For years, social media managers & brands have kept their eyes peeled for good quality user-generated content. We’ve scrolled Instagram, kept our notifications on, and put all our energy into building relationships with our communities. 

Which is why it’s become a whole “industry”.

Accounts are popping up on Instagram and TikTok promoting their user-generated content services, which, if you keep reading, you’ll know is the exact opposite of UGC. 

What is User-Generated Content?

User-generated content is any kind of organic content that a user posts on their social media. For the purposes of this blog post, it’s content that features your brand in a positive light. 

It’s important to note that UGC is not paid content. 

It’s not an Influencer ad and it’s not photos or videos you’d pay a content creator for. It’s organic content that users create on their own, simply because they love your products. Which is why it’s so valuable. And why it’s so effective at growing your Instagram community. 

What Types of User-Generated Content Is There?

There are all types of user-generated content. On Instagram, UGC can include Instagram stories, reels, and grid posts. 

How Does User-Generated Content Help Grow Your Instagram Community?

1. UGC is Posted on the User’s Own Accounts

When a user posts about your brand on their own social media account, you’re reaching new people. It doesn’t matter if they have 10,000 followers or 100,000 – you’re reaching a new group of people who haven’t heard of your brand before. This translates to increased brand awareness and follower growth.

2. UGC is a Form of Social Proof

Everyone knows that having testimonials on your site is valuable, but customers can have a healthy level of skepticism about on-site reviews. Organic social posts, however, are much more valuable because they’re totally unprompted and they come directly from the user. 

3. UGC Shows How Customers are Using & Loving Your Products – Similar to a Tutorial

Customers love to see your product in action, especially when ordering online. They want to see what it looks like, how it works, and what their experience will be like. User-generated content checks all these boxes. They even show customers where your products can be enjoyed, which is sometimes missed in a simple tutorial. 

4. UGC Adds Variety to Your Instagram Content, Maintaining Community Interest

To create a profitable social media calendar, you need a variety of content that drives awareness, content that educates, and content that sells. UGC is definitely content that drives awareness. With permission from the creator, it can be reshared to your stories and grid, giving you additional awareness content to share with your followers. 

5. UGC Creates a Community Around Your Brand

All of this comes together by creating a community around your brand. User-generated content shows your customers that your brand is of interest to others, that it’s something they should care about, that you pay attention to what customers are saying, and that you engage with your customers on social media.

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