Table of contents:<\/h2>\n\n- Ask directly<\/a><\/li>\n
- Give credit to the content creator<\/a><\/li>\n
- Be specific with how you plan to use the content<\/a><\/li>\n
- Implicit vs. explicit consent<\/a><\/li>\n
- Check the users\u2019 share settings<\/a><\/li>\n
- Make sure the content you\u2019re sharing is original to the profile you found it on.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Does the profile you found the content on align with the values of Boston University?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
What is user-generated content?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nUser-generated content (UGC) is any content created and shared by someone on social media. UGC can include photos, videos, video stitches, reviews, post comments, or any other content that showcases their brand from their audience’s perspective.<\/p>\n
UGC can be a great way to boost social media marketing. However, it is important to be careful when using UGC, as you do not own the rights to the content and must respect the creators\u2019 preferences for how their UCG is shared.<\/p>\n
In addition to seeking permission from the individual who created the content, you also have to consider whether you need permission from an individual(s) who is identified in the content (if not the same as the person who posted the content).<\/p>\n
Here are some best practices to remember:<\/h2>\n1. Ask directly<\/h3>\n
The simplest way to get permission to use UGC is to ask the content creator directly on the platform where they posted it. You can do this by sending a direct message or leaving a comment on their post from the account you want to repost content to, explaining why you want to use their content and how you plan to use it. Ask them to reply with their consent or using a hashtag (example: #SharetoBU):<\/p>\n
![\"Image:](\"\/prsocial\/files\/2024\/02\/UGC-Instagram-example-1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Example comment reply or direct message:<\/strong><\/p>\nHi! We love this [content type]! Can we cross-promote on our social channels with credit to you? Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or #SharetoBU if yes. Feel free to DM us your other social handles if you\u2019d like us to tag you elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
2. Give credit to the content creator<\/h3>\n
After getting permission to use user-generated content (UGC), it is important to consistently acknowledge and attribute the original content creator. This demonstrates respect and gratitude towards the original creator. You can credit the content owner by tagging their username, mentioning their name, or including a link to their profile or website.<\/p>\n
![\"Image:](\"\/prsocial\/files\/2024\/02\/UGC-Instagram-post-example-2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> If more people other than the copywrite holder are identifiable in the photo (e.g., you can clearly see their faces), consider getting permission from those folks as well. Those people may be okay with their friend putting their photo on social media, but not an account with a much wider audience, like Boston University, sharing the same image. In the example above, since the people\u2019s faces are unidentifiable, getting permission from just the original creator should be fine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
3. Be specific with how you plan to use the content<\/h3>\n
When seeking consent to utilize UGC, it is crucial to be transparent and precise regarding how you intend to use the content. For example, if you plan on utilizing their content for purposes other than social media, such as on your website, in an email newsletter, or printed materials, you need to include this in your ask. It\u2019s also important to describe the subject matter of the other media pieces on which you plan to use the content.<\/p>\n
If this is the case, here\u2019s a reply you can use:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u201cHi, we love your [content type] and would like to feature it on our social channels. We may also use it on our [insert subject matter] website and [insert subject matter] email newsletter with your permission. Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or use #SharetoBU if yes. We will credit you and link to your profile. Thank you!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
4. Implicit vs. explicit consent<\/h3>\n
Sometimes, you don’t need to ask for permission to use user-generated content (UGC) because the creator may have already given their consent by using a specific hashtag, mentioning your brand, or participating in a contest or giveaway through which they granted permission to use their content. However, this consent may not be clear, may not cover how you want to use the content or may not be legally binding. So, it is always better to ask for explicit consent, which means getting clear approval from the content creator.<\/p>\n
Similar to the other message samples in this guide, you can say something like:<\/strong><\/p>\nHi! We love this [content type]! Can we cross-promote on our social channels with credit to you? Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or #SharetoBU if yes. Feel free to DM us your other social handles if you\u2019d like us to tag you elsewhere.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
5. Check the users\u2019 share settings<\/h3>\n
When posting content (particularly short-form videos) on social platforms like Instagram, Red, TikTok, and WeChat Channels, sometimes the user will allow other users to create new content or \u201cstitch\u201d the content to create something new. Typically, when these settings are turned on, the creator has allowed that specific piece of content to create new content. However, users may often not realize these settings are on, so it\u2019s important to continue asking for permission whenever possible.<\/p>\n
![\"Image:](\"\/prsocial\/files\/2024\/02\/TikTok-ugc-example.png\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
6. Make sure the content you\u2019re sharing is original to the profile you found it on.<\/h3>\n
UGC is everywhere. This is why checking whether the content you plan to share is original to the profile you found it on or is a repost of someone else\u2019s content is important. If you find that it is a repost of another person\u2019s content, make sure you identify the original creator and seek their permission. For example, if a user posted a photo from Getty Images, it is not sufficient to obtain the user\u2019s permission to use their post, as they likely don\u2019t have the right to grant BU permission. You would need permission from the copyright owner of the content (Getty Images). If you do not know whether the poster of the UCG owns the content and can grant permission, ask; do not assume that they do.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
7. Does the profile you found the content on align with the values of Boston University?<\/h3>\n
