Instagram isn’t only a place for creators, followers, and fans to hang out; it’s also a bustling marketplace where customers can get product inspiration, information, and a hassle-free purchase experience.
The current leader in social commerce is Facebook Marketplace (through Instagram). Users can connect with brands and goods they like while also connecting with one another on social media.
Products/services enable consumers to adopt specific communities and lifestyles in today’s linked environment. Users who align with those brands share freely and (often unwittingly) help to brand visibility.
“Just as shoppers want to share and show off their purchases, eCommerce brands are expected to provide a personalized, back-and-forth experience for shoppers. Considering 90% of Instagram users follow at least one brand on the platform, there’s no denying the potential for social feeds to drive sales.”
– Photoslurp
Understanding User-Generated Content
Non-branded content that references your brand online is known as user-generated content or UGC.
Direct mentions, such as a lifestyle shot exhibiting your product and naming your brand, are a good examples.
However, indirect mentions are possible. Someone using your branded hashtag or talking about your products without labeling your brand are two common examples.
When marketers talk about user-generated content (UGC) in eCommerce, they’re referring to good brand references from customers. We’ll show you how to use user-generated content (UGC) on Instagram in this fast guide.
Importance of UGC for Brands on Instagram?
Non-branded product shoutouts have a considerably bigger impact on your target audience than branded postings, according to studies.
Your Instagram development will be painfully sluggish if you don’t use user-generated content. The most successful Instagram brands are constantly looking for new methods to create, find, and utilise user-generated content (UGC).
User-generated content boosts your Instagram organic growth, generates buzz about customer experiences with your company, and can help you save money on customer acquisition. It’s a dynamic form of word-of-mouth marketing that takes place within a social platform that’s humming with internet shoppers.
Benefits to UGC
In addition to the aforementioned advantages – more online chatter, organic growth, and cheaper acquisition costs – UGC can also:
- Increase sales (particularly during a sales event, holiday, or limited-time offer)
- Nurture brand communities and customer advocacy
- Reduce IG production costs
- Create a library of compelling, authentic content for repurposing
- Increase return on ad spend (ROAS) when repurposing UGC
Understand if you have user-generated content on Instagram
The first step in finding UGC on Instagram is to figure out who – if anyone – is talking about your products or services. You should also look into IG Insights to determine which users are the most engaged with your brand.
You can search hashtags on Instagram or invest in a third-party platform with social listening features.
With social listening tools at your disposal, your goal is to be aware of any mentions of your business on Instagram at all times.
Categorize User Generated Content
The first step in finding UGC on Instagram is to figure out who – if anyone – is talking about your products or services. You should also look into IG Insights to determine which users are the most engaged with your brand.
You can search hashtags on Instagram or invest in a third-party platform with social listening features.
With social listening tools at your disposal, your goal is to be aware of any mentions of your business on Instagram at all times.
Brand tags
A brand tag on Instagram is the most efficient way to identify UGC. You can find brand tags on your profile page as shown below (navigate to the far right icon).
It’s vital to advise consumer advocates, ambassadors, influencers, and others to tag your company on any relevant social posts if you’re working with them. This makes tracking UGC a lot easier.
Can I remove a tag on Instagram?
It’s possible that you’ll be tagged in a post even if you don’t want to be. If a client criticizes your brand or tries to attach it to a contentious cause or political agenda, this can happen.
Unwanted tags can be removed from an Instagram post by pressing or clicking on the tag and selecting “Remove Tag.”
UGC example
Tags appear when a user writes “@” followed by your Instagram handle, as they do on most social networking platforms. Creators typically obtain more exposure for their posts by incorporating relevant tags.
An individual will often place their tag over the spot in the image or video where your goods is showcased while marketing a product. They might also tag you in the written component of their Instagram post (caption).
As you develop a sustainable UGC management strategy, you may discover that categorising your brand in a specific way produces the best results. You should then direct your advocates, ambassadors, affiliates, and influencers in the appropriate direction.
Brand mentions in post comments
Some brand mentions may not include tags.
Someone may, for example, wish to discuss your brand before you’ve had a chance to set up your business account. Similarly, satisfied customers may talk about you even if they don’t know your Instagram handle.
In any case, if you come across an untagged brand mention, you should ask the user to tag it. Making a public, favourable comment first and then submitting your tag request via direct messaging is the most professional method to handle this situation.
How do you find brand mentions on Instagram if they didn’t tag you?
If a brand doesn’t tag you, how can you find them on Instagram?
Setting up a third-party platform like SEMRush or Hootsuite to provide more in-depth social and search analytics is the greatest approach to uncovering brand mentions on Instagram that don’t have tags.
UGC example
Brand references might appear in an image, video, caption, or remark on a post. The more tags you use in your Instagram brand mentions, the easier it will be to track and organize user-generated content.
Web links in posts and comments
People can talk about you whether or not your brand is mentioned. Sharing a link to one of your branded channels is one method to accomplish this (landing page, blog, social profile, etc.).
UGC example
Bio links and IG Story swipe-ups are the most valuable instances of site links as UGC. This brand mentions on Instagram will be hyperlinked, making it easy for consumers to visit your page.
When it comes to links, Instagram isn’t quite like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. In captions and comments, links to websites do not lead to those pages. That link must be copied and pasted into the user’s browser.
But you can still enjoy web traffic anytime another user shares a link to one of your pages.
Customer testimonials
Customer testimonials typically feature brand tags as well as a narrative.
While testimonials from official creative collaborations are excellent, inviting all of your pleased customers to share their experience on Instagram can provide you with valuable UGC. Because the user’s sole motivation is pure happiness at the quality of your products and customer service, these posts will be exceptionally compelling.
