10 Best UGC Platforms in 2023—and How to Pick One for Your Business
Standing out in the crowded e-commerce space is a challenging task. With social commerce on the rise, businesses need more than just eye-catching images on their social media platforms. The key to success lies in user-generated content (UGC), which contributes to authentic engagement and drives customers to make a purchase.
While large, established e-commerce brands might already possess an abundant amount of customer-generated content, emerging brands often face a dilemma. They require a substantial following to source UGC, but without UGC, attracting and engaging shoppers becomes more difficult.
To navigate this catch-22, it’s essential to understand the importance of UGC and explore various platforms that can efficiently facilitate the process of sourcing high-quality UGC for growing e-commerce businesses.
10 best UGC platforms for e-commerce brands
1. Trend by soona
Trend by soona stands out by offering a platform that allows you to work closely with influencers and content creators to generate high-quality UGC tailored to your brand’s needs. With its curated influencer network, campaign management tools, and content rights ownership, Trend presents a comprehensive solution for partnering with influencers and generating effective UGC.
{{trend-ad="/external-components"}}
2. Creator.co
Creator.co is a streamlined platform that combines content from influencers, customers, and employees. With features like shoppable content, AI-powered search filters, social scheduling, and an integrated dashboard for engagement, Creator.co provides a well-rounded UGC experience that adapts to your branding needs.
3. GRIN
GRIN specializes in serving growing brands with its scalable UGC platform. Providing functionalities like content aggregation, keyword filtering, permissioning, and customizable templates, GRIN simplifies the UGC process and leverages machine learning to optimize results based on effectiveness and relevance.
4. Upfluence
Upfluence brings geolocation tools to the table, allowing for targeted UGC sourcing and content collection from various sources. Its organic influencer program helps identify, manage, and collaborate with influencers already sharing content related to your brand, adding reach and authenticity to your UGC.
5. TINT
TINT mainly serves enterprise brands with features like content aggregation, permissioning, customizable templates, image editing, and video conversion. With its analytics dashboard, you can gain insights into your UGC performance and utilize TINT’s machine learning capabilities to automate much of the curation process.
6. Social Native
Social Native (formerly Olapic) focuses on visual marketing, offering an integrated platform for UGC, influencer marketing, and short-form video. Its AI-driven approach helps identify the most effective content for your channels, while the “content in motion” feature transforms static images into engaging, shoppable videos.
7. Yotpo
Yotpo shines in the e-commerce sector, providing tools to discover and maximize social proof. Key features include shoppable galleries, UGC integration on product and checkout pages, and extensive customer engagement. Yotpo’s platform is designed to keep website visitors engaged and increase the likelihood of conversion.
8. ShortStack
ShortStack emphasizes interactive content, empowering you to create quizzes, contests, and giveaways that drive both customer engagement and UGC generation. With website embedding, engagement analytics, and integrations with CRM and email platforms, ShortStack extends its value beyond a traditional UGC platform.
9. Taggbox
Taggbox streamlines the UGC process by collecting, curating, and managing content from various sources and integrating it with your marketing channels. Its key features include an adaptable display, user engagement options, content moderation, and customizable design, ensuring compatibility with your branding initiatives.
10. Walls.io
Walls.io offers a social media aggregator that collects content from multiple channels to create a unified UGC feed. With features like advanced filtering, customization, and real-time updates, Walls.io provides a smooth experience for brands looking to implement UGC into their marketing strategies.
What is a UGC platform?
Although pursuing a DIY method is possible, it may not be sustainable in the long run. Using a UGC platform instead can save time and improve your brand’s reach while maintaining trust and engagement with customers. Both customer reviews and testimonials contribute to the social proof needed for potential customers to make informed buying decisions. Ultimately, a UGC platform can positively influence conversion rates, ROI, and customer acquisition while creating a strong community around your brand.
The benefits of UGC platforms / Why you need a UGC platform in 2023
Embracing UGC as part of your marketing strategy can yield numerous advantages due to its authentic and relatable nature. With UGC’s clear advantages, brands looking to explore its potential can start with using dedicated UGC platforms to begin reaping the benefits.
Engaging with UGC is essential for e-commerce brands, and using a platform can greatly improve efficiency and results. Here are several reasons for choosing a UGC platform over a DIY approach:
Relate to your audience
Customers must be able to envision themselves using a product, and UGC helps in creating this connection. Since UGC originates from fellow consumers, it’s more relatable and trustworthy. In a post-COVID-19 world, brands need to showcase content that resonates with their target audiences.
