Online forums are a great way to circulate information about a new brand or product. A lot of advertisements are showcased on online forums. But many times we tend to go for products that are recommended by friends and family. UGC is somewhat similar to that. UGC stand for “User Generated content” and is defined as the content created by people on online forums regarding products and services on a particular platform.
This helps the users understand the different aspects of a product or service and decide whether to buy the product or service online. This type of content is solely posted by the users and not by the organizations or entities that own the platform. This type of content is usually available online and can be created by anyone online and not just professionals or content creators.
Examples of UGC –
User Generated Content has become increasingly prevalent online and many people are creating this type of content and posting online.
1. Social media posts –
Posts on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are created and shared by users.
2. Online reviews –
Reviews of products, services, or businesses are posted by consumers on websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, or Amazon.
3. Blogs and articles –
Content created by individuals on platforms like Medium, WordPress, or Blogger.
4. Videos –
Videos are uploaded to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Vimeo by users.
5. Forums and discussion boards –
Posts and discussions on websites like Reddit, Quora, or Stack Exchange.
How does UGC help businesses and service providers?
This type of content is really valuable for businesses and service providers online. Furthermore, looking at genuine reviews and content explaining products and services can increase the rate at which customers buy or use the services provided by you. Following are some of the reasons why UGC is valuable to businesses.
1. Authenticity –
This is perceived to be more genuine and authentic. Users online share their genuine opinions on products and services which encourages more people to buy these products and services. This gives businesses the word-of-mouth effect but in a social media form of way.
2. Engagement –
UGC has been shown to generate more engagement because of its authenticity. People tend to engage more with this kind of post and are not afraid to lay down their doubts and questions, which are very much answered by the content creators genuinely. This creates trust between the content creator and the audience making it more fruitful.
3. Cost-effectiveness –
This form of content is very cost-effective as it is not produced by paid influencers. It is produced by genuine users and hence a very good way of cost-effective content generation.
4. Community building –
This type of content also builds a community of people who create similar kinds of content. This can foster a sense of community among users as the users can share their experiences and connect with more users with similar kind of interests.
Wrapping it up –
Overall, UGC is a great way to generate revenue for businesses, as it is cost-effective and produces genuine content on social media. For example, when a creator posts about a sunscreen they have been using for months, the viewers are going to get attracted towards it as the review will be seen as more authentic as it is not a promotion or paid collaboration. It gives them a sense of security. On the other hand, people can know what works best for them. in the near future, user-generated content will take over the social media sites and people will rely more on them rather than advertisements and promotions.
Other social media terms –