Content Outline

1. Introduction
   • A. Definition of Shorty Industry Award
   • B. Importance of User Generated Content
2. Overview of Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content
3. Criteria for Winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content
   • A. Quality of User Generated Content
   • B. Creativity in Incorporating User Generated Content
   • C. Impact of User Generated Content on Brand Awareness
4. Examples of Brands That Have Won the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content
5. Conclusion

Introduction

The Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content has become a highly coveted prize in the world of social media marketing. With the rise of user-generated content (UGC), brands are finding new and innovative ways to engage with their audiences.

User-generated content refers to any form of content created by consumers, rather than the brand itself. This can include anything from photos and videos to reviews and blog posts. Brands are leveraging UGC in their marketing campaigns to increase engagement, build brand loyalty, and drive conversions.

In this article, we will explore the importance of UGC in marketing campaigns and how brands can effectively leverage it to win the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content.

Introduction – A. Definition of Shorty Industry Award

The Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content is an annual award given to businesses and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional use of user generated content in their marketing and advertising campaigns. User generated content is defined as any form of content, such as text, images, videos, or reviews, that is created and shared by consumers or users of a product or service.

• According to a survey by Stackla, 86% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding which brands they like and support.
• Additionally, user generated content has been shown to increase engagement and trust with consumers, as well as improve search engine rankings for businesses.

The Shorty Industry Award recognizes businesses that have successfully leveraged user generated content to achieve marketing goals, such as increasing brand awareness, generating leads, and driving sales. Past winners have included companies like Airbnb, Coca-Cola, and GoPro.

To be eligible for the award, businesses must submit their campaign for consideration and demonstrate how they have effectively incorporated user generated content into their marketing strategy. Finalists are then selected by a panel of judges based on factors such as creativity, impact, and overall effectiveness.

Winning a Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content can provide businesses with valuable recognition and publicity, as well as demonstrate their commitment to authenticity and consumer engagement.

Sources:
Stackla – Consumer Content Report 2017

Introduction – B. Importance of User Generated Content

User generated content (UGC) has become increasingly important in the world of digital marketing. With the rise of social media platforms and online communities, UGC has become a powerful tool for businesses to engage with their audience and promote their brand. In fact, the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content recognizes the importance of UGC in digital marketing.

Why is UGC important?

• Trustworthy: According to a survey by Stackla, 86% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding what brands they like and support. UGC is seen as more authentic and trustworthy than branded content.
• Engagement: UGC is a great way to engage with your audience. When users create content related to your brand, they become more invested and engaged in your brand.
• Cost-effective: Creating content can be costly, but UGC is free. By encouraging users to create content, businesses can save on content creation costs.
• SEO: UGC can also help with search engine optimization (SEO) by increasing the amount of content related to your brand online. This can improve your search engine rankings.

Overall, UGC is an important aspect of digital marketing. It can help businesses to build trust with their audience, increase engagement, save on content creation costs, and improve their SEO.

Sources:
https://stackla.com/resources/reports/consumer-content-report-2017/

Overview of Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content

The Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content recognizes brands and organizations that have effectively leveraged content created by their audience to achieve their marketing goals. The award acknowledges the increasing importance of user generated content (UGC) in modern marketing campaigns, and highlights the creativity and innovation of companies that have successfully integrated UGC into their strategies.

Why is User Generated Content Important?

UGC is a valuable resource for marketers because it allows them to create authentic, engaging content at a lower cost than traditional advertising methods. Consumers trust content created by their peers more than they do traditional ads, which makes UGC an effective way to build brand credibility and increase engagement.

• According to a study by Stackla, 79% of people say UGC highly impacts their purchasing decisions.
• Another study by Ipsos found that UGC is 20% more influential than other types of media when it comes to purchasing decisions.

Moreover, UGC can also help brands to create a sense of community, as it allows customers to feel like they are part of something larger than themselves. This, in turn, can lead to increased loyalty and repeat business.

Examples of Best Use of User Generated Content

One example of a brand that has effectively used UGC is Starbucks. The coffee giant launched the #RedCupContest, which encouraged customers to share photos of their festive Starbucks cups on social media. The campaign generated over 40,000 entries and increased engagement on Starbucks’ social media channels.

Another example is Airbnb, which uses UGC to showcase its unique properties and experiences. The company’s Instagram account features stunning photos of properties around the world, many of which are taken by Airbnb guests.

Conclusion

The Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content is an important recognition of the growing role that UGC plays in modern marketing strategies. By effectively leveraging UGC, brands can create authentic, engaging content that resonates with their target audience and helps to build brand credibility and loyalty.

Sources:

• Stackla
• Ipsos

Criteria for Winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content – A. Quality of User Generated Content

The Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content is a highly coveted award in the social media industry. Winning this award requires a high level of creativity, planning, and execution. One of the key criteria for winning this award is the quality of user-generated content, which refers to the content that is created by the audience or customers of a brand.

What is User Generated Content (UGC)?

UGC is any form of content – such as images, videos, reviews, and social media posts – that is created by the users or customers of a brand. UGC is highly valuable for brands as it is a form of social proof that shows how their products or services are being used and appreciated by their customers. According to a study by Bazaarvoice, 84% of millennials say that UGC has influenced their purchase decisions.

Why is Quality of UGC Important?

