After collecting the relevant data, you have to plan how to use the user-generated content along with the natural material to make Instagram feed more attractive and maximize its reach.
When you post UGC on social media always remember to give credit to the users in the caption. By doing this simple thing, you can make the user happy and unique.
Now, let’s discuss some of the successful examples of user-generated campaigns on Instagram.
Examples Of User-Generated Content On Instagram
1 Airbnb
Airbnb is one of the most popular Instagram accounts that displays 100% user-generated content on its social media accounts.
The company usually asks some question to their users’ when they share their post like
- Where did you travel?
- Where did they stay?
- What did you find?
- What did you like the most?
Airbnb collects all the user-generated data and then post it on their social media accounts by taking the permission of the users. They display the UGC and along with an excellent caption to make it more engaging.
They usually share their photos under the hashtag #Airbnb, #NotYetTrending, and #LiveThere.
2 Buffer
Buffer is one of the leading social media scheduling tools, and they post amazing user-generated content on Instagram.
Buffer feeds on Instagram are impressive. By posting photos on Instagram Buffer, try to showcase their lifestyle.
They usually share their content on Instagram under the hashtag #BufferCommunity.
3 Queensland
Instagram feeds on Queensland are impressive. They usually showcase their content differently. They showcase their content as- drone photos and videos. This gives a fresh look to the content, and hence, their feeds are really beautiful and engaging.
They usually share UGC under the hashtag #Queensland.
