Discovering Instagram User-Generated Content: The Goldmine for Brands

Instagram stands out in the vast social media landscape. It’s a treasure trove of creativity, connection, and community. One of the most valuable gems within this platform is User-Generated Content.

UGC is a goldmine for brands seeking authenticity and engagement. But how can a brand use this effortlessly? This is what we are going to talk about in this blog.

Through this article, we’ll uncover the immense potential of Instagram User-Generated Content. We’ll also explain why it’s a game-changer for brands and how, as a brand, you can implement UGC for your brand. Take this walk with us. 

The Power of User-Generated Content

Before we start, let us take a look at what UGC means in its real sense. User-generated content, UGC, stands for the content created by the real customers for your brand or product. This content can be a picture, a video, or even a review. 

User-generated content is more than just posts and pictures. It’s a testament to the genuine experiences and stories of your audience. The users themselves create this organic content. It is a powerful endorsement of your brand, fostering trust and authenticity.

Realistic Statistics Related To User Generated Content 

Take a look at the statistics we have accumulated of some of the major data that you need to know before you take a step. 

• According to a survey, 79% of people consider user-generated content (UGC) while making their buying decisions. 
• 30% of millennials have stopped following brands on social media due to their inauthentic content.
• It has been observed that content featuring brands created by users has 6.9 times more engagement than the content made by brands themselves. 
• Additionally, millennials find UGC 35% more memorable than other media.

5 Main Features a User-Generated Content Campaign On Instagram Must Have

A user-generated content (UGC) campaign is a marketing strategy. It encourages fans, followers, and customers to create social media content. They feature your products, restaurant, hotel, or any other business. UGC campaigns aim to maximize the campaign’s reach. 

They clarify requests and use the generated content. These campaigns typically involve photos and videos. They have specific features to ensure the success of the campaign.

1. Contest and Challenges 

Contests and challenges create layers into UGC campaigns, igniting audience excitement on Instagram. By framing participation as a thrilling contest, you can easily tap into the natural human desire for competition and recognition.

Try to encourage creativity by posing challenges that resonate with your brand. It will foster a vibrant community. Create enticing rewards to fuel the enthusiasm for active engagement. These competitive elements increase the campaign’s momentum, driving increased content generation. A well-crafted contest elevates brand visibility for sure. 

It also establishes an ever-lasting connection with participants. It turns passive consumers into enthusiastic contributors and advocates. It’s a potent strategy to propel your UGC initiative to new heights of success.

2. Incentivize 

You need an incentive for people to take part in your UGC campaign. It doesn’t have to be too costly. Here are some possible ideas: 

• You have the opportunity to showcase yourself on your social media accounts and/or website.
• Free products or free trial products
• A gift voucher 
• A digital promotional code offering a certain percentage off your products/services

As a brand you might think that getting featured on a brand’s page is not a reward for the creators. 

Yet, influencers who want to grow their audience are often willing to take pictures and videos with your product. They get a chance to be featured on your profile in exchange.

3. Creating Awareness 

Creating awareness is vital for the success and one of the prime features of a UGC campaign. As a business owner, you can easily leverage your brand’s social media presence to announce and promote the campaign. 

You can use eye-catching visuals, engaging captions, and the designated hashtag campaign to encourage participation. 

Consider collaborating with influencers or brand advocates to amplify the message and reach a wider audience.

4. Evergreen or Short Term

While you are thinking about having a UGC campaign for your brand, the real deal is to decide whether to have an evergreen campaign or a short-term one. 

Decide whether your UGC campaign will be evergreen or short-term. An evergreen campaign runs continuously, providing a consistent stream of user-generated content. For example, you can create a brand-related hashtag and ask your customers to create the content throughout the year. 

Short-term campaigns, on the other hand, create a sense of urgency and can be tied to specific events or seasons. Short-term UGC campaigns are helpful for the brand when they want to highlight a particular goal during the season. For example, you can create a UGC Campaign during Christmas, like BrandXChristmas. It will help you collect more Instagram Content in less time.

Both approaches have their merits, so choose based on your brand’s objectives and marketing calendar. 

5. Content Utilization of User-Generated Content

Maximize the value of user-generated content by strategically incorporating it into your marketing efforts. 

You can easily feature selected content on your official channels, website, or marketing materials. However, we would suggest seeking permission from creators and giving credit, enhancing the sense of community. Then, you can easily integrate Instagram feed into website. An Instagram widget on a website, especially one containing UGC, can boost the trust of your website ten times. Not only does an Instagram widget help you to enhance the engagement of the website, but it also improves the social proof for your brand. 

You can also engage with the content by responding to comments and showcasing the diversity of contributors. Utilizing UGC to authentically reinforce the connection between your brand and its audience. 

Utilize a custom brochure creator to seamlessly incorporate captivating visuals into your marketing strategy, showcasing user experiences and maximizing campaign reach.

Top Examples Of Instagram User Generated Content Campaigns

A strong user-generated content campaign is a win-win for the brand as well as the users. While the brands are showered with a lot of content and engagement for their brand, creators, on the other hand, are rewarded with the recognition they want for their careers. 

Let us have a look at some of the hottest Instagram User-generated content campaigns that marked their presence all over the internet. 

1. The UPS Store 

If you have a small business, you must be aware of the UPS Store. The UPS Store uses its Instagram to showcase its customers about the small businesses in the market. Small business owners use the hashtag #TheUPSStoreCustomer, which The UPS Store later shares on their Instagram. It is one of the clever ways for UGC campaigns. 

The main theme of UGC is to share an unexpected and unique aspect of your brand. 

2. Aerie 

Another amazing UGC campaign on Instagram is by the clothing brand called Aerie. The UGC campaign by Aerie is a goal for all the brands for all the breads out there. Aerie did not only just launch a UGC campaign randomly; rather, it gave the netizens a reason to participate in the campaign. 

Over the years, Aerie had been facing a debate where the netizens accused them of editing the photographs of their models more than needed. It not only sets unhealthy beauty standards in society but also hurts the self-esteem of its consumers. Considering that, Aerie pledged to never retouch or edit any of the pictures of their models. Apart from that, they also invited their consumers to create unedited Instagram content under the hashtag #AerieReal. 

This UGC campaign helped Aerie to reconnect with its consumers. 

3. Wayfair 

Wayfair, an online furniture store, has launched a user-generated content (UGC) campaign that enables its customers to share their experience with #WayfairAtHome. By using this hashtag, customers can showcase their home setup with Wayfair. Subsequently, Wayfair reposts the same on their Instagram with a link for others to purchase the same product. It is another astute strategy to drive sales instantly.

In A Nutshell

Instagram User-Generated Content is a goldmine for brands that are looking to give their marketing strategy an authentic touch. Through this article, we’ve learned that UGC is not only a powerful endorsement of your brand but also fosters trust and authenticity among your audience. 

We’ve also discussed the realistic statistics related to UGC and the five main features that a UGC campaign on Instagram must have. By implementing these features, brands can create a vibrant community of enthusiastic contributors and advocates, resulting in a successful UGC campaign. So, if you’re looking for an effective way to increase brand visibility and drive engagement, Instagram User-Generated Content is the way to go.