Are you looking for the next big thing for your marketing strategy? Something new and exciting that engages your audience.

Then check out these user-generated content examples.

 

But why?

User-generated content (UGC) is popular because it engages a brand’s community and helps create brand awareness while being really effective and low-cost. UGC leverages your customers and your brand’s audience to spread the word by drawing up a fun challenge or contest that highlights aspects of the product or service.

Sometimes, no matter how perfectly shot an image or creative is, it’ll just never match up to the authenticity of customer curated content. That’s why even big brands reach out to their customers for their take on a product for an advertisement or their unique use case of a product.

From Doritos – ‘Crash the Super Bowl’ contest for a 30-second advert to Starbucks’ user-generated content contest, #WhiteCupContest here are 5 examples of user-generated content marketing that’ll inspire you to plan your own!

 

1. Doritos – ‘Crash the Super Bowl’ collected user-generated videos

 

The user-generated video (UGV) trend really started back in 2007 when a fanmade TV commercial for Doritos chips was aired during Super Bowl XLI. Frito-Lay launched the Doritos – ‘Crash the Super Bowl’ contest, asking chip lovers to create a 30-second advert. The contest received 1,065 user-generated ads, of which Live The Flavor won the grand prize of cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to Detroit to watch the game.

 

2. Starbucks ran a UGC #WhiteCupContest to design a limited edition tumbler

 

In April 2014, Starbucks came up with the #WhiteCupContest, asking customers to get creative and submit their doodled white Starbucks cup for a chance to win a $300 gift card and for their design to be showcased on the limited edition Starbucks tumbler.

 

 

This UGC campaign ticked all the boxes- it got customers going into the café for their cups of joe, engaged them in a fun and creative activity and offered the perfect incentive their design on a cup! It was easy to participate in, had a branded hashtag and kept the product front and center resulting in users happily sharing their art on social media and tagging the brand.

With the campaign becoming a viral success, Starbucks user-generated contest has variations like the #RedCupArt for the holidays.

 

 

3. Adobe ran a UGC contest #Adobe_Perspective to showcase its software potential

 

 

Adobe has a strong community of designers and content creators using its suite of design software. As with most complex software, there’s a learning curve and it’s hard for new users to get the hang of and try to visualize what they could do with it. To showcase the possibilities that the software offers, the software company uses the hashtag #Adobe_Perspective to source content that the community produces. It gives the community a fun challenge, theme, or color scheme and puts the spotlight on them and celebrates creativity.

 

 

4. GoPro – Anything Awesome Challenge saw the collection of user-generated videos from its community

 

GoPro runs several themed UGC campaigns   like Photo of the Day and Be A Hero. The GoPro Anything Awesome Challenge asked collaborators and creators to upload footage of any adventure, any sport or any angle that was simply awesome.

 

 

It encourages its community to go out and use the camera, shoot something amazing and share their unedited shots with them to get a chance to win cash rewards, free gear and exposure. Its creative team then picks the best entries and chooses the winners and features those photos on their website and social media giving these photographers and adventurers global exposure.

 

 

5. The Tokyo Olympics was the first international sports event to collect video submissions from spectators

 

After more than a year of disruption, Tokyo 2020 Olympics became the first major international sports event to implement a virtual fan solution, replacing spectators in the stands with supporter video walls. Spectators at home uploaded video messages that were compiled by country. Broadcasters also included fan-sourced video compilations during televised events.

 

 

 

Feeling inspired to start using user-generated videos in your next marketing strategy?

 

User-generated content marketing is a great way to build brand awareness, put your product forth and engage and create a sense of belongingness for your community. GoPro, Adobe, Doritos, Starbucks and the Tokyo Olympics are just a few brands that have found something that really gets their community interested, giving them a fun challenge, the perfect incentive and in return, receiving authentic and high-quality responses. After all, authentic customer footage generates 7x click-throughs than paid video marketing and user-generated content sees a 28% engagement increase by customers. This what makes user-generated content so amazing.

From running online contests to using private platforms like Vloggi to collect videos, the potential for user-generated content is endless. Read here to learn how to incentivize your community to participate in your next UGC campaign.

Get started on your next UGC campaign for free!