UGC example
Customer testimonials, like reviews, elaborate on their interactions with your company. The greatest examples provide contexts, such as challenges that your solution solved or specifics on how they used your product to achieve the best outcomes.
In the example below, @neatlydesigned gave IKEA a shoutout after she discovered an ideal solution for organizing her pantry and enabling her children to help themselves to snacks in the family fridge.
These posts are most beneficial to you when they have a brand tag, as is always the case. When requesting this type of user-generated content, make sure to include a request for a brand tag to boost the testimonial’s value.
Real-time engagement on IG live events
If you or one of your partners hosts an IG Live event, you’ll almost certainly receive some useful feedback in the form of comments from viewers.
It’s important to know that Instagram will not save IG Live conversations once your event ends. Even if you upload your video as an IGTV, you no longer have access to viewer comments, questions, etc.
It’s vital to note that once your event is over, Instagram will not save your IG Live interactions. You no longer have access to viewer comments, queries, and other features if you post your video as an IGTV.
You might wish to choose someone to respond directly to audience comments for the best results (such as in a direct message). That person can also take screenshots of any discussions you’d like to revisit once the event is ended.
UGC example
During your Live event, Instagram allows your audience to type their own comments or ask a question. You may also co-host a Live event on Instagram to boost engagement and reach.
You may encourage more people to share or ask questions by allowing real-time comments in your Live feed. You can respond to comments orally in your video or have someone respond directly to viewers via Instagram direct messaging.
Branded hashtags
If you already have an engaged Instagram following, creating hashtags related to your brand is another excellent strategy to promote UGC. These hashtags can be used to promote a specific lifestyle or to encourage participation in a social media challenge. As the hashtag grows in popularity, so does your brand’s visibility.
UGC example
L’Oreal established the #WorthSaying initiative on social media to promote women’s empowerment by using their brand.
With particular product lines, creator partnerships, and at various conferences and events, the brand used the hashtag. Countless brands have adopted the same strategy, uniting loyal customers behind a common vision and set of values.
Branded AR filters in IG stories and live events
The branded AR filter is a relatively contemporary sort of Instagram UGC. With Spark AR, Instagram users may create their own AR filters. While some graphic design abilities are required, the platform is free to learn and use for everyone. Branded AR filters allow people to interact with your brand while also allowing them to virtually try on wearables for a more personalized buying experience.
UGC example
Louis Vuitton is one of several brands on Instagram to create their own AR filters to connect with audiences.
In the following example, LV collaborated with @nicolesghesquiere to create an online ski mask filter for followers. The filter is convincing enough to make it appear as if users are wearing an actual LV ski mask.
UGC strategy: leveraging Instagram user-generated content for maximum ROI
How do I get permission to reuse user-generated content?
Reusing UGC without the permission of the Instagram user is illegal in the United States. As a result, before you repurpose that work across different media, you must first obtain permission from the creator.
You do not need the authorization to engage with or share UGC, as long as you use the sharing options provided by that social channel.
In any case, connecting with the person who developed UGC for your brand is always a good idea. This helps you build long-term relationships with dedicated followers, and because they’re connected to your brand, they’re more likely to continue providing great UGC on your behalf.
How can I get UGC?
Some of the best UGC happens when you aren’t looking for it. However, there are other options for obtaining UGC without waiting for someone to mention you on Instagram.
It’s never a bad idea to submit a formal request for UGC. In fact, there are a few commonly established strategies for soliciting and/or encouraging UGC from your Instagram followers.
Influencers’ point of view
Influencer marketing is a type of professional user-generated content. Instagrammers frequently invest in their personal brands in order to promote their favourite products to their online networks.
Recruiting producers who best represent your target audience is the first step in creating your own influencer programme. If you thoroughly evaluate your influencers, you can expect real, interesting content that promotes your items to their full potential.
From Customers
Customers who are delighted with your service are more than willing to comment about you on the internet. Don’t be afraid to ask for a shoutout, review, or testimonial if they have an active Instagram account. They should tag your brand in their video, photograph, or post caption for the best results.
It might mean a lot to a consumer if you appreciate their shoutout when you notice folks promoting your brand without asking. If you want to republish the article, please contact the author directly to obtain permission.
Partnering with Brands
If your company partners with other companies on specific product lines or deliverables, you both have the chance to contribute UGC to each other.
It’s a good idea to talk about mutually beneficial UGC before posting, depending on what you want to contribute. You may create co-branded posts with tags, intriguing descriptions, and other features.
How do I share UGC?
Instagram lets you share user-generated content (UGC) on your own feed or across other social media networks. Repurposing does not necessitate the acquisition of image/post rights.
The easiest way to convey gratitude to the person who gave you a shoutout is to share UGC. If that person made their post public, sharing increases the amount of people who see it.
Many IG users, however, do not make their postings public. If they tagged your brand in a private post, you should request that they make that post public so that you can share it and get more exposure for your UGC.
Repurposing UGC for Ads
You’d be insane not to reuse some UGC for sponsored articles because it’s so authentic and aesthetically beautiful. However, you must first obtain written permission from the inventor.
You can take screenshots or alter the downloaded post for adverts after obtaining permission. When making changes, you want to maintain as much of the original post as possible. However, depending on how you plan to use the information, you may need to change the proportions to get the best results.
Conclusion:
Make it as easy as possible for your audience to connect with your brand
Customers enjoy interacting with their favourite brands. However, until you make it simple for your clients to do so, they are unlikely to do so.
Customizing your Instagram account and publishing on a regular basis may seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but if you don’t do so, your chances of collecting significant UGC are slim to none.
However, if you make it simple for your fans to communicate with you online, you will begin to receive good Instagram UGC.
Cybees’s automated platform makes finding and using user-generated content a breeze. Check it out right now!