Collect UGC with These Powerful Email Strategies

In the world of email marketing, companies are constantly striving to increase customer engagement and improve conversion rates. User Generated Content (UGC) is extremely popular right now, and for good reason. In this article, you’ll learn:

• What UGC actually is.
• How to use email marketing to collect UGC.
• How to leverage this valuable content to holistically improve your business.

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What is UGC (User Generated Content)?

User Generated Content (UGC) is content created and shared by individual users or customers rather than by the brand itself. It can take various forms, including written reviews, photos, videos, testimonials, blog posts, and more. UGC is a valuable source of authentic information and feedback, and it’s a way for brands to increase customer engagement and build social proof. It allows businesses to capitalize on the creativity and enthusiasm of their customers. This plays a crucial role in building trust and credibility in today’s online world.

A common way to collect UGC via email is by sending a review request in the post-purchase flow. While this can certainly be effective, there are many more ways to gather User Generated Content (UGC). In this article, we’ll dive deeper into these methods.
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The Power of User Generated Content

Before we explore different UGC strategies for email marketing, let’s first look at why receiving content from your customers is so valuable.‍

1. Authenticity

User Generated Content is authentic. It’s no longer just brand advertisements conveying your message but real experiences from satisfied customers. This builds trust with potential buyers, as they can more easily relate to those who have already benefited from your products or services.
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2. Diverse Content

You can collect more than just reviews. UGC can range from text reviews to photos, videos, stories, and even product ideas. This broad variety of content types provides opportunities for diverse marketing activities.
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3. Reusable Content

Content generated by users can be repurposed across various marketing channels, including ads, emails, social media, and blog posts. This saves you time and effort in creating new materials.
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Diverse Uses for UGC in Email Marketing

1. Blog posts

Consider asking your customers to contribute to blog posts. For example, if you run a supplement webshop, you could ask customers to share before/after photos with an explanation of how the products have improved their lives. This valuable content can be reused in ads, emails, and more.
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2. Standard Review Requests

Of course, you can also send standard review requests to gather more reviews on your preferred platforms. Securing positive reviews can increase the trust of new customers.
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3. Product Development Feedback

Encourage your customers to share their thoughts on product improvements and new product ideas. This can lead to valuable insights for your business and result in products that truly meet your customers' needs.
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4. Interactive Q&As

If you’re working with brand ambassadors or influencers, you can encourage customers to submit questions. You can then answer these questions in an email campaign or other forms of content, establishing direct interaction with your customers.
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5. Competitions and Giveaways

Organize contests or giveaways where customers can submit UGC to win prizes. This will not only increase engagement but also provide a steady stream of content.
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UGC Strategies for Email Marketing

Here are some effective UGC strategies that you can implement directly into your email marketing campaigns:

1. Expert Takeovers

Ask your customers to contribute input for your content. For example, ask them what questions they have about your brand or product. Once you receive input, you can fill a campaign with answers to the most frequently asked questions. This increases engagement and shows that you value your customers’ opinions.
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2. Ad Creatives

Invite customers to submit videos for a chance to win prizes. All received videos can be reused in your ads, as this type of authentic content performs particularly well right now.
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3. Customer Stories

Launch an email campaign with the message: "We want to hear your story!" Use this as an opportunity to gather feedback about your brand or product. This feedback can help you improve your overall strategy, and the content can be repurposed for blog post ideas, ads, email templates, and more.
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A Holistic Improvement of Your Brand

While UGC emails may not generate direct revenue, they contribute to a holistic improvement of your brand. They offer valuable insights, authentic content, and information that can impact multiple aspects of your business. In the long run, this will naturally translate into increased revenue and a stronger brand.

User Generated Content is a powerful tool in the world of email marketing. It helps you collect authentic, diverse content that can be reused, which in turn increases engagement and strengthens your brand. By implementing the right email strategies, you can elevate your business with the help of UGC. It’s time to tap into the potential of your customers and use their input to scale your business in a holistic way.

Do you have any questions after reading this article about how to collect UGC through email? Get in touch with Polaris Growth