What is UGC (User-Generated Content)?

User-Generated Content (UGC) is content created by individuals rather than the company itself. By using UGC as organic content and ad content, companies move away from standard ads and bet on content that resonates with their target audience. This content is shared as organic content within a content marketing strategy or deployed as ads within a paid campaign. By using user-generated content, you push content to your target audience that they effectively view, as it comes across as authentic because the content is created by individuals they can emulate.

Organic User-Generated Content

Organic UGC is used within an entire content marketing strategy. This content is less product-focused. The goal is to share content that inspires or educates. Within this content, the product/service is used or cited in a subtle way. This creates authenticity in content, which builds more trust. By not focusing on selling a product hard, but on telling a story or providing valuable information, this type of content creates a more authentic connection with the audience.

Advertising User-Generated Content

Advertising UGC, on the other hand, is produced as a function of promoting a particular product or service. Here, there is still an authentic way of putting the product in the picture. Even though products are actively promoted, it is still done within content that is appreciated by your target audience. It feels less like advertising by using real people, and the content is tailored to where your target audience feels understood or can emulate themselves from the content.

The Key Difference Between Ad and Organic UGC

The core difference between organic UGC and ad UGC lies in its use on social media. Organic UGC focuses on consistently sharing authentic content, with the aim of inspiring and educating. The content is distributed organically on social media, taking into account the current trends on the various platforms so that the content best connects with the viewing behavior of your target audience, thus increasing its reach and impact. Advertising UGC, on the other hand, is often deployed in targeted campaigns and is more product-focused. It is designed to reach specific audiences and often has clear call-to-actions. While it still uses the authenticity and engagement of real people, the goal is more clearly focused on promoting a product or service. In both cases, it is essential to create authentic, relevant, and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Socialize helps companies set up a UGC strategy and implement it. With our expertise and platform, we can make the right match between content creators and companies to create authentic and impactful content campaigns.