While scrolling through Instagram when a video from your favorite jewelry store stops your thumb mid scroll. The thumbnail shows a small package sitting on a table. The video starts simple, a girl sitting at the table holds up the small box, and with a smile on her face unboxes a new pair of earrings. The girl looks straight into the camera when she is talking, making it feel less like she is speaking to an audience and more like she is chatting with a friend. Her reaction to the new earrings is genuine and not made up for the camera. She tries on the earrings; her excitement is easy to see.

UGC content is so special because it shows a real person having a real reaction, giving people something to relate to, almost a friend. The use of content created by users in your business’s own marketing helps build authenticity, increase customer trust and loyalty, and influence purchasing decisions.

Types of UGC

There are many types of UGC, all of which are valuable for different reasons and can be tailored to each business’s needs.

• Photos: Customer photos are the most common form of UGC, this could be a customer showing a product in their own environment or sharing results from a service. Photos feel authentic because they show real customers using your product or service. They show your business in action in someone’s life, allowing future customers to see how your product or service fits into their life.

• Videos: Video content is one of the most engaging forms of customer content! An unboxing of a product by an average person is very enticing for consumers. They want to hear what the customer thinks of the product and see them interact with it. If a customer posts a video reviewing your product, or before and after results from your service, etc., you can get rights to that video and use it on your own channels.
• Reviews: Online reviews are another great way where customers share their voice. Reviews don’t take long for customers to write, they don’t require them to post on their own channel, and they allow them to express themselves. Reviews can be rated out of five stars on a company’s website, comment section, Google Business Profile, and more. Incorporating these on your website is a great way to show your audience the positive experiences that customers have had.
• Social Media Posts: Photos, videos, and reviews can all be shared through social media, and it is important that as a business, you monitor your mentions on all platforms. Mentions can be reposted to your story. If you aren’t sharing this content, you are missing a great opportunity to tap into a new engaged community.

No matter the format, customers are generally more likely to trust another customer’s experience than a company’s own advertising due to bias.

Ask Permission!

The biggest thing with user-created content is to ask permission! Organic UGC is just content created by customers for their audience, but if you like it and want to use it for your social media channels, don’t hesitate to reach out and get in contact. And when you post content from customers, tag them and provide credit to the original creator. When using content that you have paid a creator to make, be sure to disclose that to your audience. Respecting creators’ rights builds trust with both the original creator and your audience.

A study in 2025 shows that 60% of consumers see UGC as more authentic than any other form of marketing, in addition to that 72% of consumers say they are more likely to follow a company that uses UGC Source. These statistics show how important UGC can be for your social media.

Turn your customers into your biggest advocates! MediaBrush Marketing helps businesses create social media strategies that encourage authentic engagement, build trust, and showcase content created by their customers! Contact our team today to learn how we can help your brand grow using content that future customers trust.