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User Generated Content (UGC)

Content management1/5/2026Intermediate Level

User Generated Content (UGC) refers to any form of content created and published by unpaid contributors, such as customer reviews, photos, or videos.

What is User Generated Content (UGC)? (Definition)

User Generated Content (UGC) is a type of content created by customers instead of the brand itself. It shows how real people use and feel about a product in their daily lives. Common examples of UGC include: * Product reviews and ratings * Social media photos and videos * Customer testimonials * Forum posts and comments Shoppers trust these posts more than advertisements because they come from real experiences. This content provides social proof, which helps new buyers feel confident about their purchase. Brands use WISEPIM to keep product information accurate so that customer reviews stay relevant and helpful.

Why User Generated Content (UGC) is Important for E-commerce

User Generated Content (UGC) is any content created by customers instead of the brand. It includes things like product reviews, social media photos, and unboxing videos. Shoppers often trust these peer recommendations more than traditional advertisements. Adding reviews and customer photos to product pages helps build trust with new visitors. This content also helps search engines find the website more easily. Real photos show how a product looks and works in daily life. This clarity leads to higher sales and more loyal customers.

Examples of User Generated Content (UGC)

  • 1Customers share photos of their new outfits on Instagram using a brand's hashtag.
  • 2People upload video reviews to YouTube to show how a new electronic device works.
  • 3Shoppers write reviews and give star ratings on an online store after they buy something.
  • 4Shoppers answer questions from other customers in the Q&A section of a product page.

How WISEPIM Helps

  • WISEPIM keeps customer reviews and photos in one central spot. You can manage this content easily alongside your official product information.
  • You can add real customer stories and media to your product pages. This helps shoppers see how your products work in the real world.
  • Send approved customer content to your webshop and social media pages. Sharing real feedback across all your channels helps you build trust with buyers.

Common Mistakes with User Generated Content (UGC)

  • Ignoring negative feedback hurts customer trust. You miss the chance to fix problems and help your customers.
  • Poor moderation allows spam and inappropriate posts on your site. This confuses shoppers and looks unprofessional.
  • Using customer photos without asking first can lead to legal trouble. It also makes your brand look untrustworthy.
  • Only showing UGC in one spot limits its reach. Share customer content across your website, emails, and social media.
  • You will have very little content if you do not ask for it. Offer rewards to encourage customers to share.

Tips for User Generated Content (UGC)

  • Ask customers for reviews and ratings. Send automatic emails after they buy a product. You can also offer small rewards to encourage more people to post.
  • Create unique hashtags for your brand. Run contests or social media campaigns that invite customers to share their own photos and stories.
  • Put customer content on your product pages and in your marketing. Seeing real people use your items helps build trust with new shoppers.
  • Reply to all feedback, whether it is good or bad. This shows you care about your customers and helps you learn how to improve.
  • Use a PIM system to link review scores and customer images to your product data. This keeps your information consistent on every sales channel. WISEPIM helps you organize this content in one place.

Trends Surrounding User Generated Content (UGC)

  • AI-powered content curation and moderation tools that automate the identification, filtering, and tagging of relevant and appropriate UGC.
  • The rise of interactive UGC formats, including short-form video, AR filters, and shoppable content created by users, driving higher engagement.
  • Increased focus on authenticity and transparency, with consumers valuing raw, unedited UGC over overly polished brand-controlled content.
  • Seamless integration of UGC with headless commerce architectures, allowing brands to pull and display content dynamically across various front-end experiences (web, mobile, social).

Tools for User Generated Content (UGC)

  • WISEPIM: Centralizes product data and allows for the integration and management of UGC attributes (like review scores, customer photos, video links) directly with product SKUs, ensuring consistent delivery across all sales channels.
  • Yotpo: A comprehensive platform for collecting, moderating, and displaying customer reviews, ratings, photos, and Q&A, often integrated directly with e-commerce platforms.
  • Bazaarvoice: Offers a suite of solutions for collecting, managing, and syndicating various forms of UGC, including reviews, visual content, and influencer marketing.
  • Loox: Specializes in visual UGC, helping e-commerce businesses collect photo and video reviews from customers and display them beautifully on product pages and in marketing materials.
  • Okendo: A reviews and UGC platform built for Shopify, enabling brands to collect and showcase customer reviews, photos, videos, and Q&A.

Related Terms

product contentdigital shelfcontent syndicationproduct detail page pdpproduct content moderationproduct content strategyproduct data storytellingproduct content performance

Also Known As

consumer-generated contentcustomer contentearned media