Crowdsourced content, also known as user-generated content (UGC), is any type of online content created by an audience of people, and submitted to the original source. It’s content that is generated by users, rather than directly created by the business. Crowdsourced content can be a great way to engage and grow an audience, create content that is more effective and easier to segment and manage, and help to foster collaboration and innovation.
What is Crowdsourced Content?
Crowdsourced content is content that is generated by users, rather than directly created by the business. It can include any types of content, such as images, videos, blog posts, reviews, and other forms of media. It is usually created and submitted to a platform, where it is curated, shared, and interacted with by the user-base.
There are a wide range of benefits to using crowdsourced content, including the ability to reach a wider, more diverse audience and create content that is more engaging and interesting. Additionally, crowdsourced content is generally cheaper and easier to manage than traditional content creation methods.
Crowdsourced content can be seen in practice in many settings, such as in online forums, social media platforms, review sites, and even within product creation.
Why Use Crowdsourced Content?
Crowdsourced content can be a great tool for businesses and brands to engage their audience, get feedback on ideas, create engaging content, and create more personalised relationships with their customers.
Benefits of Crowdsourced Content
1. It’s Cost Effective
Crowdsourced content is a great way to generate content quickly and cheaply. Instead of hiring a team of copywriters and photographers, businesses can acquire content from their users, who are often willing to create it for free or for little cost. This not only reduces costs, but also means that ideas and content can be generated quickly, allowing businesses to save time.
2. It’s Highly Engaging
Crowdsourced content is often much more engaging for customers and users than traditional content, as it often includes visuals, personal stories and other elements that add a lot of value to the content. Additionally, because it is created by users, crowdsourced content has much higher levels of engagement, leading to more views and shares.
3. It Generates Natural Links
Using a crowdsourcing platform can help generate natural links, as people are more likely to link back to a page or website that they have produced content for. This can help to boost rankings, as well as providing free referral traffic.
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4. It’s Easier to Manage
Crowdsourcing platforms make it easy to manage content, from the submission process to the approval process and beyond. This makes it much easier for businesses to keep track of content, as well as keep users updated on what’s happening.
General Guidelines and Best Practices
When using crowdsourced content, there are some general guidelines and best practices that it’s important to follow:
1. Set Clear Guidelines
It’s important to set clear guidelines for what types of content are acceptable, what should be avoided, how to properly cite sources, and other rules. This allows users to create content that’s more in line with company values and brand guidelines, while avoiding any potential legal issues.
2. Choose the Right Platform
Choosing the right platform is key when crowdsourcing content. It’s important to consider factors such as user experience, customization options, cost, and more. Different platforms may have different features and capabilities, so be sure to choose a platform that is right for your business’s needs.
3. Involve Your Community
Make sure to involve your community when deciding what types of content to crowdsource, and how to go about it. This allows your audience to have a say in the process, as well as getting valuable feedback on ideas, content, and more.
4. Monitor Content Quality
When using crowdsourced content, it’s important to monitor the quality of content being created. Make sure to approve or reject submissions quickly, and ensure that the content is on-brand and of a high quality before putting it out into the world.
5. Show Your Appreciation
Finally, make sure to show your appreciation for those who create content for you. Let them know that you value their contribution, and encourage them to continue creating content and participating in the community.