There are hundreds of people on social media who take photos and post content all the time. And, sometimes they take photos or post videos of your goods and services without you having to pay for them.
When this happens, the content is referred to as user-generated content. And, when leveraged correctly, it can have a profound impact on your social content strategy!
To help you learn how to use user-generated content in social media to your advantage, we’ve created this quick guide. So let’s dive in and get started!
Add It to Your Marketing Strategy
The first step to leveraging user-generated content is to work it into your marketing strategy. For example, while it’s good to plan on paid social promotions, it’s also good to keep an eye out for free mentions and shoutouts from your followers.
When you notice these shoutouts and mentions, be sure to have a plan in place for how you’ll use them. This could mean reposting, sharing them on your story, or replying to the user to boost engagement.
Create Brand Awareness and Loyalty
User-generated content offers you an easy way to develop business branding. That’s because you’re getting your brand recognized by people who are already on your platforms.
You can pick and choose what user-generated content to repost based on which accounts and posts most closely match your brand identity. This way, you can strengthen your overall brand identity through user-generated content.
Create a Community
Another way that you can use user-generated content is to define and engage with your ideal customer. Then, by reposting user-generated content, you can build excitement and loyalty around your brand.
In turn, this helps you build a community of followers. In addition, it shows that you engage with your community, which helps strengthen their loyalty to your team.
Define What Kind of Content You Want to Use
Not all user-generated content is worth using. Before automatically reposting user-generated content, define what types of content you want to use.
For instance, maybe you only want to use video content. Or, you might choose only to use content that has been posted in customers’ stories. Either way, define your parameters before reposting.
Tell Your Audience What Kind of Content You Are Sharing
One of the advantages of user-generated content is it tells customers what they need to do to engage with them. As a result, they’ll notice what you’re sharing and posting and will follow suit.
As a result, your brand will get more user-generated content as you gain recognition. Overall, the result is that you communicate clearly with your audience as to what content you’re sharing.
Ask for Permission Before Posting
While it’s great to get freebies from other social media users, it’s important to always get permission before using those freebies. This helps keep you legal and compliant.
Make sure to reach out to the user and gain permission before reposting any content. That way, you aren’t infringing on anyone’s rights or offending anybody.
Take Advantage of User-Generated Content in Social Media
With this guide, you’re poised to take advantage of user-Generated content in social media. With just the right advice, you’ll be able to start growing your social media campaign and boosting overall user engagement without paying a penny!
If you’re looking for additional help with your social media strategy, be sure to get in touch with Elle Marketing and Events. Together, we’ll take your social media profiles to a whole new level.