Why investing in a UGC platform is one of the best IT investments you can make
Want to entice more viewers to purchase your products or services? (Who wouldn’t?)
User engagement, also known as “user generated content” (UGC), is the assessment of consumers’ responses to offerings such as products or services. Placing an emphasis on UGC often has a negative perception due to the prevalence of Internet trolls who have a reputation for intimidation on website comment sections. However, avoiding UGC usage can lead to a business missing the benefits that can come along with it.
Looking to advance your UGC further? Build a platform that supports the following efforts:
#1. Visitor Engagement
If there’s no easy way for visitors to interact with your site or one another, they may not have enough incentive to visit. The simple act of enabling your visitors to chat can allow your business to have a greater, more global reach.
Moreover, keeping the communication lines open allows your users to help build a community around your brand. If all goes well, your website could experience an increase in viewership and further increased engagement.
#2. Social Influence
Social interaction is a big component of giving visitors a reason to stay on your website; however, its importance goes deeper than that. We live in a digital age. Digital communication has become vital, fostering a sense of community which leads to increased feedback. This feedback can then be used to improve your brand.
Social media is, without a doubt, the best medium to encourage interaction with your brand. Having a strong social media presence for your business encourages visitors (as well as previous customers) to discuss your brand. This dialogue helps create a sense of engagement surrounding your brand. These factors can help create a positive reputation and better brand visibility.
Additionally, sponsorship from social media and product placement can also increase your reach. One such example is a personal-style blogger who received upwards of $15,000 each time she posted to Instagram.
Having real-life people advertising a product increases the public’s faith about a given product or service. Without user generated content, consumer interest could suffer.
#3. Ratings & Reviews
Branding and advertisement have nearly reached omnipresent levels. Everywhere we look there are mentions for various products. So many, in fact, that consumers can easily become distracted, thus making it difficult for them to find enough genuine opinions about the product/service to formulate their own opinion.
That’s where personalization comes in.
In order for your customers to desire your products, you’ll need to encourage your customers to leave real, dependable reviews about your product/service.
Dr. Jonah Berger from Wharton School studied the effects that UGC has on purchasing. According to the study, those products that have been influenced upon by UGC recommendations and reviews were purchased upwards of 22.2 times more than those that weren’t.
Moreover, of those surveyed, 82% stated they’d be more willing to follow one of these micro-influencers.
#4. Quick Responses
When interacting with your consumers, it’s important to be mindful of the time it takes you to respond to inquiries. In the age of texting, people are used to fairly quick response times. This goes for posting information and adding to your existing UGC as well.
Regardless of the negative reputation that internet trolls can bring, user generated content can be pivotal toward a business’s success.
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