Mind you \u2013 it\u2019s not that people don\u2019t want companies on social networks. Now more than ever, people are using social media channels to connect and engage with brands<\/a>. That\u2019s exactly the point \u2013 audiences don\u2019t want to be talked at any longer. They want to interact with brands, participate in their stories, and share a moment\u2026or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like any relationship, it\u2019s a two-way street \u2013 and as a business looking to meet your customers\u2019 needs and win their loyalty, you\u2019re there to listen. That\u2019s where social listening<\/a> comes in (go figure). It has become a vital part of digital marketing, helping businesses gain a better understanding of their customers, extract invaluable insights, and find opportunities to engage audiences in a more meaningful way. Simply referring to brand-related posts created by consumers, user-generated content<\/a> (UGC) has flooded social media platforms. It has claimed an especially important place in Instagram marketing<\/a>, helping consumers and brands gather around niche communities. And it\u2019s the fuel of the influencer fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UGC has not only changed the way consumers interact with brands on social, but it\u2019s profoundly shaping digital marketing and branding as a whole. Impressive stats aside, what does UGC have to do with social listening?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, remember that social listening isn\u2019t just monitoring conversations. It\u2019s participating in them, and if you want to take it a step further and hit home, you\u2019ll run campaigns that are capable of facilitating conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By encouraging your audience to post content on your behalf, you won\u2019t only be directly encouraging interaction; you\u2019ll be cultivating a community around your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s what social media marketing is about, and community is the basis of a strong, trusting relationship with your audience.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most importantly, it\u2019s a way for people to take part in your brand\u2019s story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the best way to actually get people to post about your brand? Offer a reward to get them in on the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Run giveaways and contests using branded hashtags, which you\u2019ll easily track with a\u00a0monitoring tool like Mention<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n
Hold tight, because we\u2019re here with some great hacks to help you crush it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Encourage UGC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Salesforce<\/a> presents some juicy numbers to back up this claim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"6](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Social_listening_customer_loyalty_01-1024x516.jpg\")
![\"6](\"https:\/\/mention.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Social_listening_customer_loyalty_02.png\")
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