How to Use User-Generated Content to Boost Your Brand

You’re scrolling through Instagram, and suddenly you see it—a photo of a friend sporting the latest sneakers. That, right there, is user-generated content (UGC), the authentic snapshot of everyday brand love that’s become the heartbeat of social media marketing. Because let’s face it, we all trust a friend’s recommendation over a polished ad. So, in today’s post, we will discuss how to use UGC to boost your brand even more!

Find And Repost UGC On Relevant Platforms

You need to know where your audience lives on social media. The first step is to find and share UGC across our social media channels. You can use hashtag searches and mentions or even create branded hashtags to track content about your products. Once you find a great UGC, you should share it on the platforms where your audience is most active.

By reposting UGC, you’re not only showing real customer experiences but also encouraging more customers to create content. It's a win-win situation that can increase your brand's visibility and credibility.

Always Ask For Permission 

When you spot a gem—a user post that just nails it—you’re halfway to a great UGC. But before you hit ‘Share,’ ask for permission. It’s about respect and legality. You don’t want to be the brand that gets called out for taking someone’s creativity for free. Send a quick message—it can be as simple as, “Hey, we love your post! Can we feature it on our page with credit to you?” That’s it! That’s all you need to do!

Use Employee Advocacy 

Turn your team into brand ambassadors with employee advocacy. Encourage them to share and engage with user-generated content on their personal channels.

When employees share UGC, it does two things: it increases the reach and puts a human face to your brand. A post from a person rather than a brand page often gets more traction, feels more genuine and can spread like wildfire!

You can offer guidelines, sure, but don’t micromanage. You want authenticity, not a copy-paste vibe. Instead, offer templates. Templates give employees a headstart and make them more likely to post.

Monitor The Impact Of UGC 

To bring it all home, if you want your UGC strategy to work, you have to measure. No matter what your goals, benchmarking is a must. Using a dedicated tool will help you identify which type of UGC performs the best, allowing you to refine your strategy over time. You can even track metrics like likes, shares, comments, and conversions! Long story short, if you consistently monitor and analyze the performance of UGC, you can then easily maximize its potential to boost your brand.

Check Music Copyright

In the age of TikTok and Instagram Reels, music plays a big role in UGC.  When adding UGC to your content mix, check the music copyright. It’s easy to get caught up in the visuals and forget that tunes need clearance too. If there’s music in any user-submitted videos, make sure it’s all above board.

And here’s why—it’s not just about following the law (which you should). It’s also about respecting creators’ rights. That song in the background? It’s someone’s art and they deserve credit.

Bottom line—clear those tunes. It’ll save you a headache and keep your brand on the right side of copyright law.

Conclusion

User-generated content can turn out to be an excellent tool for boosting your brand.

So, why not join the Branding You Newsletter today? You'll get access to expert tips, case studies, and the latest trends. Your journey to building a stronger, more authentic brand starts here! Just click here to join.