{"id":1260,"date":"2018-04-25T16:16:31","date_gmt":"2018-04-25T20:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sproutvideo.com\/blog\/?p=1260"},"modified":"2019-12-13T22:12:58","modified_gmt":"2019-12-13T22:12:58","slug":"inspire-user-generated-content-video-campaigns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sproutvideo.com\/blog\/inspire-user-generated-content-video-campaigns.html","title":{"rendered":"Five Ways to Inspire User Generated Content for Video Campaigns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Video has made it easier than ever for your customers to showcase your products and, ideally, sing your praises! These types of third-party videos are considered \u201cuser generated content.\u201d Often thought by viewers to be more authentic than company-produced marketing videos, they can make your brand seem more trustworthy and help win new business.<\/p>\n

As the New York Times recently pointed out, nearly anyone can easily create great-looking video with their phone<\/a>.\u00a0This is excellent news for brands looking to encourage their customers to create brand-focused content.<\/p>\n

So the real question is: How do you inspire people to create videos about your offerings? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n

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1. Start From the Very Beginning<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re thinking about incorporating user generated content into your video marketing efforts, it’s a good idea to audit what is already out there. If possible, try to gather the content you find in one place.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll learn what you have to work with, and also get an idea of the types of things people like to talk about in regards to your brand. This is key information for planning a user generated content campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Search for Your Brand and Products<\/h4>\n

To begin, conduct a Google search for your brand\u2019s name. This should surface any YouTube videos, websites (including blogs), and social media platforms where your company name is mentioned. A quick search across social media platforms can\u2019t hurt, either, to ensure you catch anything Google might have missed.<\/p>\n

In your searches, it\u2019s a good idea to try variations on your company\u2019s name. Include common misspellings, just in case the person who published the content made a typo, or got your name wrong for some other reason. You should also search for any brand-specific hashtags people may have used when talking about your brand.<\/p>\n

While hunting for content, keep an eye out for brand-related pictures as well.\u00a0You may be able to use pictures people have shared to create your video, so it\u2019s worth it to include these in your search, too.<\/p>\n

Proper Attribution and Permissions<\/h4>\n

If you are going to use someone else\u2019s video or picture in your company\u2019s video,\u00a0one important thing you must do is ask for their permission. Due to copyright laws, social media platform terms, and image licensing, using someone else’s content online almost always requires permission, so asking is your best bet. Just because they made content about your brand doesn’t mean you can use it as you see fit!<\/p>\n

Since we recommend thanking people for sharing their (positive) video or picture about your brand anyway, you can simply ask for their permission to use it when you\u2019re thanking them. Most people will be flattered and excited you want to use their video!<\/p>\n

2. Help Capture a Special Moment<\/h3>\n

If you want people to know your company takes user generated content seriously, show them like Adidas recently did at the 2018 Boston Marathon.<\/p>\n