Valeria Publications

Have you ever come across the following types of media?

• A YouTuber giving their honest opinion about a clothing brand.
• A parent explaining how a tutoring service helped improve their child’s grades.
• A customer posting a review of a product on Amazon.

Whether it was through TV, social media, or a website, we’ve all come across this type of content before. What we didn’t know was the specific name for it.

This type of content is known as user-generated content. If this is your first time hearing about it, congrats!

Learn more about what user-generated content is and what it can do for so many businesses.

The Basics of User-Generated Content

User-generated content is pretty self-explanatory.

It is content that is created by customers and distributed through different platforms. This content can come in many forms, from testimonials to review videos to podcasts.

When it comes to user-generated content, there are levels. There are so many people who can create user-generated content for your business.

Think about it. You have your customers, who are always ready to share what they like and don’t like about a product or service.

Then there are influencers, who you can partner with and may also bring additional business to the table.

If you have family members who are part of your business, even better. Sharing testimonials from your family can add a personal touch to your brand.

Either way, these parties can bring an authentic touch to your content. People always want to hear from other people when it comes to the efficiency of a product or service.

Why User-Generated Content Is Important

So, why is user-generated content important?

Again, it’s kind of self-explanatory.

There’s nothing wrong with having a marketing team create content for your business. But there’s something authentic about customers sharing their honest thoughts about your business practices.

It’s essentially content created by the people, for the people.

In addition to authenticity, this type of content can help strengthen the relationship between your business and your customers.

Everyone loves participation. Your customers may love the fact that they get to be a part of your business’s brand.  In return, you also get a glimpse into what your customers truly want.

Making The Most Out of User-Generated Content

So, we know what user-generated content is. We also know why it’s important. How can we get started creating this type of content for our business?

Set Goals

The first practical step that you can take is to set goals for your content.

What are some of the goals that you want to reach in your business? Higher conversion rates? Increased brand loyalty?

It’s easier to create a strategy when you know what you want. Think about the goals that you want to set and how you want to reach these goals.

Get Fun and Creative

Next, you want to think about what type of user-generated content to create.

This is the fun part. There are so many types of content that your customers can be a part of.

You have social media platforms like YouTube where your customers can review your products. Your business’s website can include testimonials with text and photos about your customers’ experiences.

Your customers can even create little TikTok videos that you can share on your website and social media platforms.

A great place to start is by asking your audience. Create a poll and ask what type of content they would like to submit.

And speaking of asking, that leads to the next tip.

Request Permission From Your Customers

Before any content is created, you want to ask your customers for permission to share their content.

As content creators, we know how it feels when someone uses our content without our permission. Why would we put our customers through the same problem?

Whether your customers are influencers or not, their privacy and likeness should be protected at all times. Request permission from your customers before posting any of their content publicly.

Even if it’s something as small as a comment in your comment section.

Asking for permission is also another way to build a greater relationship with your customers. It shows your customers the consideration and respect that you have for them.

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

Last but certainly not least, make sure to credit your customers on each piece of content.

This is another issue that many content creators have experienced. We all have heard of companies failing to credit other content creators for their original work.

You don’t want your business to fall into that same category. You always want to include the social media platforms of each customer who creates user-generated content.

A great example to follow is a typical Instagram post. Whenever someone repurposes content from another creator, it’s common for the person to either tag the other creator or include their social media profiles in the post for others to follow.

You can do the same for each type of content you create. If you request testimonials from your customers, make sure to state their name and any additional information they would like to share.

Final Thoughts

There are many benefits that come with using user-generated content.

It’s great content that current customers can create and new customers can engage with.

It’s also a great way for businesses to brand themselves in an authentic way.

If you’re looking for new content ideas, this content is definitely the right place to start.

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.