UGC (user-generated content) discovery is the process of identifying and collecting content created by real customers that features your brand or products. With social listening, brands can monitor hashtags, keywords, and social media mentions to uncover authentic content shared across Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, and more.
What is UGC discovery?
UGC discovery involves scanning social platforms for posts, reviews, videos, and stories where users voluntarily mention or showcase a brand.
These can be found using:
- Hashtag tracking (e.g., #YourBrandName)
- Keyword tracking for product names or campaign slogans
- Sentiment analysis to identify positive, authentic praise
- Influencer discovery to spot creators already producing valuable UGC
Why is it important?
For large brands and e-commerce teams, UGC discovery is essential to:
- Source authentic content for marketing
- Build trust with potential buyers
- Fuel social proof strategies
- Identify brand advocates and potential partners
- Scale content without relying on in-house production
UGC usage rights
UGC usage rights refer to the legal permission needed to reuse customer-created content in your marketing materials. While UGC discovery helps you find valuable content, UGC usage rights ensure you have proper consent to repurpose it.
Why do UGC usage rights matter?
Even public posts require permission before they can be reused in:
- Ads or paid campaigns
- Website galleries or widgets
- Product pages
- Print or promotional content
Without proper consent, you risk copyright issues or customer trust violations.
How to manage UGC usage rights
- Request rights via DM or comments
- Use a branded hashtag with clear terms and conditions
- Set up a rights-approved UGC library
- Use tools that automate consent collection and tracking
Integrating rights management into your UGC discovery and social commerce workflow is key for scale.
