How to Boost Web Traffic With User-Generated Content

Have you ever considered that there is limitless content available for you to use?

It is likely that people are talking about your brand or product online. You can make use of online discussions, reviews, and posts as a source of content.

Such user-made content cuts through the ‘noise’ of marketing communication. What I mean by noise is the constant presence of ads on all media. User-generated content, though, still catches people’s attention easily.

User-generated content (UGC) is content that’s not branded or crafted by a company. It is made by your customers and users with the intention to share what they really think. This type of content stands out from ads and marketing content because it is more authentic and trustworthy.

Branded communication can seem forced and impersonal. But UGC feels unbiased and honest because it’s made by other real people who have nothing to gain.

It’s little surprise that user-generated content is so popular. And it’s why you need to make it a critical part of your digital marketing strategy.

So, what does user-generated content look like? You’ve come across it already in the following formats:

• Blogs
• Podcasts
• Reviews on Yelp, Google Maps, etc
• Videos uploaded on different platforms
• Forums
• Social media - Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest
• Photography platforms like Flickr
• Artwork and design communities
• Book review sites like Goodreads
• Comments on blogs, social media, and forums
• Wiki sites made by and for fandoms of books, movies, and games

It’s important to start working with UGC, especially because the millennial market finds it significant. 30% of all millenial’s media consumption is user-generated content. They also trust it 50% more than other information sources. Millennials also find user-generated content 35% more memorable.

How to leverage user-generated content to increase traffic

There’s a lot of great user-generated content available. Finding ways to make use will help you grow your business. UGC helps increase site traffic. It also increases social sharing, sales, and event registrations.

Here are some creative ways you can use user-generated content to send traffic to your site.

Share your customers’ photos

People share their experiences online all the time. They create videos, pictures, and text posts about the products that they use. Often, they include the name of the businesses for information.

It’s a good idea to search through Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to find content about your product and brand. You can use your branded hashtags or just type in your product name.

Reuse the content that features your business and products. Add it to your own business social media pages and website. Such content creates interest and shows your audience that you’re paying attention to them. And it creates social proof.

Showcase user reviews

User reviews are powerful as many people look at them before visiting a place or buying a product. Feature your customers’ reviews on your home page. Add them to your product landing pages. And share them on social media often.

You don’t have to have perfect 5-star reviews to use reviews. Having a range of reviews and ratings makes your business look legitimate. Not as though you’ve placed paid reviews for your business.

Find reviews on business listings, Google Maps, Yelp, and other platforms. You can also share snippets of emails sent to you by satisfied and happy clients.

Use contests to create user-generated content

Contests are cost-effective and truly engaging. You can create a contest that asks people to submit original content to win a prize. A contest creates excitement and engagement. Your audience will be interested as they get an opportunity to win something. They can also get featured on your website and social media platforms.

You can ask for UGC that is most relevant to your business. For example, if you’re a business that sells t-shirts, then ask your audience to create fun designs that you will feature in the next season. Another idea is to ask people to take creative selfies with your product.

You can create a hashtag campaign and reward participants with discounts, coupons, and prizes. Be sure to come up with great contest prize ideas for the winners.

By using contests to create user-generated content, you’re engaging with your audience at a deeper level. Not only are you getting fresh content, but your audience is more likely to share their creation and your brand online.

Feature UGC in ads

You can make your ads more ‘eye-catching’ by showcasing your user-created content in them. For example, an ad copy that says ‘We generated a 16x increase in ROI through content marketing. Check out the case study.’ is more likely to get clicks than one that says ‘We are the best content marketing agency in Colorado.’

Social media ads are great for sharing pictures and videos - so feature testimonials, reviews, and even other user-made content on Facebook and Twitter ads.

Ask your audience to create videos

You can get UGC content that has the potential to go viral. How?

By asking your customers and audience to create videos on social media.

In many cases, when people go live on video on Facebook and other platforms, their friends get a notification of that event. So, when your audience uploads a video or does something live, people are more likely to see such content.

Create a contest where you ask people to create themed videos that features your product or business in some way.

Video content is several times more engaging than images or written posts. Combine that with the fact that real people made such content, you’ll see impressive engagement rates and more traffic.

User-generated content is a free and powerful business tool

Another compelling benefit that your business can gain from user-generated content is better SEO. Part of good SEO practices is to create fresh and informative content frequently. With user-generated content, you have a virtually limitless pool of fresh content to work with.

This can be from community forums discussing your brand. Or from popular question and answer platforms. You can engage with people on social media and these platforms. You can also feature content from these places on social media and your website.

Online discussions about your product and business can generate links and create other positive signals that improve your site’s visibility. This leads to more traffic.

There’s a steady stream of real, original, and authentic content that users are creating. Make the best use of them to help your business grow through more traffic and greater visibility.