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Businesses today use consumer-generated content (CGC) in a multitude of ways. From boosting business to improving brand-consumer relationships, usage of CGC in your business’s marketing strategy can be as creative as ordering a build-your-own burrito (without the guac upcharge).
Whether consumer-generated content is embedded into the marketing strategy, an extension of your business’s social media engagement or used as an incentive, the value of this content works for everyone.
Take a look at how...
Consumer-generated content is the digital version of word-of-mouth marketing. Marketeers used to include room for word-of-mouth marketing tactics in the game plan. Today, those tactics are all social- as a friend of a friend’s #foodie post on Instagram is more valued than a dated 5-star review at the bottom of a webpage. In fact, 92% of consumers trust content and recommendations that comes from peers over any other form of marketing.
“We decided a long time ago to let our guests record video and take pictures of our magic show. A lot of magic shows don't allow this for certain reasons but we decided to do it because it helps spread the word about the show, it's a type of free advertising,” Erik Dobell from the Gatlinburg, TN magic show Impossibilities - Magic, Mindreading and Mayhem says.
Erik is right. Allowing your guests to capture moments at the business cost next to nothing for both the customer and venue. And in return, the guest’s post travels between social media networks incredibly fast, generating word-of-mouth about your business and increasing turnout.
“People take a great picture or a fun video and post it on our page, we can then share that post on our page but also, the friends of the person who originally made the post will see it and that brings them one step closer to seeing our show,” Erik said.
Nothing gets more authentic than the representation of a business through the eyes (and camera lens) of its customers. In our visual world, consumer-generated content that includes stunning imagery is valuable to fans and also the marketing team.
Erik claims that after the marketing team allowed for the sharing of the CGC, guests feel even more part of the experience.
The Booster Club, a marketing company that connects brands with the consumer, utilizes consumer-generated content for further promotional material. By posing CGC as a contest during larger events, The Booster Club collects this social imagery to build up the business’s presence during later events.
“This allows for great social imagery that our social team can use for upcoming programs,” Lauren Doyle, Founder and Head Booster, said.
With permission from your customers, using consumer-generated content for your business’s own marketing strategy is like the ultimate social media recycling. Plus, consumer-generated marketing assets add an extra layer of authenticity to your content.
The easiest wine-and-dine strategy your business can employ is CGC. It’s a relationship tool for businesses to let guests know their value. This next step in utilizing consumer-generated content is all about what the marketeers choose to do with the content after it’s posted. Rather than letting the guest post hang around in the social media sphere, the business should take the opportunity to make a meaningful, one-on-one connection with the account-owner. This can come in the form of a like, love, comment or incentive.
At My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Layton, Utah, owner Jamie Dicks sees the repurposing of guest posts as a way to highlight the business’s belief in them over us.
“Capturing a small moment with a mom and tot is a great gift to them, with the bonus of the mom sharing that moment to her page - nearly every time!” Jamie said. “Our customers are our heroes and we highlight that by making our business about THEM not US, this alone makes all the difference.”
The Booster Clubs adds that customers feel extra special when their posts give them a deal or free item, like a tee shirt.
“We utilize our customer's social media as a contest for free prizes like T-shirts and other giveaways,” Lauren said.
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The fun is a full-on immersive experience at ComedySportz theaters around the country that display audience and performer social media content on the UPshow screens. While the theaters offer interactive comedy shows and creativity workshops, UPshow allows for all in the venue to be a part of the unique experience.
Let’s take a look at the “UPshow Effect” at ComedySportz- highlighting customer posts that aren’t just pictures but invaluable promotions:
How can you tell a performer not to perform, no matter the platform?! With UPshow screens in the ComedySportz venues, the improv troupe can even keep the show going off-stage with behind-the-scene posts. Performers even use the screen to promote later performances and upcoming events at the venue. Audiences are treated to posts from their favorite performers on the UPshow screen and later on their own social feed they are able to make note of when to come back to see them again.
Click through the above images to see how the performers delighted audiences with exclusive posts to the UPshow screens.
It’s not only the performers on the stage that are in the spotlight. The UPshow screens give influencers a chance to post to social and reach their wide audience. The influencer themselves gets the excitement that comes with seeing their great content up on the screen while their followers are alerted to the influencer’s presence at ComedySportz. Worlds collide when the influencer also happens to be a past performer! Through an influential performer’s UPshow post, the venue is essentially receiving digital word-of-mouth promotion sent to all of the influencer’s followers.
Check out the influencers with interactive ComedySportz UPshow posts in the graphics above!
