How User Generated Content May Be the Best Way to Promote Your Restaurant

How user generated content may be the best way to promote your restaurant

Sharing user-generated content is one of the most effective ways to bring attention to your company.  Involving your customers by sharing their content will build trust, strengthen customer relations, and increase social media traffic thus, increasing sales. Studies have shown that companies who share customer-generated content is preferred amongst consumers. According to a recent study by Reevoo, “61% of customers would be more likely to engage with an advertisement if it contained user-generated content.” It’s a great way to engage the consumer and allow your customers to contribute their experience with your product on a mainstream level.

So what’s the big buzz?

Research shows consumers are more likely to trust a peer review or word-of-mouth account over content created by a brand or organization. A study done from Bazaar found that “51% of Americans trust UGC more than other information on a company website.” They also found that  84% of Millennials report that user-generated content on company websites has at least some influence on what they buy and where.

UGC offers authenticity and credibility, meaning that real people are sharing their real experience, this is an honest as it gets! Gone are the days of stock photos generically representing customer experience.

Pieology, a trendy pizza shop, has taken advantage of UGC with their Instagram following of  21.1k. They created the hashtag, #MyPieology- which encourages consumers to share their pizza creations and experience. Pieology then shares this content on their own instagram. Benefits include free advertisement, high volume of content and variety.

Creating your own User Generated Content Strategy

When you create your own UGC it’s good to tell your customers about it. Don’t just assume they know! Have servers/cashiers tell them during their visit about your instagram and for them to share and tag/hashtag you!