Build relationships
Brands can forge strong connections with their customers by sharing authentic content from other users. Consumers appreciate this authenticity. Sharing user-generated content makes brands more appealing to customers and strengthens the sense of community.
UGC platforms can also connect you with experienced influencers and content creators to enhance your campaign. By tapping into these connections, your UGC campaign reaches a wider audience and maximizes impact.
Improve results
UGC not only enhances relationships and trust but also has tangible benefits in terms of performance metrics. Some key statistics include:
- By the end of 2023, brands using UGC in their marketing campaigns will see a 25% increase in engagement.
- 68.75% of consumers have purchased something they saw on social media.
- Conversions increase by 10% when UGC is included in the online purchase path
- Ads featuring UGC have a 50% reduction in the cost-per-click, compared to ads without
Save time
Manual sourcing for UGC is tedious and time-consuming. It’s inefficient and uninspiring to browse through Instagram, review sites, and emails to find relevant UGC. Furthermore, manually using the curated content can further prolong the process.
Ease of use with UGC platforms
A dedicated platform automates the search for UGC and conveniently arranges it to suit your needs. Some platforms even enable direct resharing of content from the dashboard, further simplifying the process.
How to leverage UGC platforms
UGC is an excellent asset to use across social media and other marketing platforms. Let’s look at some ideas on how you can max out this investment.
Feature UGC on your website
Popular websites that heavily rely on UGC include platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and TripAdvisor. These websites allow users to submit their content and engage with others.
Consider doing the same on your website—at a bare minimum, allow for multimedia customer reviews. To go all in, host a community forum where customers can interact with one another and brand experts, influencers, and representatives can also pop in. Don’t forget to make your UGC shoppable where possible.
Use a branded hashtag
TOMS encouraged users to post photos of their shoes with a specific hashtag. Similarly, Calvin Klein used user-submitted content and images for its #MyCalvins campaign. This encouraged users to share their photos wearing Calvin Klein products using the hashtag, which then allowed the brand to showcase a diverse range of customers and create a sense of community.
Find UGC creators to collaborate with
Brands often collaborate with UGC creators by hosting contests, sharing customer reviews, and reposting content to their social media channels. According to the State of User-Generated Content, 64% of consumers are more likely to post about a brand that re-shares content by its audience.
Influencers often use UGC on Instagram by sharing posts from their followers, creating branded hashtags, and partnering with brands for sponsored content. This helps them increase their reach, create a sense of community, and build brand loyalty.
Choose your UGC platform
Incorporating UGC into your e-commerce marketing strategy can improve relevance and promote products effectively. Understand the workings and benefits of UGC, and select one of the many available platforms to simplify content sourcing. For example, Trend by soona facilitates connections with trusted influencers and content creators, thus providing UGC with the added advantage of influencer fame.
Consider the requirements of your website and product pages when choosing a UGC platform. Opting for a platform that aligns with your objectives ensures a streamlined process, completion of campaigns in a short time, and effective takeaways for your target audience.
UGC platforms FAQs
What is user-generated content (UGC)?
User-generated content, or UGC, refers to any content created by customers or users and is not produced by a company's internal team. This type of content can come in various forms, such as:
- Written reviews or blog posts
- Unboxing videos
- Product photos
UGC is considered the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing and holds substantial value for brands, as consumers trust recommendations from their network over advertisements.
What is a UGC platform?
A UGC platform is a software or online service that facilitates the collection, curation, and management of user-generated content for businesses and brands. These platforms streamline the process of sourcing, organizing, and leveraging UGC to enhance marketing efforts.
What platforms use UGC?
- Social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, where users can post images, videos, and comments related to products and brands.
- E-commerce websites may feature customer reviews and ratings, which are forms of UGC.
- Content-sharing platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where users create and share videos related to various topics, including product reviews and demonstrations.
Is TikTok a UGC platform?
Yes, TikTok is known for encouraging UGC through challenges and trends. Users create short videos using a specific hashtag, sound, or dance move, and this content is shared across the platform for others to join in or extend the challenge. TikTok has become a prominent platform for user-generated content, especially in the form of creative and engaging videos.
What is the best type of UGC?
