Have you ever experienced the magic of Disney World? The entire concept of this beloved theme park is based on Walt Disney‘s famous words, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Similarly, entrepreneurship is all about pursuing a dream, solving a problem and changing the world. But the journey from ideation to success is far from easy, especially when it comes to marketing and getting customers to love and buy your product. However, we can learn valuable insights from Disney’s proven strategy on how to win over clients and create a lasting impression.
My earliest memory of Disney was when I was 6 years old and visited Disney World in Orlando. The thrill of the park, meeting Mickey Mouse and touring his house with my family left an indelible mark on me. Three decades later, I returned to the magical kingdom, now in EuroDisney, Paris. Although no longer a little girl, the excitement of the visit remained just as powerful.
This time, I viewed the experience from a different perspective as a marketer. As I explored each facility, sign and attraction, I asked myself lots of questions, tried to distill what I was feeling and, most of all, tried to understand how they took worlds of dreams, adventures and magic and translated them into a real and exciting experience that people can’t seem to get enough of.
Such tips can be extremely valuable for a new, unknown startup in today’s fast-paced business world, where it can be challenging to capture the attention of potential customers, no matter how amazing their solution is. It is hard to build credibility, let alone get clients to fall in love with your product. And this is what I tried to understand — how do you get customers to fall in love with your company even if nobody knows you? I came up with a few marketing insights along with suggestions for actions you can take accordingly.
Three brands that have successfully harnessed the potential of user-generated content
Here are some companies that have aced digital branding using user-generated content to help you get started:
1. GoPro
Pioneering the UGC movement, GoPro has woven its brand identity around customer content. Through the #GoPro hashtag, customers share their adrenaline-fueled adventures, which the company proudly displays on its social media channels and website, illustrating the products’ boundless potential. Moreover, GoPro offers monetary awards for the best user-generated content to encourage more submissions.
2. Starbucks
Starbucks’s White Cup Contest encouraged customers to unleash their creativity by designing their own artwork on Starbucks’ iconic white cups. Participants were then asked to submit their cup designs on social media using the hashtag #WhiteCupContest. The winning design was featured as a limited edition reusable cup available for purchase in Starbucks stores.
3. Coca-Cola
The iconic ‘Share a Coke’ campaign exemplifies UGC’s transformative power in digital branding. Coca-Cola encouraged customers to create and share images with personalized Coke bottles, leading to a vibrant community of people showcasing their creations across social media and Coca-Cola’s website.
Summing up
Embracing user-generated content in digital branding has proven to be a cost-effective and engaging way to elevate my clients’ brands. The examples of brands that have successfully harnessed UGC demonstrate the immense potential of this approach when executed thoughtfully, and you could soon be one of them if you play your cards right!
By implementing the strategies I’ve shared or taking the support of a branding agency, you can inspire your customers to create UGC and use it to showcase your brand’s authority and quality of offerings. So, why not dive into the world of UGC now and experience the transformative results for yourself? All the best!
