There's nothing better than a third-party recommendation

The term 'third-party' is starting to become a dirty word these days... but we're not talking cookies here! We're talking about instilling trust with User-Generated Content (UGC)!

Think back to the last time you recommended a product or a service to a friend. You we're likely so passionate that you had to share it with that someone. Or at least, confident enough to put your reputation and word on the line.

And your friend would have understood this.

This is why UGC works so well for brands.

Seeing another customer so convinced in a product or service that they're willing to publicly state their passion for it is a huge confidence builder for potential customers.

UGC Doesn't need to be difficult.

The difference between UGC and an Influencer campaign is the time and cost in terms of producing a compelling ad.

✏️Hari and the Gang collate images from customer's social media (with their consent) and add an offer. Loving the heavy emoji use!

✏️Remarkable simply use customer quotes over a simple, attractive video of the product.

The Ecosse External Lighting ad is likely a post boost rather than a pure ad, meaning no CTA button 🤦‍♂️. They recover a little by adding 'Check our reviews' but this relies on the customer heading to their profile then browsing/searching to find reviews.

Gathering UGC

Get in touch with your customers, connect with your followers, or even add a post-purchase form on your website. Simply ask for pictures and/or quotes about your product!

But why should they help you out...? They might be passionate about your product or service, but usually a little convincing is in order. Throw in a discount code off next purchase - or a free gift - for their feedback. They'll be much more likely to provide UGC if there's an incentive.

Remember to be clear that you intend to use their content for promotional purposes.

Have you had success with UGC? Any further tips on great UGC approaches and creative? Let us know!