A lot of people have heard about user-generated content. But they always need a refresher. It is a term that has been around for quite some time. Now it is a key part of digital marketing thanks to the rise of social media, online communities, and forums. Now we will be discussing about user-generated content User-generated content can work for businesses, brands, and companies alike. Time to have a very good look at it.
User-Generated Content – what is it?
User-generated content (UGC) is a key aspect of Web 2.0 focusing on interaction, social networks, and making the web a social platform. Web 1.0 had static websites but Web 2.0 created sites bringing in more user involvement. Users can participate in generating, distributing, and utilizing content on an active scale.
Such a shift was made possible through technological advancements. The 2000s saw bandwidth increase and the development of the smartphone concept. Smartphones became common in the 2010s and software for multimedia editing became common. These tools provided people with options to make and share different forms of content especially:
- Text.
- Images.
- Videos.
- Blog posts and comments.
- Social media posts.
- Testimonials.
- Reviews.
The internet is no longer passive. It is now active and has enabled a lot of people to engage and participate in numerous online activities. They have contributed immensely to the world of user-generated content.
This content is valuable to companies as it provides them with an authentic and genuine perspective on both products and services. Instead of hearing solely about the company, prospective customers can read and see what people are saying about a brand.
Importance of user-generated content
Here are some key factors proving the importance and usefulness of user-generated content:
It helps build credibility and trust
When customers see user-generated content, It gives them a sense of authenticity and trust. Quite a portion of consumers can trust peer recommendations instead of traditional advertising. Users share their experiences and thoughts which gives a sense of credibility for the brand. People hence feel confident about their buying decisions.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) factor of brands is improved
Search engines adore fresh content. User-generated content is a worthwhile way of continuously adding new and unique content to websites. It helps keep them relevant and updated. This is why their SEO ranking improves. Additionally, user-generated content is enriched with keywords.
Professionals from a web design agency Dubai find such content to an important factor in improving website rankings in search engines, and keyword ranking for essential terms too.
User-generated content can boost engagement and social proof
Social proof is great when it comes to digital and social media marketing. When people see others enjoying a product/service after enjoying it, they are more than likely to be a part of that experience. This is where user-generated content comes in; it helps showcase that additional proof.
Moreover, when users engage with their favorite brand by making and sharing content, it helps raise both engagement and interaction with the brand.
User-generated content helps add personalization
User-generated content helps the brand understand its audiences in an improved manner. It helps them personalize their marketing efforts. Upon analysis of user-generated content, they can learn more about their audience in terms of preferences, needs, interests, wants, and the like. This information creates more targeted, concentrated, and personalized marketing campaigns.
It helps save brands considerable money and time
Content creation is an expensive and resource-intensive process. User-generated content is cost-effective. Influencing and using content already made by users helps companies save time, money, and other key resources on content creation.
Moreover, this kind of content can help keep the social media channels and websites staying abreast of the latest with the help of new and fresh content without spending much resources.
A sense of community is invoked thanks to user-generated content
User-generated content can help create a sense of community for brands. It helps users feel a part of the brand and the bigger picture. This helps raise advocacy and loyalty for the brand among the audience and beyond.
Conclusion
It is time for businesses, brands, and companies alike to incorporate user-generated content in their marketing tactics. Such content is neither complex nor expensive. It is simple, humorous, captivating, and engaging. Encouraging customers to at least leave a review, or share content on social media helps brands become more noticeable.
