User-Generated Content (UGC) can be a valuable asset for tourism and hospitality businesses, as it provides authentic recommendations and experiences from customers.
Here are five tips to increase user-generated content for your business:
1. Encourage Reviews and Ratings:
- Request customers to leave reviews and ratings on platforms like TripAdvisor, Yelp, Google Reviews, and your website. Make it easy for them by providing links and clear instructions.
- Express appreciation for their feedback and let them know that their opinions matter in shaping your services.
2. Create Shareable Experiences:
- Design experiences, activities, or amenities that are highly shareable on social media. Unique or visually appealing elements can motivate visitors to take photos and share their experiences with their networks.
- Use hashtags or geotags related to your business to make it easy for customers to tag and promote your business when they post.
3. Run Contests and Challenges to Gather User-Generated Content:
- Organize photo or video contests where customers can submit their experiences. Offer prizes or incentives to encourage participation.
- Create challenges related to your business, like “best vacation memory” or “most creative use of our services,” and promote them on social media.
4. Leverage Social Media:
- Maintain an active presence on social media platforms where your customers are most active. Share user-generated content that highlights the experiences people have had at your business.
- Use features like Instagram’s “Stories” to re-share tagged posts or create your own UGC highlights.
5. Provide Clear CTAs:
- Ask for user-generated content through clear and friendly Calls to Action (CTAs) in your emails, newsletters, and on your website. For example, you can ask for reviews in your post-stay thank-you emails.
- Offer a dedicated section on your website for customers to share their experiences, along with easy-to-use submission forms.
A few reminders about user-generated content:
Remember to always seek permission before using customer content, give credit where it’s due, and engage with your audience by responding to their posts and comments. This interaction not only encourages more UGC but also helps build a sense of community and trust around your brand.
