USER CREATED CONTENT

In today’s digital age, the most powerful voices advocating for your brand are often those of your customers. This phenomenon, known as User Created Content (UCC), is reshaping the landscape of marketing by turning ordinary customers into influential content creators. Whether it’s a simple tweet, an in-depth blog post, or a product review video, user created content is more authentic, trustworthy, and engaging than traditional advertising. But how can companies effectively leverage UCC? Enter Nichly, a platform designed to turn your satisfied customers into brand advocates through engaging product review videos.

What is User Created Content?

User Created Content (UCC) refers to any form of content—such as images, videos, text, and reviews—created and shared by unpaid contributors. These contributors are typically fans of a brand or product, and they share their experiences voluntarily. This type of content is incredibly valuable because it’s seen as more authentic and trustworthy by other consumers.

Types of User Created Content

• Product Review Videos
• Social Media Posts
• Blog Articles
• Testimonials
• Unboxing Videos
• Tutorials and How-Tos

The Importance of User Created Content in Modern Marketing

1. Building Trust and Credibility

One of the most significant advantages of UCC is its ability to build trust. When potential customers see real people sharing their honest experiences, they are more likely to trust the brand. A recent survey revealed that 84% of millennials believe UCC has at least some influence on what they buy.

2. Boosting Engagement

UCC naturally drives higher engagement because it’s more relatable and less polished than branded content. People are more inclined to interact with content created by their peers, which increases likes, shares, and comments on social media.

3. Enhancing SEO

Search engines favor fresh, relevant, and high-quality content. User created content can improve your site’s SEO by providing new, keyword-rich material that helps boost your search engine rankings.

4. Cost-Effective Marketing

Creating high-quality content in-house can be costly and time-consuming. UCC offers a more cost-effective alternative by leveraging content that’s already being created by your customers.

How Nichly Can Help Companies Leverage User Created Content

Turning Customers into Content Creators

Nichly is a platform that enables companies to easily turn their customers into content creators, particularly for product review videos. This not only provides your brand with valuable UCC but also fosters a community of engaged and loyal customers.

1. Easy Video Creation

With Nichly, customers can easily create and upload product review videos. The platform provides tools and templates that simplify the video creation process, making it accessible to everyone, even those with little to no video editing experience.

2. Incentivizing Content Creation

Nichly offers companies the ability to incentivize their customers to create content. Whether through discounts, rewards, or even shout-outs on social media, these incentives encourage more users to contribute, enriching your pool of UCC.

3. Curating and Moderating Content

Not all user generated content will be on-brand or of high quality. Nichly allows companies to curate and moderate the content submitted by users, ensuring that only the best and most relevant content is shared with a broader audience.

4. Sharing Across Multiple Channels

Nichly makes it easy to share user created content across various platforms, including social media, your website, and even in email marketing campaigns. This multi-channel approach maximizes the reach and impact of UCC.

5. Analyzing Content Performance

Understanding which user created content resonates most with your audience is crucial. Nichly provides analytics tools that allow companies to track the performance of UCC, helping you refine your strategy and make data-driven decisions.

Best Practices for Encouraging User Created Content

1. Create a Dedicated Space for UCC

Give your customers a specific platform or space where they can easily create and share content. This could be a dedicated page on your website or a branded hashtag on social media.

2. Encourage Authenticity

Authenticity is the key to effective UCC. Encourage your customers to share their genuine experiences with your products or services, rather than scripting or overly editing their content.

3. Provide Clear Guidelines

While authenticity is important, providing clear guidelines can help ensure that the content aligns with your brand’s values and message. This could include tips on video length, quality, and key points to cover.

4. Promote the Content

Once your customers start creating content, promote it! Share their videos on your social media channels, feature them on your website, and include them in your marketing campaigns. This not only rewards the creators but also encourages others to join in.

5. Engage with the Content Creators

Engage with your customers by responding to their content, thanking them for their contributions, and featuring them in your brand’s community. This interaction builds stronger relationships and encourages continued content creation.

Examples of Successful User Created Content Campaigns

1. GoPro

GoPro’s strategy heavily relies on UCC, particularly video content. They encourage users to share their adventures captured on GoPro cameras, which has built a massive library of engaging and authentic content.

2. Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke”

Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign invited customers to share photos and videos of their personalized Coke bottles. The campaign went viral, creating a wealth of UCC that was shared worldwide.

3. Starbucks White Cup Contest

Starbucks invited customers to decorate their white coffee cups and share their creations. This campaign not only generated UCC but also engaged customers in a creative and fun way.

Challenges of User Created Content

1. Quality Control

Not all user created content will meet your brand’s standards. It’s essential to have a strategy for curating and moderating the content to ensure consistency and quality.

2. Legal Considerations

Always ensure that you have the legal right to use and distribute the content created by your users. This might involve obtaining explicit permission or including terms and conditions in your campaign.

3. Brand Alignment

While encouraging authenticity, it’s crucial to ensure that the content aligns with your brand values and message. This balance can sometimes be challenging to achieve.

Conclusion

User created content is a powerful tool for modern marketing. It builds trust, boosts engagement, and provides fresh, relevant content that enhances SEO. By leveraging platforms like Nichly, companies can turn their customers into brand advocates, creating valuable content that resonates with potential buyers. Whether through product review videos or social media posts, UCC can significantly enhance your brand’s online presence and drive meaningful results.

FAQs

1. How can Nichly help my company with user created content?

Nichly helps companies turn their customers into content creators, particularly for product review videos, by providing easy-to-use tools and templates, incentivizing content creation, and curating the best content.

2. Why is user created content important for my brand?

User created content builds trust, boosts engagement, enhances SEO, and is cost-effective. It offers an authentic and relatable perspective that traditional advertising often lacks.

3. How can I encourage my customers to create content?

Encourage content creation by offering incentives, providing clear guidelines, and promoting the content on your platforms. Engaging with your customers and featuring their content can also motivate others to participate.

4. What are some examples of successful UCC campaigns?

Examples include GoPro’s adventure videos, Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign, and Starbucks’ White Cup Contest, all of which successfully engaged customers and generated valuable UCC.

5. What challenges should I be aware of when using UCC?

Challenges include quality control, legal considerations, and ensuring that the content aligns with your brand’s values and message. Having a strategy in place to manage these aspects is essential.