With improv, each show can bring about a different experience for the audience. To encourage customers to come back (and bring friends!), ComedySportz creates personalized promotions with UPshow’s Connected Commerce feature. The promotions are sent via a comment on the UPshow user’s post to the screen. This incentive makes the user feel special and also gives the customer a reason to come back for another show!
Between great customer-generated content, ComedySportz has created personalized Spotlights, or digital signs, to display. These Spotlights call out audience members with celebrating birthdays and large group outings.
Check out the above Spotlights that show up on the ComedySportz UPshow screens to create a personal experience for the audience members!
In QSR's article about driving engagement through user-generated content, the magazine featured Epic Burger's use of UPshow and its ability to bring wow moments to customer posts.
Check out the online version of the article here.
The modern, relaxed vibe at Bar Louie invites both local and regional beers, handcrafted cocktails and craveable food choices for guests to enjoy. In various Bar Louie locations around the country, UPshow screens are helping bring social content to life inside the venues and online.
So Eat. Drink. Be Happy. And post to the UPshow screen!
Let’s take a look at the “UPshow Effect” at the participating Bar Louie locations-highlighting customer posts that aren’t only customer pictures but customer promotions:
Each Bar Louie location has its own local flavor. Influencers in the area, businesses and activities help shape a culture in the Bar Louie venue. By combining Bar Louie’s brand name with radio shows and social users with high following ratios, the brand is branching into different audiences online. Whether it’s a single influencer or an event hosted at Bar Louie, these social posts attach themselves to Bar Louie’s brand in the local community.
If adding another hashtag just about ruins your perfect post or if you can’t remember which ones it takes to get on the screen, UPshow allows Bar Louie locations to accept geo-tags to the screen. While guests have an even easier time getting their fifteen seconds of fame on the UPshow screen, Bar Louie is able to view and track user-generated content even easier by the specific location tag.
Check out the images above to see how Bar Louie’s UPshow geo-tags!
We all love seeing posts with glamorous friend squads that rival Taylor Swift, concert fun and birthday events but nothing draws your eye better than a beautiful looking martini and appetizer to pair. When a guest posts their menu item to UPshow, other guests are drawn to the screen, curiously debating whether to order the delish dish before them. The group mentality that helps influence on social media is also coming into play when one guest sees what another guest enjoys, especially when it’s broadcasted on the TV screens
In between Bar Louie's guest posts that invite and delight other patrons, the UPshow screens display content true to the brand's identity. These digital signage displays educate customers on menu items, like all the available ales, entertain customers with dynamic and fun bartender videos and even incite return visits with reminders about the weekly specials.
Check out the branded Bar Louie Spotlights below:
Granite City aims to empower people and have fun in the process. So raise a glass to fresh made food, fresh-brewed beer and all the delicious things in life, like UPshow! Already in 6 different Granite City locations, UPshow has joined in Granite City’s quest of empowerment and fun.
Let’s take a look at the “UPshow Effect” at our Granite City locations- highlighting customer posts that aren’t just customer pictures, they’re invaluable customer promotions.
Local foodies know the local flavor of the town and have gained the trust of their neighbors. When a local influencers makes a post, the neighborhood follows. @rockford_cravings is the perfect example of a local influencer who has the support of the town thanks to her aesthetically-pleasing Instagram that highlights the town’s food scene. When she posted to the UPshow screen at Granite City’s Rockford location, @rockford_cravings showed thousands of followers her delicious plate of grub that the whole town can go experience!
While fun and delicious times are displayed in venue on the UPshow screen, on social media the followers of these posters are able to see beautiful and mouthwatering descriptions of the menu offerings as well as the details of different events that are currently taking place. While @nombone’s post suggests Granite City is the perfect place for a graduation celebration, @calligraphybycolleen is helping to promote her own business and Granite City’s eventful Father’s Day.
The customers are not the only ones to have fun at Granite City! When employees take the time to post to the UPshow screen, like these smiling faces at Granite City Naperville, not only do the customers feel more encouraged to post themselves but the location is given its own personality on social media.
Through UPshow’s Spotlight feature, the Granite City locations can always be on brand when displaying menu items and beer lists, specials, localized events and fun employee culture!
Click through the images below for Granite City’s greatest Spotlights:
From flowers, to cake, to shoes, to where the heck should you seat Great Aunt Josephine, it's clear the wedding can be just as hectic as it is exciting. A popular way to take some control of the day is a wedding hashtag for guests to use when taking pictures and posting to social media. But why not take it a step further and use those shared moments as a part of your reception's ambiance?