Check the creator’s profile you found the UGC on to ensure the rest of their content matches the University\u2019s values and that they\u2019re not posting inappropriate content on their page that would violate our social media community guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Understanding user-generated content (UGC) is essential in today’s social media-driven landscape. UGC can include a variety of media, including photos, videos, comments, showcasing a brand from the audience’s viewpoint, and more. While leveraging UGC on your social media channels can be highly effective, it is also important to use caution due to the lack of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13260,"featured_media":0,"parent":151,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13260"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72369"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72409,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369\/revisions\/72409"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
What is user-generated content?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nUser-generated content (UGC) is any content created and shared by someone on social media. UGC can include photos, videos, video stitches, reviews, post comments, or any other content that showcases their brand from their audience’s perspective.<\/p>\n
UGC can be a great way to boost social media marketing. However, it is important to be careful when using UGC, as you do not own the rights to the content and must respect the creators\u2019 preferences for how their UCG is shared.<\/p>\n
In addition to seeking permission from the individual who created the content, you also have to consider whether you need permission from an individual(s) who is identified in the content (if not the same as the person who posted the content).<\/p>\n
Here are some best practices to remember:<\/h2>\n1. Ask directly<\/h3>\n
The simplest way to get permission to use UGC is to ask the content creator directly on the platform where they posted it. You can do this by sending a direct message or leaving a comment on their post from the account you want to repost content to, explaining why you want to use their content and how you plan to use it. Ask them to reply with their consent or using a hashtag (example: #SharetoBU):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Example comment reply or direct message:<\/strong><\/p>\nHi! We love this [content type]! Can we cross-promote on our social channels with credit to you? Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or #SharetoBU if yes. Feel free to DM us your other social handles if you\u2019d like us to tag you elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
2. Give credit to the content creator<\/h3>\n
After getting permission to use user-generated content (UGC), it is important to consistently acknowledge and attribute the original content creator. This demonstrates respect and gratitude towards the original creator. You can credit the content owner by tagging their username, mentioning their name, or including a link to their profile or website.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Note:<\/strong> If more people other than the copywrite holder are identifiable in the photo (e.g., you can clearly see their faces), consider getting permission from those folks as well. Those people may be okay with their friend putting their photo on social media, but not an account with a much wider audience, like Boston University, sharing the same image. In the example above, since the people\u2019s faces are unidentifiable, getting permission from just the original creator should be fine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
3. Be specific with how you plan to use the content<\/h3>\n
When seeking consent to utilize UGC, it is crucial to be transparent and precise regarding how you intend to use the content. For example, if you plan on utilizing their content for purposes other than social media, such as on your website, in an email newsletter, or printed materials, you need to include this in your ask. It\u2019s also important to describe the subject matter of the other media pieces on which you plan to use the content.<\/p>\n
If this is the case, here\u2019s a reply you can use:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u201cHi, we love your [content type] and would like to feature it on our social channels. We may also use it on our [insert subject matter] website and [insert subject matter] email newsletter with your permission. Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or use #SharetoBU if yes. We will credit you and link to your profile. Thank you!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
4. Implicit vs. explicit consent<\/h3>\n
Sometimes, you don’t need to ask for permission to use user-generated content (UGC) because the creator may have already given their consent by using a specific hashtag, mentioning your brand, or participating in a contest or giveaway through which they granted permission to use their content. However, this consent may not be clear, may not cover how you want to use the content or may not be legally binding. So, it is always better to ask for explicit consent, which means getting clear approval from the content creator.<\/p>\n
Similar to the other message samples in this guide, you can say something like:<\/strong><\/p>\nHi! We love this [content type]! Can we cross-promote on our social channels with credit to you? Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or #SharetoBU if yes. Feel free to DM us your other social handles if you\u2019d like us to tag you elsewhere.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
5. Check the users\u2019 share settings<\/h3>\n
When posting content (particularly short-form videos) on social platforms like Instagram, Red, TikTok, and WeChat Channels, sometimes the user will allow other users to create new content or \u201cstitch\u201d the content to create something new. Typically, when these settings are turned on, the creator has allowed that specific piece of content to create new content. However, users may often not realize these settings are on, so it\u2019s important to continue asking for permission whenever possible.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
6. Make sure the content you\u2019re sharing is original to the profile you found it on.<\/h3>\n
UGC is everywhere. This is why checking whether the content you plan to share is original to the profile you found it on or is a repost of someone else\u2019s content is important. If you find that it is a repost of another person\u2019s content, make sure you identify the original creator and seek their permission. For example, if a user posted a photo from Getty Images, it is not sufficient to obtain the user\u2019s permission to use their post, as they likely don\u2019t have the right to grant BU permission. You would need permission from the copyright owner of the content (Getty Images). If you do not know whether the poster of the UCG owns the content and can grant permission, ask; do not assume that they do.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
7. Does the profile you found the content on align with the values of Boston University?<\/h3>\n