The best type of UGC often depends on the specific goals and target audience of a brand or business. However, some effective types of UGC include:
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- User-generated images and videos
- Influencer collaborations
- Interactive content
10 Best UGC Platforms in 2023—and How to Pick One for Your Business
Standing out in the crowded e-commerce space is a challenging task. With social commerce on the rise, businesses need more than just eye-catching images on their social media platforms. The key to success lies in user-generated content (UGC), which contributes to authentic engagement and drives customers to make a purchase.
While large, established e-commerce brands might already possess an abundant amount of customer-generated content, emerging brands often face a dilemma. They require a substantial following to source UGC, but without UGC, attracting and engaging shoppers becomes more difficult.
To navigate this catch-22, it’s essential to understand the importance of UGC and explore various platforms that can efficiently facilitate the process of sourcing high-quality UGC for growing e-commerce businesses.
10 best UGC platforms for e-commerce brands
1. Trend by soona
Trend by soona stands out by offering a platform that allows you to work closely with influencers and content creators to generate high-quality UGC tailored to your brand’s needs. With its curated influencer network, campaign management tools, and content rights ownership, Trend presents a comprehensive solution for partnering with influencers and generating effective UGC.
{{trend-ad="/external-components"}}
2. Creator.co
Creator.co is a streamlined platform that combines content from influencers, customers, and employees. With features like shoppable content, AI-powered search filters, social scheduling, and an integrated dashboard for engagement, Creator.co provides a well-rounded UGC experience that adapts to your branding needs.
3. GRIN
GRIN specializes in serving growing brands with its scalable UGC platform. Providing functionalities like content aggregation, keyword filtering, permissioning, and customizable templates, GRIN simplifies the UGC process and leverages machine learning to optimize results based on effectiveness and relevance.
4. Upfluence
Upfluence brings geolocation tools to the table, allowing for targeted UGC sourcing and content collection from various sources. Its organic influencer program helps identify, manage, and collaborate with influencers already sharing content related to your brand, adding reach and authenticity to your UGC.
5. TINT
TINT mainly serves enterprise brands with features like content aggregation, permissioning, customizable templates, image editing, and video conversion. With its analytics dashboard, you can gain insights into your UGC performance and utilize TINT’s machine learning capabilities to automate much of the curation process.
6. Social Native
Social Native (formerly Olapic) focuses on visual marketing, offering an integrated platform for UGC, influencer marketing, and short-form video. Its AI-driven approach helps identify the most effective content for your channels, while the “content in motion” feature transforms static images into engaging, shoppable videos.
7. Yotpo
Yotpo shines in the e-commerce sector, providing tools to discover and maximize social proof. Key features include shoppable galleries, UGC integration on product and checkout pages, and extensive customer engagement. Yotpo’s platform is designed to keep website visitors engaged and increase the likelihood of conversion.
8. ShortStack
ShortStack emphasizes interactive content, empowering you to create quizzes, contests, and giveaways that drive both customer engagement and UGC generation. With website embedding, engagement analytics, and integrations with CRM and email platforms, ShortStack extends its value beyond a traditional UGC platform.
9. Taggbox
Taggbox streamlines the UGC process by collecting, curating, and managing content from various sources and integrating it with your marketing channels. Its key features include an adaptable display, user engagement options, content moderation, and customizable design, ensuring compatibility with your branding initiatives.
10. Walls.io
Walls.io offers a social media aggregator that collects content from multiple channels to create a unified UGC feed. With features like advanced filtering, customization, and real-time updates, Walls.io provides a smooth experience for brands looking to implement UGC into their marketing strategies.
What is a UGC platform?
Although pursuing a DIY method is possible, it may not be sustainable in the long run. Using a UGC platform instead can save time and improve your brand’s reach while maintaining trust and engagement with customers. Both customer reviews and testimonials contribute to the social proof needed for potential customers to make informed buying decisions. Ultimately, a UGC platform can positively influence conversion rates, ROI, and customer acquisition while creating a strong community around your brand.
The benefits of UGC platforms / Why you need a UGC platform in 2023
Embracing UGC as part of your marketing strategy can yield numerous advantages due to its authentic and relatable nature. With UGC’s clear advantages, brands looking to explore its potential can start with using dedicated UGC platforms to begin reaping the benefits.
Engaging with UGC is essential for e-commerce brands, and using a platform can greatly improve efficiency and results. Here are several reasons for choosing a UGC platform over a DIY approach:
Relate to your audience
Customers must be able to envision themselves using a product, and UGC helps in creating this connection. Since UGC originates from fellow consumers, it’s more relatable and trustworthy. In a post-COVID-19 world, brands need to showcase content that resonates with their target audiences.
