User generated content or UGC is a fantastic but under-valued asset when it comes to building brand awareness and trust with consumers. 

As the name suggests, UGC is simply content created by one of your consumers and it encompasses their experience with your brand. In a digital world where authenticity reigns, UGC may be the missing piece in your marketing strategy.

There are 5 questions we get a lot about UGC so we’ve rounded up the answers to common questions and put together this guide to help you power your strategy!

Why Does My Brand Need User Generated Content?

The best marketing strategies are built from data so here are some data points that validate our case for more UGC:



• Consumer reviews are trusted 12 times more than content published from a brand’s POV
• 70% of people trust images taken by “people like them” as opposed to branded images
• Ads containing UCG receive 4 times higher click through rates compared to regular ads

Aside from the data, apply logic to UGC. Consumers are savvy and don’t trust brands but they do trust their peers. UGC is an avenue where marketers can still have some control over the message but aren’t publishing self-promotional messages that turn consumers off.

What are the Different Types of User Generated Content?

UGC can come in many forms the most common and accessible being:

• Social media posts
• Blog posts
• Consumer reviews
• Testimonials
• Case studies

How Do I Earn User Generated Content?

UGC is friendly on the budget and easy to earn. We recommend sending out an email to all of your happy clients asking them for a quote, to share a social post, to fill out a quick form, etc. And be sure to offer them a little incentive. A $25 gift card to Amazon will go a long way and you’ll have lots of UGC to publish. 

You’ll be surprised how with just a little nudge, your customers are willing to help.

What Should I Do With My User Generated Content?

Once you’ve collected UGC, it’s time to amplify, amplify, amplify!

The various places you should publish UGC include:

• Quotes on your homepage
• Create a testimonials page on your website
• Use your UGC in your social media posts
• Incorporate it in your marketing emails

Remember, customers value the opinions of their peers more than they want to hear from your brand. So, replace pieces of your digital strategy to feature your consumers instead of creating a ton of branded content.

Is User Generated Content Costly?

UGC is one of the most cost effective strategies. The only budget you will spend is the incentives you offer to earn your UGC. Affordable and effective? It seems a little too good to be true! But, we are here to tell you UGC is your marketing secret weapon.

Do you have strategies on marketing with UGC? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!