Whatever you may call it, UGC or customer-generated content, it is by far one of the most compelling ways to generate engagement, awareness, and trust toward a brand among its audience. Whenever customers create and share content about your brand as social proof, others are encouraged to engage with your services or products.
In DigiSensy, we create digital marketing strategies for brands, keeping UGC contest campaigns as one of the key tools to increase their visibility. In this blog, we will take you through the concepts of establishing a UGC contest that engages, grows, and converts.
Why Should You Run a UGC Contest?
Before diving into the steps, let’s understand why UGC contests are so effective:
- Builds Trust & Authenticity: Consumers trust peer recommendations more than branded ads.
- Boosts Engagement & Reach: Encourages users to interact with your brand and share content.
- Cost-Effective Marketing: Instead of creating all content yourself, your audience does it for you!
- Strengthens Community: Fosters a sense of belonging among your customers.
- Provides Valuable Content: You get a library of authentic content for future marketing.
After knowing the reasons why running a UGC contest is important, let’s take step-by-step measures that will help you in creating the best content and winning the UGC contest.
Step 1: Define Your Goals
Each successful contest in UGC has its goals, and each needs to be groomed. Ask yourself questions like these:
- Do I want to create brand awareness?
- Do I want to increase my social media following?
- Do I want to have more customers testifying or reviewing products?
- Would I want sales or leads from it?
Depending on your goal, the whole contest design will change-hence, the rules, formats, and even prizes will be different.
Step 2: Select the Type of UGC Contest
These are some of the common types of UGC contests you run:
Photo or Video Contests
Ask your users to upload photos or videos while using their products with a branded hashtag.
Example: “Post a creative photo with our product and tag #MyBrandStyle to win!”
Hashtag Challenge
Encourage users to make content on a specific theme or challenge.
Example: “Show us your best #BrandTransformation and get featured!”
Caption Contest
Ask your followers to come up with some funny or creative captions for a post.
Example: “Write the best caption for this image and win a prize!”
Review and Testimonial Contest
Motivate customers to provide reviews or testimonials.
Example: “Leave a review on our website and get a chance to win a gift card!”
Voting
They allow somebody to submit entries and allow the community to vote for the best one.
Example: “Submit a design; the one with the most likes wins!”
Step 3: Choose a Suitable Platform
Where are you going to host your contest? Choose a platform where your audience is mostly active.
- Instagram: Best for visual contests (photos, reels, stories).
- TikTok: The best platform for viral hashtag challenges.
- Facebook: Good for voting contests.
- Twitter (X): Great for quick caption contests or quick engagements.
- Your Website: Best for review-based contests.
Pro Tip: Promote the contest on various platforms for greater reach!
Step 4: Define Rules & Guidelines
Clarity is important:
- Eligibility (age, location, etc.)
- How to Enter (tagging, hashtags, submission of work)
- Period (start and finish date)
- Selection Procedure (random drawing, most likes, judges)
- What Prizes Will Be Awarded (what the winners win and how they’ll receive it)
Example:
Post a photo with #BrandContest, follow @BrandName, and tag two friends. The winner will be selected based on creativity!
Step 5: Offer Attractive Incentives
The prize should thrill your viewers enough to participate. It can be:
- Free products or services
- Exclusive discounts or gift cards
- They could also be featured on your official page (great for influencers & creators)
- Cash prizes or VIP experiences
Ensure that the prize relates to your customers’ interests and your brand’s interests.
Step 6: Promote Your Contest
An awesome contest will fail if nobody talks about it. Try these promotion methods:
- Social Media Posts: Pin the post, share dates.
- Email Marketing: Send an announcement to existing subscribers.
- Influencer Collaborations: Partnering with micro-influencers to share.
- Paid Ads: Ads to increase reach.
- Website Banner: Hallmark the contest on the homepage.
Step 7: Create buzz & encourage engagement
Ensure continued momentum by:
- Liking & commenting on all submissions
- Reposting UGC on your stories/feed
- Remind your followers as the deadline approaches
- Generate FOMO (e.g., “Only 2 days left to enter!”)!
Step 8: Select & announce the winner
After the contest ends:
- Choose a winner (either at random or based on criteria).
- Announce that winner publicly (tag them in a post/story).
- Give away the prize right away.
- Thank everyone; maybe give a consolation discount.
Step 9: Change UGC into marketing collateral
Let nothing go to waste! Make your UGC work across
- Social media posts
- Email blasts
- Website testimonials
- Ad creatives
Step 10: Analyze & Improve
Measure key metrics:
- Engagement (likes, comments, shares)
- Followers gained
- Hashtag reach and impressions
- Website traffic and conversions
Utilize insights to better your future contests.
Final Thoughts
A UGC contest can unleash a lot of engagement, create brand loyalty, and yield great authentic content if carried out well. By following this guide, you’re able to develop a contest that connects with its target audience and produces actual results. At DigiSensy, we assist brands with digital marketing strategies that include powerful UGC campaigns. Need some guidance to get your marketing efforts bumping? Give us a call!
