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PL How to streamline UGC curation from multiple platforms
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Old-school advertising often feels dull and disconnected because it lacks personality. People connect better with content that feels real and relatable. That’s why user-generated content (UGC) has become so powerful—it bridges the gap between brands and their audience.
Studies show that 83% of consumers trust recommendations from peers more than messages directly from brands. UGC skips the traditional barriers, building stronger connections and fostering a sense of community.
This blog will explore how businesses can easily gather UGC from various platforms, make the most of it for modern marketing, and tackle common challenges using smart strategies.
Let’s get into it.
What is UGC and how do businesses derive value from it?
You will see real individuals, not brands, on UGC platforms. There are people talking about their favorite new lip gloss or the new Stanley Cup and why everyone should have it, unironically.
That’s UGC in full motion. Authentic engagement is key – people have moved past tone-deaf brand promotions and are more inclined toward relatable content and experiences. Big brands and businesses have caught onto that strategy, and you should know why it’s so important to boost your brand to new heights too.
How user-created content drives brand growth
People trust content created by their peers, and this authenticity can lead to meaningful connections. Ignoring UGC means missing a chance to amplify trust, loyalty, and visibility. Let’s learn how user-created content can actually drive brand growth:
1. Builds credibility
People trust what feels real. When beauty enthusiasts share their before-and-after makeup looks using a particular product, it sparks curiosity and builds credibility. These unfiltered, personal stories show how products fit into real lives, making your brand approachable and relatable.
2. Shows what customers love
UGC is like a peek into your customers’ minds. For example, Converse encourages users to share photos of their customized sneakers. These posts not only inspire others but also give the brand insights into popular designs and trends. It’s a creative way to align future offerings with what resonates.
3. Improves search visibility
Fresh content keeps you visible, and UGC delivers this naturally. When travelers tag Airbnb in their posts, they often include specific locations and experiences. This boosts Airbnb’s search visibility because real-life keywords match what potential customers are searching for. It’s organic and effective.
4. Grows social media engagement
Social platforms thrive on content that feels personal. For instance, Gymshark’s community posts their workout routines and progress using branded hashtags. This content inspires others and creates a ripple effect of brand engagement. Every tag, mention, and post extends your brand’s presence.
5. Saves time and resources
UGC fills content gaps without heavy lifting. For instance, GoPro regularly features customer videos in its campaigns, cutting down on production costs. While moderation is key, this approach provides a steady stream of authentic content that resonates with your audience.
6. Inspires new ideas
UGC opens doors to unexpected creativity. IKEA’s “IKEA Hackers” community shares inventive ways to customize their furniture. These ideas inspire the brand to explore new possibilities and even create products based on customer innovation. It’s a win for creativity and collaboration.
What is UGC curation?
UGC curation means finding, collecting, organizing, and selecting user-created content for marketing, storytelling, or brand building. This helps brands shape their identity, foster trust, and connect with their audience. UGC includes text, reviews, or social media posts—shared by users rather than the brand. When used well, it adds authenticity and builds a strong community around a product or brand.
Why is curating UGC from multiple platforms a challenge?
UGC management can be a big hassle when you are not sure what you need or where to find it. New brands get flustered in this big pool of data over multiple platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
A few of the major challenges that brands face are:
1. Content overload
There is a huge pool of content being produced on a daily basis. Sifting through content can be a hassle when trying to find high-quality posts to market your brand.
2. Copyright infringement
The first step is to ensure that UGC includes content shared with the proper consent of its creator. Respecting digital rights and user consent is essential to avoid legal issues that could harm the brand.
3. Brand alignment
Not all UGCs share the same spirit of the brand’s tone or their intended message. You need to pay attention to the UGC being used that also doesn’t seem to hurt any cultural sentiment unintentionally through some of the elements in their UGC.
4. Data integration
Bringing in a large pool of quality UGC from multiple platforms to a unified system can be quite a hassle. Each platform uses their unique algorithm that might hinder the quality discoverability of content and require special optimization techniques. Some platforms even restrict access to data due to API limitations, which can make the process more challenging.
5. Moderation challenges
Filtering out offensive, culture-insensitive, fake, and spammy content is tedious and labor-intensive, but crucial for your brand. Misleading and inaccurate information might often put a reputational risk to the brand.
6. Impact measurement
Different platforms use different algorithms. This means the metrics are not always consistent. That inconsistency makes analysis more challenging. As a result, creating high-quality trending content for UGC becomes harder. Quantifying the value of curated UGC in terms of conversions to sales or brand loyalty is often inconsistent and unclear.
7. Engagement
Engagement through innovative campaigns takes effort to sustain, especially when motivating users to create high-quality content consistently. It can be both challenging and time-consuming, but staying active is key. Weighing the risk versus reward when pushing content helps you make smarter decisions. Keeping up with recent trends ensures your brand stays relevant.
How do you solve it?
UGC platforms are key to brand success, driving business growth and building a loyal community around your brand. They provide a steady source of authentic, relatable content that resonates with your audience.
To have an edge over the competition and to stand out, there are various strategies that you can implement:
1. Set clear objectives
Knowing what your brand stands for and who you want to reach is the first step. Clear goals make it easier to connect with people and build a loyal community.
Airbnb’s #WeAccept campaign is a great example. During the global refugee crisis, they encouraged people to share stories of acceptance, tying it to their values of inclusivity and empathy. It struck a chord because it was timely, heartfelt, and true to their mission.
2. Monitor
Keeping track of what people say about your brand is key. Hashtags and keywords make it easier to spot UGC across platforms. Instagram and Facebook rely heavily on hashtags, while Reddit and Twitter work better with keywords.
Doritos nailed this with their #CrashtheSuperBowl campaign. They encouraged fans to create commercials, sparking creative ideas and massive engagement. Using branded hashtags or platform tools to filter and track content can help you connect with your audience and keep your brand approachable
3. Leverage AI tools
AI tools can save a lot of time by finding the best UGC from a sea of posts. They help filter and sort content based on relevance and engagement.
Spotify’s #YearlyWrapped campaign is a perfect example of using data-driven personalization. People love sharing their music stats, and Spotify made it effortless to post these summaries across platforms. This nostalgic touch kept their users excited and engaged.
4. Centralize content management
Using a unified dashboard consolidates UGC from multiple platforms, simplifying management and collaboration. This makes it easier to present data in a streamlined way. Various CMS tools like Hubspot, Sprinklr, and ContentStudio allow you to organize, edit, and schedule your user-created content effortlessly.
5. Diversify content formats
Different people like different kinds of content, so it helps to mix things up. Use photos, videos, reviews, and even live streams to reach more people.
National Geographic’s #WanderlustContest did this beautifully by encouraging people to share travel photos. It not only fit their brand but also inspired participants to post stunning, shareable images.
6. Engage with content creators
Build relationships with top content creators by offering incentives like exclusive perks and shoutouts. This helps attract them for better reach and encourages continued participation.
7. Encourage participation through various campaigns
You can encourage users through contests, offering incentives to create and share content for a chance to be featured on your platform.
Streamline your UGC curation with Idukki
Unlike traditional ads that often miss the mark, UGC speaks directly to people because it feels real. It’s about listening to what users have to say, understanding their experiences, and using that to grow the brand.
But curating UGC across multiple platforms can get tricky. Sorting through endless posts and ensuring everything aligns with your brand can be overwhelming. Idukki makes UGC curation easy, so you can focus on connecting with your audience. With flexible options to fit your needs, smooth integration with your current setup, and an easy-to-use design, managing UGC feels simple. Plus, it helps keep all content true to your brand’s voice and message without the stress.
Want to see how it works? Get a demo today!