The Ripple Effect Of User-Generated Content

We consume information constantly, wherever we are and wherever we go. We consume it through social media, websites, emails, audiobooks, podcasts, and word-of-mouth. 

Information is everywhere – but is every piece of information relevant to us? Of course not. But there are certain things we do pay attention to when they relate and resonate with us as individuals, our goals, interests, and intentions. 

Do you look at reviews before you purchase a product or sign up for a service? Do you look at comments before you choose to engage with a post? Do you ask your friends or family’s opinion before you make a life-changing decision? 

Does your purchasing decision get influenced by another person’s post, TikTok, or review? Chances are, it does, and the pendulum swings both ways – sometimes, it encourages you to complete the purchase, and sometimes it pushes you away from the product or brand. 

As an info product business owner, it is important to remember that your consumers and customers are also influenced by what others say about your brand. It might even be worth investing some effort in getting people to talk about it…

Today, let’s explore User-Generated Content and how powerful it is when it comes to your business. 

What Is User Generated Content? 

User-generated content (UGC)  is any content like videos, text, images, or reviews created by people rather than brands. It builds authenticity, trust, value, and a community around your product or service. 

Info product businesses can leverage UGC to increase social proof and improve engagement.

Let’s explore some details on how UGC can positively impact your business. 

• Authenticity And Trust: Branded marketing can be too much for regular users – it can feel like your only priority is to sell, and while that is true, your marketing approach can be softer and closer to what the user can relate to.
  
  People tend to trust other people’s real experiences over ads and prompts. Professional marketing looks much different from unfiltered videos, reviews, and testimonials of regular people who have used your products or services. 
  
  There isn’t much authenticity in the world of social media, but people long for it – that unfiltered, raw content is what will capture their attention.
  
  
• Social Proof: When people see others like them have good experiences with your product or service, they believe that they can, too.
  
  Positive reviews and testimonials are social proof that your products are effective.
  
  
• Engagement And Exposure: Both of these work together and for each other. The more engagement – the more exposure, and vice versa.
  
  Encouraging people to share their experiences, results, and opinions about your brand, products, and services makes people feel connected to your brand, which in return boosts your engagement and exposure.
  
  People sharing their experiences or reviews on their own social media accounts also exposes and introduces your brand to more audience.
  
  
• Community: User-generated content encourages a sense of community, giving people a collaborative environment where people can feel heard, valued, and empowered.
  
  People enjoy being surrounded by like-minded individuals with similar interests and having a place to go to receive help and support.
  
  Having a community of people builds trust, gives you more leads, increases customer retention rates, and boosts conversions.
  
  
• Content Repurposing Opportunities: UGC can be used as content you can repost and reshare on your website, social media, and email attachments.
  
  It is also a type of content that can be broken down, split up, and posted on a need basis, giving you enough content for months if not years.
  
  
• Conversions: Needless to say, all of the above boosts your conversions one way or another. 💯
  
  

Pro Tips For Acquiring User-Generated Content

So, how do you get to a point where people start talking about your brand? What kind of magic has to happen for users to start generating content, exposure, and leads for your business?

There are multiple approaches, some free and some paid! Let’s dive in!

• Encourage Engagement And Participation: Encourage people to leave reviews, recommend your products and services to others, and offer their input on what is up to standard and what could use some improvement.
  
  To make it easier for people to contribute, you can provide instructions or create unique hashtags and taglines.
  
  
• Incentivise Participation: You can run contests and offer rewards, discounts, freebies, and money for those who participate and win the contests.
  
  For example, the contest can be based on before and after transformations from your fitness guide or the best testing results from your speed reading course.
  
  
• Share UGC Across Your Channels: The content others create can be reposted and reshared.
  
  Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to share media like pictures and videos, and use written reviews and testimonials on your website and in your marketing or follow-up emails.
  
  
• Receive Permission: Before resharing such content, make sure to get permission from these users to do so. You can include a consent form they can check and sign, or you can reach out to users individually.
  
  Be transparent about your intentions and inform users how you aim to use their content – ads, social media content, or marketing.
  
  
• Engage With Your Community: Don’t just create a Facebook group or a forum and forget about it. Instead, regularly participate in discussions, answer comments, and react to posts.
  
  That way, people know you are part of that community and not just a greedy business owner.
  
  
• Offer An Affiliate Program: Those promoting courses, e-books, or subscription-based products or services can offer an affiliate program to their current customers.
  
  This gives people a way to earn money and your business an opportunity to grow. You reap the benefits of having people do marketing and sales for you.
  
  It is a win-win for both sides – they get paid only when they deliver results, and you save money on marketing and advertising.
  
  
• Prioritize Quality But Keep It Authentic: Be picky about what type of UGC you repost and use. Make sure it aligns with your brand image, tone, and professionalism. Edit and polish that content while maintaining its authenticity.
  
  You can retain the creator’s voice and style and polish details like long pauses and curse words. 
  
  

Closing Remarks

User-generated content may take some effort to acquire, but the doors it opens and the opportunities it offers for your business are endless. It creates a positive, long-term ripple effect of new audience and conversions for your products and services. 

Businesses, especially info product ones, thrive on online exposure and engagement. Without those two, you just have an LLC and a product, no customers, and no sales. 

User-generated content offers you a free way to market your product and attract new eyes and ears. This type of content can also be repurposed, reshared, and reposted. 

But remember, your engagement is required at all stages of implementing UGC: before the hype, during the hype, and afterward. It is vital to interact with your audience, provide help and support, and ask for consent if you intend to use their content on your social media accounts and websites. 

With a diligent approach, UGC can bring new customers and scale your business to the next level. 

On that note, subscribe to Vavoza Insider and stay tuned for more digital marketing tips weekly! 

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– Steph