Build relationships
Brands can forge strong connections with their customers by sharing authentic content from other users. Consumers appreciate this authenticity. Sharing user-generated content makes brands more appealing to customers and strengthens the sense of community.
UGC platforms can also connect you with experienced influencers and content creators to enhance your campaign. By tapping into these connections, your UGC campaign reaches a wider audience and maximizes impact.
Improve results
UGC not only enhances relationships and trust but also has tangible benefits in terms of performance metrics. Some key statistics include:
- By the end of 2023, brands using UGC in their marketing campaigns will see a 25% increase in engagement.
- 68.75% of consumers have purchased something they saw on social media.
- Conversions increase by 10% when UGC is included in the online purchase path
- Ads featuring UGC have a 50% reduction in the cost-per-click, compared to ads without
Save time
Manual sourcing for UGC is tedious and time-consuming. It’s inefficient and uninspiring to browse through Instagram, review sites, and emails to find relevant UGC. Furthermore, manually using the curated content can further prolong the process.
Ease of use with UGC platforms
A dedicated platform automates the search for UGC and conveniently arranges it to suit your needs. Some platforms even enable direct resharing of content from the dashboard, further simplifying the process.
How to leverage UGC platforms
UGC is an excellent asset to use across social media and other marketing platforms. Let’s look at some ideas on how you can max out this investment.
Feature UGC on your website
Popular websites that heavily rely on UGC include platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and TripAdvisor. These websites allow users to submit their content and engage with others.
Consider doing the same on your website—at a bare minimum, allow for multimedia customer reviews. To go all in, host a community forum where customers can interact with one another and brand experts, influencers, and representatives can also pop in. Don’t forget to make your UGC shoppable where possible.
Use a branded hashtag
TOMS encouraged users to post photos of their shoes with a specific hashtag. Similarly, Calvin Klein used user-submitted content and images for its #MyCalvins campaign. This encouraged users to share their photos wearing Calvin Klein products using the hashtag, which then allowed the brand to showcase a diverse range of customers and create a sense of community.
Find UGC creators to collaborate with
Brands often collaborate with UGC creators by hosting contests, sharing customer reviews, and reposting content to their social media channels. According to the State of User-Generated Content, 64% of consumers are more likely to post about a brand that re-shares content by its audience.
Influencers often use UGC on Instagram by sharing posts from their followers, creating branded hashtags, and partnering with brands for sponsored content. This helps them increase their reach, create a sense of community, and build brand loyalty.
Choose your UGC platform
Incorporating UGC into your e-commerce marketing strategy can improve relevance and promote products effectively. Understand the workings and benefits of UGC, and select one of the many available platforms to simplify content sourcing. For example, Trend by soona facilitates connections with trusted influencers and content creators, thus providing UGC with the added advantage of influencer fame.
Consider the requirements of your website and product pages when choosing a UGC platform. Opting for a platform that aligns with your objectives ensures a streamlined process, completion of campaigns in a short time, and effective takeaways for your target audience.
UGC platforms FAQs
What is user-generated content (UGC)?
User-generated content, or UGC, refers to any content created by customers or users and is not produced by a company's internal team. This type of content can come in various forms, such as:
- Written reviews or blog posts
- Unboxing videos
- Product photos
UGC is considered the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth marketing and holds substantial value for brands, as consumers trust recommendations from their network over advertisements.
What is a UGC platform?
A UGC platform is a software or online service that facilitates the collection, curation, and management of user-generated content for businesses and brands. These platforms streamline the process of sourcing, organizing, and leveraging UGC to enhance marketing efforts.
What platforms use UGC?
- Social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, where users can post images, videos, and comments related to products and brands.
- E-commerce websites may feature customer reviews and ratings, which are forms of UGC.
- Content-sharing platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where users create and share videos related to various topics, including product reviews and demonstrations.
Is TikTok a UGC platform?
Yes, TikTok is known for encouraging UGC through challenges and trends. Users create short videos using a specific hashtag, sound, or dance move, and this content is shared across the platform for others to join in or extend the challenge. TikTok has become a prominent platform for user-generated content, especially in the form of creative and engaging videos.
What is the best type of UGC?
The best type of UGC often depends on the specific goals and target audience of a brand or business. However, some effective types of UGC include:
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- User-generated images and videos
- Influencer collaborations
- Interactive content
