User-generated content, or UGC, is now one of the fastest-emerging forms of public relations. 

This form of content is usually regarded as the most authentic form of PR because the content, be it text, images, audio, or video, is all generated by the people and not the brands. 

According to statistics, companies that have UGC on their websites are 29% more likely to get conversions from customers. If you’re not sure of how to leverage it to gain a wider customer base, then here are some useful tips and tricks to help you!

Feature user stories

One popular form of leveraging UGC for PR is to regularly feature user stories on your website or social media pages. The more positive user stories you post, the more relatable your company will be.

Viewers will understand that the stories are not glorified facts generated by marketers from the company but rather authentic experiences that other people have felt. 

For example, you can start a campaign where your customers share their experiences with your company’s offering and add a hashtag along with their video or post on social media.

Host challenges

In today’s digital era, there’s no end to how you can leverage UGC for PR. Hosting fun challenges and competitions, both online and offline, can be a big push toward more publicity. 

If you’re not sure of the kind of activities that can be done, you can collaborate with an external PR agency. PR agencies in Dubai are experts in providing the right solutions to any company’s PR problems. 

For example, if you sell makeup products, host a fun online makeup challenge, asking users to complete a certain makeup look in under 5 minutes.

Include them in your speeches

As a company owner, you’re naturally expected to go to large gatherings and give speeches. In the middle of one of your speeches, you can always add a small snippet of how a certain customer was positively impacted by using your product. 

However, make sure your narrative is an authentic one and the details are true. Don’t make up a fake story related to customer experience because people will be able to see through it. 

When you add UGC in your speeches or even in casual conversations, your hard work gets highlighted, and your company receives positive reviews.

Add them to your website

Remember, your website is one of the best areas to feature UGC. Doing it the right way will not only bring in more website traffic but will also lead to more potential customer conversion. 

For example, ask a few users to click small videos on their unboxing experience and add that in the “How to open/How to use” section of the product. Or highlight good customer reviews on your website to attract potential customers. 

When viewers go to your website and see good UGC, they’ll realize that your company values customer experience and listens to their feedback.

Use it to inspire others

While highlighting UGC can lead to more views and connections, that shouldn’t be the sole reason. Positive PR can give you power in many ways, and the best way to use that power is to educate and inspire other companies and other people. 

For example, if you had received negative feedback on one of your previous products and then you changed the user experience and turned it into a positive one, teach others to avoid your mistakes. 

You can also show your stakeholders that your company’s purpose is much more than making money.

Build customer loyalty programs

Customer loyalty lies at the heart of PR. A company dedicated to customers will always receive positive publicity, which will drive sales. 

One great way to start a customer loyalty program is by offering freebies to loyal customers or to the ones who shop above a certain limit. This will make loyal customers feel heard and seen, which will drive positive publicity. 

In fact, these customers might start posting useful content and tag your company without you having to ask them to do it. As a result, customers who aren’t frequent buyers will also engage themselves more often.

Conclusion

As a business owner, it’s not enough to simply think of how to leverage UGC for PR. Once you’ve started with the activities, you have to start measuring the success using metrics. Regularly check how successful each form of PR is and how you can improve in the future.