Are you tired of creating all of the content for your marketing plan yourself? You may want to learn about UGC and what it is.
UGC is a newer form of content creation, and it can be an excellent tool. Keep reading to learn more about it and how it can help your business.
What Is UGC?
UGC stands for user-generated content. That refers to any kind of content created by customers of your business or other real people using your product or service.
Videos are the most popular format of UGC, but photos are also an option. You can choose the content format that makes the most sense for your needs.
UGC vs. Influencer Marketing
UGC is similar to influencer marketing where a content creator makes a video or takes a series of photos. The influencer will then post the content on their own accounts and share it to their audience.
With UGC, the creator will send you the content to publish on your accounts. UGC is a great way to attract new customers because the content feels more authentic than highly-produced photo and video shoots.
You can work with any content creator to produce UGC. Meanwhile, the creators who offer influencer marketing typically have larger followings.
Both types of content can help you grow your business. But the differences may help you choose which option to go with first.
Benefits of UGC
Before you start creating a bunch of content for your business, consider some of the benefits of working with a UGC creator.
More Authentic
When you hire a UGC creator, they can take photos and videos in their own space and using their equipment. A lot of creators use a smartphone to create content.
All of this can help the content feel more authentic to your current and prospective customers. The UGC creator can give their own opinion or showcase themselves using your product.
Compare this to you or your employees making similar content. Your audience may see what you post as mainly promotional, rather than content that truly shows off your products.
More Affordable
Another advantage of UGC is that it can be more affordable than paying for a professional shoot to take a bunch of content. Most UGC creators have their own equipment and filming spaces.
They will still charge a good amount for each post, depending on the format. However, you won’t have to spend as much as you might spend on hiring an in-house content creator.
And when you hire a freelance creator, you can pay for just as much content as you need. If you ever have more money, you can get more content, or you can scale back as needed.
Increase Brand Awareness
You can also use UGC to help increase awareness of your brand and business. If the UGC creator also offers caption writing, they can choose hashtags to help you get more reach.
The creator may also share the content to their portfolio. So whenever someone views their page or website, they can learn about your business.
Get Customer Feedback
When sponsoring a post, the creator will keep things positive. But with UGC, you can get both positive and neutral opinions.
Of course, you may not want to publish content on the negative side. However, a UGC creator can be more honest with you and your audience.
If you publish some more neutral posts or content sharing the pros and cons, you can build trust with your audience. Then, you could get more business and sales.
Types of UGC
When hiring a UGC creator, you may have a few options for content. Consider the following formats you can choose from:
- Images
- Video
- Social media posts
- Blog posts
- YouTube content
- Live streams
How to Hire a UGC Creator
If you’re ready to add UGC to your digital marketing strategy, consider how to hire the right creator.
Consider Their Niche
First, you’ll want to figure out if the creator you want to hire has a niche. Then, you can make sure you hire someone who has experience creating content in your industry.
For example, my primary niche is music, and I also create content regarding technology and business. My music experience helps me create better content about instruments and accessories.
When a creator has a niche, they may already have your product, too. Then, you won’t have to worry about shipping them something.
Review Their Portfolio
Another excellent thing to do is look at the creator’s portfolio. It will include examples of their best work, so you can get a good idea of their style and skills.
Most UGC creators will have a link to their portfolio on their website and/or social media profiles. You can also ask a creator directly, especially if you want more specific examples of content they’ve made.
Once you find a creator with a good portfolio, you can move forward with hiring them.
Have a Budget
UGC creation may be more affordable than some marketing strategies. But you’re still going to need to have some budget of some sort.
If you have a price in mind, you can look for creators whose prices are in that range. And when you contact a creator, prepare to share your budget.
You can hire a UGC creator at almost any budget. But know that if you have less money to spend, you may only be able to get a post or two per month.
Contact the Creator
Next, you should contact the creator to learn more about hiring them. A good UGC creator will have a contact page on their website.
Alternatively, if you find a creator through social media, you can send them a DM. Either way, mention you want to work with them, and share some details about your project.
The creator may ask more questions to learn about your business. After that, you can start to work together on your content strategy.
Sign a Contract
Finally, you’re ready to hire the UGC creator. But you’ll most likely need to sign a contract at this stage to protect both parties.
The creator may be able to provide a contract, especially if they have a lot of experience. However, you can also provide your own contract.
Either way, make sure you and the creator agree on the terms of the contract and that you both sign it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to grow your online presence, consider using UGC. This type of content can add authenticity to your brand without being too expensive.
Are you ready to hire a musician and content creator? Learn more about my UGC and blog content services.
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