While UGC can be a valuable asset for brands, not all UGC is created equal. The quality of UGC is a key factor in determining its effectiveness in engaging the audience and driving conversions. High-quality UGC is typically original, authentic, and visually appealing.

How to Evaluate the Quality of UGC?

There are several factors that can be used to evaluate the quality of UGC:

• Originality: Is the content unique and not copied from other sources?
• Relevance: Does the content align with the brand’s messaging and values?
• Visual appeal: Is the content visually appealing and of high quality?
• Engagement: Has the content generated a high level of engagement from the audience?
• Authenticity: Does the content feel genuine and authentic?

According to a study by Stackla, 86% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding which brands to support. Therefore, it is crucial for brands to ensure that the UGC they use is of high quality and authentic.

In conclusion, winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content requires brands to use high-quality UGC that is original, relevant, visually appealing, engaging, and authentic. By using these criteria as a guideline, brands can ensure that their UGC strategy is effective in engaging their audience and driving conversions.

Criteria for Winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content – B. Creativity in Incorporating User Generated Content

When it comes to winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content, creativity in incorporating user generated content is one of the key criteria. Here are some of the factors that judges consider:

• Originality: The use of user generated content should be unique and original, demonstrating a fresh perspective on the topic. Judges look for entries that stand out from the crowd.
• Relevance: The use of user generated content should be relevant to the brand and the campaign. It should contribute to the overall message and goals of the marketing campaign.
• Engagement: Entries should demonstrate high levels of engagement with the target audience. This can be measured through metrics such as likes, shares, comments and views.
• Creativity: Entries should showcase a high level of creativity in the way user generated content is incorporated. This can include the use of multimedia formats such as video, images and infographics.
• Effectiveness: Entries should demonstrate measurable results in terms of increased brand awareness, engagement or conversions. Judges look for entries that have had a positive impact on the brand’s bottom line.

According to a study by Content Marketing Institute, user generated content is 35% more memorable than other types of content. It’s clear that incorporating user generated content into marketing campaigns can be highly effective. By demonstrating creativity in the way user generated content is incorporated, brands can stand out from the competition and engage with their target audience in a meaningful way.

For more information on the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content, visit their website here.

Criteria for Winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content – C. Impact of User Generated Content on Brand Awareness

Winning the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content requires meeting specific criteria that demonstrate the effective use of user-generated content (UGC) to promote brand awareness. One critical factor to consider is the impact of UGC on brand awareness.

Impact of User Generated Content on Brand Awareness

• UGC can increase brand awareness by providing authentic content that resonates with audiences. According to a study by Stackla, 86% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding what brands they like and support.
• UGC can also help to humanize brands, making them more relatable and trustworthy. People trust other people more than they trust brands, so UGC can be a powerful tool to build credibility.
• UGC can also increase engagement with audiences, as people are more likely to engage with content created by other users than with content created by brands.

Overall, the impact of UGC on brand awareness is significant, and brands that effectively use UGC can benefit from increased engagement, trust, and loyalty from their audiences.

Sources:
Stackla

Examples of Brands That Have Won the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content

The Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content is an annual award that recognizes brands that have incorporated user-generated content into their marketing strategy in an innovative and impactful way. Here are some examples of brands that have won this award in the past:

• Pepsi: In 2016, Pepsi won the award for their “PepsiMoji” campaign, which encouraged fans to submit photos of themselves with Pepsi emojis. The campaign resulted in over 3 million photos submitted and a significant increase in brand engagement.
• Under Armour: In 2014, Under Armour won the award for their “I Will What I Want” campaign, which featured real women sharing their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving success. The campaign resulted in a 42% increase in sales and over 4 billion media impressions.
• Airbnb: In 2019, Airbnb won the award for their “Until We All Belong” campaign, which featured user-generated content that showed support for marriage equality. The campaign resulted in over 3,000 pieces of content generated and a significant increase in brand awareness.

These brands were able to effectively leverage user-generated content to create engaging and impactful campaigns that resonated with their audiences. By tapping into the creativity and authenticity of their customers, they were able to build stronger connections with their brand and drive business results.

According to Business2Community, user-generated content can improve conversion rates by up to 4.5% and increase engagement by up to 28%. It’s clear that incorporating user-generated content into your marketing strategy can have a significant impact on your business.

Conclusion

Overall, the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content has become a highly coveted award in the marketing industry. With the rise of social media and the increasing importance of user-generated content, it is not surprising that more and more brands are recognizing the value of this type of content.

Through our analysis of the past winners of this award, we have identified several key factors that contribute to a successful user-generated content campaign:

• Strong engagement with the target audience
• Creative use of user-generated content
• Clear and measurable objectives
• Effective use of social media platforms

However, it is important to note that creating a successful user-generated content campaign involves tradeoffs. For example, while user-generated content can be a cost-effective way to generate buzz and engagement, it also requires a significant investment of time and resources to manage and curate the content. Additionally, brands must be careful to ensure that user-generated content aligns with their brand values and messaging.

Despite these challenges, the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content serves as a testament to the power and potential of this type of marketing. As more and more brands recognize the value of user-generated content, we can expect to see even more innovative and effective campaigns in the future.

For more information on the Shorty Industry Award for Best Use of User Generated Content, check out the Shorty Awards website.