User-generated Content, or UGC, is one of the most effective tools in eCommerce marketing today. Through the UGC, you get to tap into powerful customer insights and drive engagement with your audience in a more personal way.

It's invaluable for understanding your customers' needs and wants, creating meaningful relationships with them, and developing a stronger brand identity. Here we will discuss how UGC can benefit your brand-- from building a strong social proof to higher consumer engagement-- so you can understand why it should be part of every marketer's arsenal.

Read on to discover why now is the time to take advantage of shoppable UGC for brands.

What is UGC?

Before discussing any benefits, it's better first to understand what UGC is. Simply put, user-generated Content (UGC) is any content your customers create and share on your website or other platforms. This can include reviews, photos, videos, blog posts, comments and discussions in social media channels, etc.

These customer-created pieces of Content showcase their experiences with your brand, products, and services. This can be anything from product reviews to images of their latest purchase.

So now you must be thinking that UGC works like Reviews. Well, that’ not the case, there are some key differences between UGC and Reviews, let’s discuss them in detail.

The Difference Between Reviews and UGC:

Reviews are typically text-based and focus on the customer's experience with the product. On the other hand, UGC can take many different forms, such as photos, videos, and social media posts. UGC focuses on the customer's experience with the product in real life.

Another key difference between reviews and UGC is that reviews are often displayed on the product page, while UGC is typically displayed on both areas, product page and social media platforms.

Besides, with the rise of shoppable content, UGC can now be displayed directly on the product page, making it easier for customers to see how the product looks.

This provides some extra benefits as compared to the Reviews.

The Difference Between Reviews and UGC

How Does UGC Benefit Your Brand?

While there are lots of benefits, here are some of the key ones:

UGC Provides Authentic Social Proof:

One of the most significant benefits of UGC is that it provides social proof. Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to trust a product or brand if they see others using and enjoying it.

When customers share their experiences with a product, other potential customers can see how the product looks in real life and how others are using it.

UGC provides an authentic and trustworthy view of the brand and its products, which can lead to increased sales and brand loyalty.

UGC Helps in Building Brand Loyalty:

UGC can help to build brand loyalty by creating a sense of community around the brand.

When customers share their experiences with a product, it creates an opportunity for others to engage with the brand and share their experiences.

This creates a sense of community and increases brand loyalty and repeat customers.

UGC Inspire Shopper to Purchase Instantly:

UGC has Products Tagged in them to inspire shoppers and let them purchase instantly, called shoppable UGC. This UGC accelerates the purchase journey by providing shoppers with easy access to the product/service and creating a seamless shopping experience for them.

UGC Inspire Shopper to Purchase Instantly

UGC Increases Engagement:

UGC can also help to increase engagement with the brand. When customers share their experiences with a product, they are not only promoting the product, but they are also promoting the brand.

This creates an opportunity for the brand to engage with customers and respond to their comments and feedback. This interaction can lead to increased engagement and brand loyalty.

UGC creates a Community of Advocates and Loyal Customers:

UGC also helps to create a community of advocates and loyal customers. When shoppers see that their user-generated Content is appreciated, they will be more likely to return for future purchases.

Besides, they will also become advocates for the brand and help to spread the word about your products or services.

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It can provide valuable product insights:

Finally, UGC can provide valuable insights into customers' opinions and perceptions of your product or service. This helps you make data-driven decisions about improving the customer experience and staying ahead of the competition.

So these are the benefits brands can get by leveraging UGC in their e-commerce store. But how can you do that?

How to Take Advantage of UGC on your eCommerce Store?

If you have decided to take advantage of UGC, the first step is to choose the right platform. Squadded is a great choice for social commerce as it provides customers and creators with an interactive storefront, a dedicated page to showcase their content and get rewarded for it. 

You can also easily integrate Squadded's features into your website and start leveraging UGC today.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, User Generated Content or Shoppable Content is a powerful tool for e-commerce stores. It helps to build trust, brand loyalty and provides valuable insights into customer preferences. With the right platform like Squadded, you can easily take advantage of UGC and see immediate results.

So why not get started today? Take the plunge and join in on the latest shopping trend – social commerce. Use UGC to create a dynamic and engaging shopping experience for your customers!