Blogging For Business

I know User Generated Content isn't a new thing...but I do think that it has somewhat become a buzz word where few understand the real value of these 'gold nuggets'. So why is UGC so good?

Increase content for your blogging strategy by soliciting feedback.
Increase your SEO through the aforementioned blogging strategy and win search.
Allow for a real, human voice outside of the company to tell their story; get your brand advocates in front of the world.
It's FREE.
The super long tail --- a user (customer) may describe their situation in a very unique way that internally you would never think of saying. This provides phrases that could very well match someone else's way of describing the problem when they Google.
Discovery of new keyphrases --- as you get UGC you can see how your current customers talk about your product or services which can give you some great new ideas for keyphrases to begin to target.

We here at Compendium have actually been playing with some UGC on our website where a couple of clients such as Carhartt have been utilizing it on their blog. Both have increased conversions thusfar.

Comments for The Beauty of User Generated Content

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 by duncan Alney:: Nice post. Getting a customer voice or an evangelists voice on to your blog is critical. Most companies have a difficult time with this because they either don't know how to monitor social media and the web to identify evangelists (in hiding). An evangelists voice is compelling because its real not hyperbole or just journalistically positive. I must disagree with you when you say its free. Nothing if free. There is a cost to coaxing coordinating attracting developing UGC - its like PR - its not free. There is a cost of doing biz. The actual endorsement/content may be free of costs - but the process has costs. Thanks for the thought provoking post!