Check the creator’s profile you found the UGC on to ensure the rest of their content matches the University\u2019s values and that they\u2019re not posting inappropriate content on their page that would violate our social media community guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Understanding user-generated content (UGC) is essential in today’s social media-driven landscape. UGC can include a variety of media, including photos, videos, comments, showcasing a brand from the audience’s viewpoint, and more. While leveraging UGC on your social media channels can be highly effective, it is also important to use caution due to the lack of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13260,"featured_media":0,"parent":151,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13260"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72369"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72409,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369\/revisions\/72409"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
1. Ask directly<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nHi! We love this [content type]! Can we cross-promote on our social channels with credit to you? Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or #SharetoBU if yes. Feel free to DM us your other social handles if you\u2019d like us to tag you elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After getting permission to use user-generated content (UGC), it is important to consistently acknowledge and attribute the original content creator. This demonstrates respect and gratitude towards the original creator. You can credit the content owner by tagging their username, mentioning their name, or including a link to their profile or website.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> If more people other than the copywrite holder are identifiable in the photo (e.g., you can clearly see their faces), consider getting permission from those folks as well. Those people may be okay with their friend putting their photo on social media, but not an account with a much wider audience, like Boston University, sharing the same image. In the example above, since the people\u2019s faces are unidentifiable, getting permission from just the original creator should be fine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When seeking consent to utilize UGC, it is crucial to be transparent and precise regarding how you intend to use the content. For example, if you plan on utilizing their content for purposes other than social media, such as on your website, in an email newsletter, or printed materials, you need to include this in your ask. It\u2019s also important to describe the subject matter of the other media pieces on which you plan to use the content.<\/p>\n If this is the case, here\u2019s a reply you can use:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHi, we love your [content type] and would like to feature it on our social channels. We may also use it on our [insert subject matter] website and [insert subject matter] email newsletter with your permission. Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or use #SharetoBU if yes. We will credit you and link to your profile. Thank you!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes, you don’t need to ask for permission to use user-generated content (UGC) because the creator may have already given their consent by using a specific hashtag, mentioning your brand, or participating in a contest or giveaway through which they granted permission to use their content. However, this consent may not be clear, may not cover how you want to use the content or may not be legally binding. So, it is always better to ask for explicit consent, which means getting clear approval from the content creator.<\/p>\n Similar to the other message samples in this guide, you can say something like:<\/strong><\/p>\n Hi! We love this [content type]! Can we cross-promote on our social channels with credit to you? Reply with a \ud83d\udc4d or #SharetoBU if yes. Feel free to DM us your other social handles if you\u2019d like us to tag you elsewhere.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n When posting content (particularly short-form videos) on social platforms like Instagram, Red, TikTok, and WeChat Channels, sometimes the user will allow other users to create new content or \u201cstitch\u201d the content to create something new. Typically, when these settings are turned on, the creator has allowed that specific piece of content to create new content. However, users may often not realize these settings are on, so it\u2019s important to continue asking for permission whenever possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UGC is everywhere. This is why checking whether the content you plan to share is original to the profile you found it on or is a repost of someone else\u2019s content is important. If you find that it is a repost of another person\u2019s content, make sure you identify the original creator and seek their permission. For example, if a user posted a photo from Getty Images, it is not sufficient to obtain the user\u2019s permission to use their post, as they likely don\u2019t have the right to grant BU permission. You would need permission from the copyright owner of the content (Getty Images). If you do not know whether the poster of the UCG owns the content and can grant permission, ask; do not assume that they do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Check the creator’s profile you found the UGC on to ensure the rest of their content matches the University\u2019s values and that they\u2019re not posting inappropriate content on their page that would violate our social media community guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Understanding user-generated content (UGC) is essential in today’s social media-driven landscape. UGC can include a variety of media, including photos, videos, comments, showcasing a brand from the audience’s viewpoint, and more. While leveraging UGC on your social media channels can be highly effective, it is also important to use caution due to the lack of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13260,"featured_media":0,"parent":151,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13260"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72369"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72409,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/72369\/revisions\/72409"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/prsocial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Give credit to the content creator<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n3. Be specific with how you plan to use the content<\/h3>\n
4. Implicit vs. explicit consent<\/h3>\n
5. Check the users\u2019 share settings<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n6. Make sure the content you\u2019re sharing is original to the profile you found it on.<\/h3>\n
7. Does the profile you found the content on align with the values of Boston University?<\/h3>\n