You’ve probably heard the buzz around user-generated content (UGC) and seen plenty of it on your social media feeds.
By tapping into the power of UGC, brands can build deeper relationships, expand their organic reach, and generate a steady stream of content that feels personal and real.
If you're looking to boost user-generated content (UGC), the key is simple: make it worth the customer’s time. With the right mix of strategy, incentives and appreciation—and a smart loyalty system like DataCandy’s social rewards—your customers will start doing the marketing for you.
(If you’re looking for the whole scoop, we’ve also got a blog covering what UGC is and why it’s a total game-changer for your marketing).
Now, we’re going to talk about how to actually get your customers sharing more.
How to Increase UGC
1. Reward Social Shares and Mentions
The easiest way to boost UGC? Recognize it. Start rewarding customers every time they tag your brand, use a hashtag, or share a social media post showcasing your product.
Ways to reward UGC include:
- Giving points for tagging: Reward customers with loyalty points when they tag your brand in Instagram Stories or TikToks (eg. 50 points for every tagged post).
- Incentivizing hashtags: Create a fun hashtag like #StyledBySage and offer perks or contests for customers who use it. This helps build buzz and makes it easy to find UGC.
- Engage with their content: Like, comment, and reshare your customers’ social posts. We cover this in more detail in point number four.
Pro tip: Use DataCandy’s social rewards platform to automatically reward customers for tagging your brand. It keeps content coming and fans feeling valued.
2. Create UGC-Fueled Challenges
Want to get people excited and sharing without complicated setups? Branded challenges are perfect.
Branded challenges invite customers to create and share themed content—like a summer look or TikTok duet—with your hashtag or tag. They’re easy to join and can create a lot of buzz. Plus, when you throw in some rewards, customers can’t resist showing off their creativity and getting involved.
Some tips for running branded challenges:
- Run seasonal challenges: Get customers excited with fun campaigns like “Share your summer look with #MySunStyle” to inspire fresh content and seasonal buzz.
- Encourage TikTok duets and before/afters: Ask fans to duet your product videos or post before-and-after shots to showcase real results and creativity
- Create a unique hashtag and audio clip: Make it easy for participants to join in and get noticed by giving your challenge a catchy hashtag or a signature sound to use in their videos. This helps build community and boosts visibility across platforms.
3. Turn Reviews Into Rewards
Did you know 51% of people actively look for reviews with images before deciding to buy?
Written reviews, video testimonials, and unboxings are some of the most trusted types of UGC—but customers often need a nudge.
Here are a few easy ways to encourage more high-impact, visual reviews:
- Follow up with a personal ask: Send a friendly post-purchase email or SMS asking for a review while the experience is still fresh. A simple prompt can make all the difference. (Pro tip: DataCandy Loyalty + Reviews plan can help automate this and save you a bunch of time.)
- Reward photo and video reviews: Give loyalty points or a discount code when customers upload a photo along with their review to encourage more engaging content.
- Shine a spotlight on great feedback: Highlight top reviews on your website or social media with a personal thank-you. It shows customers you’re listening—and gives others a reason to join in.
Reviews are a goldmine for businesses because they share real experiences and build trust. Making it easy and rewarding for customers to post honest feedback—especially with visuals—creates authentic content that helps new shoppers feel confident.
Want more loyal customers and 5-star reviews?
DataCandy’s Loyalty + Reviews plan helps you reward visits and boost 5-star ratings
4. Spotlight and Celebrate Your Biggest Fans
User-generated content isn’t just about filling your feed—it’s about recognizing the real people who love your brand and encouraging them to keep sharing. When customers feel seen and appreciated, they become even more loyal—and way more likely to post again.
Here’s how to make your fans feel like VIPs:
- Create regular fan moments: Launch a “Fan Feature Friday” to highlight customer content, or build a permanent UGC gallery on your website as a showcase of real love for your brand.
- Repost with personality: Share Story tags, TikTok reactions, or reviews with fun captions and genuine thank-yous to make customers feel part of your story.
- Identify your superfans: Use your loyalty dashboard to spot repeat buyers and highly engaged customers who consistently post and promote your brand.
- Give them the VIP treatment: Offer perks like early product access, exclusive drops, or higher earning potential to your top-tier fans.
- Keep the love going: Just because you’re not resharing doesn’t mean you can’t engage—drop a like, comment, or emoji to let customers know you’re paying attention. (Pro tip: it’s a great way to showcase your brand’s personality by showing up in unexpected places)
With a platform like DataCandy, you can segment loyal customers, personalize rewards, and turn everyday shoppers into lifelong brand advocates. A little appreciation goes a long way—and keeps the UGC flowing.
Side note: If you’re in the food or hospitality space, don’t miss our tips for increasing UGC in restaurants—from photo-ready dishes to loyalty-driven shoutouts.
5. Create Contests That Spark Shares
Want to supercharge your UGC while having a little fun? Contests are a great way to tap into your customers’ creativity, boost excitement, and get more eyes on your brand—all while making fans feel like part of something special.
Here are some easy ways to launch a UGC-driven contest:
- Launch themed campaigns: Come up with fun ideas like “Best Room Makeover with Our Products” or “Show Off Your Custom Cake Design” to inspire content that’s both on-brand and full of personality.
- Keep entry simple: Ask participants to tag your account, use a specific hashtag, and post publicly. The lower the barrier, the more people will join in. (Pro tip: Make sure you have your legal team help with putting together some super clear contest rules.)
- Make the prizes worth it: Reward your winners with things they’ll love—like gift cards, exclusive merch, or a year of free products. Bonus points if you shout out great entries on your socials, too!
Pro tip: With DataCandy’s social rewards, you can even reward customers for following your brand on social media—so more people see your contest, join in, and start creating content of their own.
Final Thoughts: Customers To Brand Advocates
When customers discover your brand through UGC and then go on to create their own content, you’ve created a self-sustaining cycle where every new customer becomes your next brand storyteller #CustomerDrivenGrowth.
And with the right incentives, you can turn one tagged post into a ripple effect of shares, purchases, and loyalty.
A smart loyalty program makes it easy and rewarding for fans to become your biggest promoters. And combining these strategies with powerful tools like DataCandy’s social rewards, you can unlock the full potential of social media and user-generated content.
Want to skyrocket UGC and boost social engagement?
Explore DataCandy’s social rewards tools and learn how to turn customers into brand advocates
