Let's define UGC. UGC stands for user generated content, and it's been quite the buzzword as of late. UGC is created by the actual users/consumers of the product. It is content created by people, not content strategized by companies. Hence, it comes off very organic. This resonates with people on social media as paid ads can come off disingenuous.
There's a lot of positive attributes associated to UGC. You can grow your virtual presence with a brand through leveraging their larger audience. Therefore, you're building up your own social influence. Also, many paid ads / brand partnerships don't always allow for total creative freedom, where UGC can be considered a creative outlet, totally directed by you. As you build your UGC portfolio, you can begin to approach brands to monetize your content through partnership, licensing your assets & more. Companies recognize that the ability to affect purchasing decisions is huge and most of the time are willing to pay for it.
Some examples of UGC:
- Photography
- Stories & highlights
- Video content
- Reviews & testimonials
- Blogging
- Live streaming
- Q&A's
- Campaigns