As consumers become more aware of social media marketing campaigns, eCommerce brands are shifting towards more authentic ad creative formats. User-generated content (UGC) is supporting this shift.
UGC allows brands to highlight real customers interacting with their products, effectively cutting through the noise of overproduced ads or social media content. This increases relatability and engagement, ultimately driving higher conversion rates.
In this article, we will dive into why UGC outperforms traditional ad creative formats and the most effective ways you can incorporate them into your marketing strategy.
What Is UGC?
While UGC typically refers to content created by customers rather than brands, many eCommerce brands strategically outsource their UGC to professional content creators or influencers. This approach allows brands to mirror genuine customer experiences while maintaining control over content quality and consistency.
The videos can then be used across different marketing channels.
Some popular types of user-generated content include:
Reviews & testimonials
Unboxing videos
First impression videos
Tutorials
Why Is UGC So Powerful for DTC Companies?
UGC helps DTC brands build trust, is more cost-effective, and boosts sales. Here are some benefits of UGC campaigns:
Building Trust: A Stackla study found that UGC is 9.8x more impactful than influencer marketing content. The same survey reports that 79% of people say UGC significantly influences their buying choices.
Driving Sales: A 2024 Bazaarvoice study reported that brands that incorporate UGC into their marketing see a 144% higher conversion rate.
Gaining Customer Insights: By incentivizing your customers to produce UGC, you can also gain insights into your target audience, helping you refine your overall marketing strategy and product.
Conclusion
User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool to engage your audience, build trust, and drive conversions. Whether you’re looking to create ads for conversions, increase brand awareness on social media channels, or optimize your sales through authentic customer experiences, UGC can significantly impact your marketing efforts.
The challenge with UGC is sourcing high-quality content at scale. Many brands struggle with finding the right creators, managing campaigns, and securing usage rights for repurposing.
That’s where the Insense platform comes in. It connects brands with 75K+ vetted UGC creators and simplifies everything from creator sourcing to content licensing, so you can launch high-impact UGC campaigns with ease.
Ready to get started? Book a demo with Insense today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Collect More UGC?
You can gather more user-generated content (UGC) by using platforms like Insense, which allows you to connect with vetted creators across various industries. An Easy A Media case study found that product seeding campaigns helped them acquire 100+ UGC assets in 45 days by working with 100 creators from different niches. This strategy resulted in authentic product reviews and testimonials at no cost, boosting their marketing efforts.
What Platform Should I Use to Source UGC?
To source UGC efficiently, you can use Insense. We offer a marketplace of over 20K+ vetted creators across various categories and demographics. Also, you can easily find creators, set your budget, and launch campaigns with features like portfolio reviews, audience data, and campaign tracking.
How is UGC Different From Influencer Content?
UGC is content that customers create about a product or brand, typically in the form of reviews or testimonials, making it more relatable.
Influencer content, on the other hand, is made by creators who are compensated to promote a product, usually with a more polished approach to align with brand messaging.