How User-Generated Campaigns Can Transform Your Brand This Halloween!

You may think, 'What exactly is User-Generated Content, and how can it help me?' Well, don't worry; we'll tell you everything you need to know. 

In a nutshell, UGC is brand-specific content that is created by your customers or brand sponsors rather than yourself or your employees. This alone makes it a ghoulishly good method to use when marketing your business during holidays like Halloween.

Nowadays, your target audience wants to be able to form a meaningful connection, and ultimately a relationship, with your brand. There is no better way to do so than with authentic photos, videos, blogs, and reviews, as well as much more. 

If this marketing strategy sounds right up your alley, then stick around as we tell you our top tips for a fangtastic UGC campaign this Halloween.

Getting Started

Now that you have a better understanding of the basics, it is time to talk about the ways in which you can launch your very own user-generated content campaign.

During these particularly festive seasons, such as Halloween, the general public is much more eager and willing to share their content online. When they begin sharing pictures, videos, and other types of content on the internet, then it is time to take fast action. 

By allowing your brand to grow by utilising any available UGC content, you can equip your business with the means to convert your audience into content creators. As a result, they will create an abundance of visual media which can be stored and used periodically throughout the year.

An easy way to generate UGC content is to get these customers actively involved; it really is that simple. By asking them to create content and making it easy to share their work, you're building your brand.
 

Our Top Tips

Specify Your Content

It is vital that the content that your customers are generating is the content that you want. If it doesn't match your brand's style or message, then using it becomes redundant.

This is why you need to be as vocal as possible, especially since customers are more inclined to create UGC content when they have been prompted to do so. 

You can nudge your audience in the right direction by asking them to leave positive reviews, imploring them to share specific hashtags, and catching their eye with your own engaging content.

Monitor Your Channels

When creating your UGC marketing campaign, it is important to implement two things: content aggregation and a social listening program. 

These tools will allow you to effectively monitor the multiple channels at your disposal and, in turn, will allow you to discover the content that your customer base is sharing.

Most of this can be done solely on your social media platforms; however, as your brand and business grow, you will need to take advantage of these more robust methods.

Utilise Contests and Hashtags

If you find that during and in the run-up to events like Halloween, content creation is slow, then you should consider launching a themed contest or hashtag campaign.

A successful contest should allow your audience to access multiple avenues as a means to participate. This includes utilising hashtags, social mentions, direct submissions, and even text and SMS submissions.

Respect Your Target Audience

When creating a UGC campaign, it is important to make sure that you respect your audience and their rights.

You should always obtain permission to use content from the original creator, and User-Generated Content is no different. Just because someone shares their content with your hashtag or mentions you, that does not mean you have the right to use it.

By always asking for permission, you are actively avoiding any potential legal liability.

Summary

The beauty of a User-Generated Campaign is that it is best to be authentic and relatable. Unlike most things nowadays, it is not something that you need to plan and primp to such an extreme degree that it loses any semblance of identity, all in the hopes of boosting sales and engagement.

We understand that actively inviting customers to become a part of your marketing perspective can be a spooky experience, especially during events such as Halloween. However, it is crucial to remember that as e-commerce grows, the discovery of products and the conversion process are becoming more common within user-controlled spaces.

So, engage with your customers this October, and you might just find those scary sales start to skyrocket to heights you only ever imagined.