That's exactly what bride Kelsey Caulkins did when she enlisted UPshow to help make her wedding day extra special. With a large TV screen in the reception hall, Caulkins was able to display her guests's (as well as some of her own) social media pictures during the wedding using their hashtag, #TheNewestBerry.
Check out the clever ways this couple used the UPshow screen to take their guests through their love story all the way to the big day!
Walking Down Memory Lane:
The couple preloaded social media posts using their hashtag so that content would appear on the screen the second they plugged it in. These pictures displayed the couple’s story, highlighting relationship milestones, trips and good times. Not only are these posts great to look back on but also give guests content to view before and during the reception that personalizes the event.
Journey Down the Aisle:
Love’s not the only journey that makes it to the alter! Wedding preparation is a full-fledged adventure amongst friends and family for months prior to the ‘I dos’. While at the time these moments may seem stressful, it’s a time that all involved will end up remembering. By adding these moments to the UPshow screen, the entire experience from beginning all the way to the reception is documented and guests have the ability to see these exciting behind the scene moments like the bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner on the screen.
In Case You Missed It:
To the couple, the wedding day can turn into a blur. Relying on guest photos can be tricky considering some may not know whether to use a hashtag or forget to tag the couple. By having clear directions on how to post and the incentive of getting on the UPshow screen, your guests are more inclined to pull out their phones and take pictures with the correct hashtags. During the reception the couple can easily glance over to the UPshow screen to see snapshots of the day they have missed and after the reception those posts are collected neatly together with the hashtag.
In Your Eyes:
Wedding guests are there to celebrate the couple’s big day and by taking pictures to post to the UPshow screen, the couple now has sweet moments caught through the eyes of their guests.
UPshow was the perfect addition to our wedding! We received so many comments from our guests telling us how cool it was and how they had never seen it before at another wedding. We really wanted a lot of social media posts and we were blown away with how many people posted pictures using our hashtag. The team was so great to work with and made everything seamless. It definitely was a memorable addition to our reception!
Kelsey Caulkins (Bride)
Travel the World of Beer from your local barstool with 50 craft beers on tap and over 500 more in the cooler. Over 10 World of Beer locations partner with UPshow and give social media audiences a true taste exploration of beers and accompanied eats.
Let’s take a look at the “UPshow Effect” at World of Beer-highlighting customer posts that aren't just pictures but invaluable promotions.
Throughout the various WOB locations that display UPshow, consumer-generated content is created and shared in niche audience circles, local events and in-venue gatherings. Here’s a look at a few that truly highlight the essence of variety World of Beer offers to beer lovers and the local community.
Consumers head to social media to discover and learn more about topics that interest them. Niche markets like craft beer are filled to the brim (we had to) on social media with influential accounts documenting, tracking and posting about the best craft beer selections around the world. Rather than feel inspired to grab a cold one after watching some cute puppies consumers today check out their social media followers to see where to get the best brew. Accounts like The Beer Nation are a part of this niche market that caters towards beer-lovers. As such, it has become a trustworthy source for the audience. When The Beer Nation posted to UPshow at the World of Beer Syracuse location the perfect target audience for the business was reached. Those in the beer community saw the post from the influential account and can now consider World of Beer a potential place to try out new beers.
Musicians Martin and Kelly really showed how a two in one opportunity works! Martin and Kelly have their own expansive social following ready to track their shows. Just by posting to their account, those fans see the content. When Martin and Kelly post to UPshow and use the World of Beer hashtags they have now exposed their fans to a larger community of World of Beer fans. World of Beer is gaining more potential reach and entrance into the local music scene on social through Martin and Kelly while Martin and Kelly are displaying their concert news on the UPshow screens for all World of Beer patrons to see.
Just like how consumers look for their interest topics on social media, they also look for events to attend. And just like how consumers tend to stray from brands and turn towards their social media followers, the same thing happens when promoting events. @ccphelps post to UPshow about World of Beer's bingo night has the potential to drive a bigger turnout of people truly interested in finding a bingo night than a branded post has. The social user is broadcasting to her followers who share similar likes, dislikes and interests- possibly including bingo or other fun in-venue nights!
The social engagement and sharing aspect is extremely beneficial to a business; however, World of Beer also takes advantage of UPshow’s Connected Commerce feature, which allows the business to offer opportunities for more revenue directly through its consumer’s social media posts. Check out the picture above to see how excited this World of Beer consumer and her friends are that they have received a special personalized promotion all because they posted to the UPshow screens!
Our World of Beer UPshow locations also feature menu items, brunch specials and events through our digital signage experience. These eye-catching branded signs attract patrons in venue and spark the idea to come back for the events and promotions advertised. Click through the above images to see some examples World of Beer's Spotlights.
Bigger is better, especially when it comes to screens. This summer, UPshow has made it big time on the big screen! From shopping malls, music festivals and tourist attractions, UPshow has displayed social media content and dynamic digital signage across the country on screens bigger than ever. These (sometimes) 100ft screens help draw attention to the various advantages of consumer-generated content and stunning social media displays.
GGP, the investment company that owns some of the largest shopping malls in the United States including the Fashion Show Mall in Vegas, has displayed UPshow-powered screens throughout its shopping venues. Most recently, UPshow worked with the Tennis Channel to showcase top social content from the French Open on GGP’s big screens.
GGP’s UPshow-powered marvel showed advertisers a unique and creative way to showcase brand’s social media content in high traffic areas such as shopping malls. The appealing and dynamic visuality of branded social media posts projected on TV screens so large no one can ignore them adds fun spectacle to the existing relatability of social media content.
At the Carolina Country Music Festival, everyone is a little bit country and a little bit digital influencer. UPshow has partnered with CCMF for the second year in a row and the numbers (including those screen dimensions!) still impress. In just a weekend time span, CCMF gained over 5,000 posts from those in the audience hoping to get their mug on the big screens next to their favorite country musicians.
With a handful of influencers ranging from fashion and lifestyle bloggers to southern-lovin’ girls, the biggest content came from the festival’s VIPs. A trend emerged from this year’s festival was the frequency and amount of posts from customers. One customer posted to the UPshow screen 41 times! In addition to the regular posters, CCMF encouraged more customers to post by providing contests that displayed the best 10 UPshow posts of the day. As the audience watched the big screens up above, wishing to see their post make the top ten, CCMF was utilizing the allure of the giant screens to encourage customers to post more using the hashtags.
UPshow empowers CCMF to create an experience where the customer feels like part of the entertainment while the brand gains valuable social media content documenting the successful musical fest.
National Harbor’s outdoor screen is so big that it even caught the eye of advertisers. The immediate draw to post a picture to one of the biggest screens at one of the most popular tourist attraction is strong; however, sponsored content has truly become the king of National Harbor. Mega brands like Blue Moon and Comcast to local businesses like Tanger Outlets present advertisements through UPshow’s Spotlight feature. National Harbor also utilizes UPshow’s Spotlight feature to showcase different events held at the popular tourist attraction. This summer, UPshow will display imagery of local bands to the crowds attending the Salute the Sunset concert series.
In addition to the heavy use of Spotlights, National Harbor guests still enjoy their must-have tourist pictures amongst the big brands glowing on the giant screen as well as influencers who take advantage of the undeniable large amount of eyeballs viewing the screen.
And who can resist snapping another UPshow picture within a picture when your smiling face is being shown to thousands?
What happens when you combine your customers love for social media and their desire for personalized attention from brands? UPshow magic! Well, we like to call it Connected Commerce, but its ability to power social media-driven spending is pretty magical.
UPshow’s Connected Commerce allows your business to automatically send authentic shout-outs to customers on their social posts made at your venue (whether hashtagged or geotagged). With a simple social mention, your business is actively interacting with the customer while also providing opportunities for additional spending or a repeat visit. These customized messages will typically buzz as a notification on the consumer’s phone and will drive behaviors such as:
This intelligent automated system adds a personalized touch to your business’s social media that you won’t even have to think about.
Incentives another purchase or another trip to the business
Admit it, half the fun of posting to social media is seeing who likes and comments on your post. A customer who posts to the UPshow screen is already waiting in anticipation for their 15 seconds of fame on the big screen so the surprise of the actual business commenting on their post adds to the thrill of the moment. By crafting a message that includes a discount, promo code or special offer the customer is given a reason to make another purchase or come back again to cash in on their message.
Makes customer feel connected to brand
The best brand image is one that your audience feels connected to. Who wants to head to a business where they feel like they don’t matter? Engaging with your customer database on social media is a best practice; however, constantly typing out unique and worthwhile communication with your customers can be time-consuming. With the Connected Commerce feature your business can schedule out unique messages to automatically go out when you direct it to. While you can check customer outreach off your ever expansive to-do list, your customer is starting to believe that two-way communication with your business is a reality.
Keeps brand relevant to customer
You know what’s worse than a customer forgetting what they ordered off the menu? A customer forgetting your business entirely. To keep your brand relevant to customers your business has to work at it. Social media interaction is a perfect place to remind customers of your business in a fun way. The Connected Commerce response from St Pat's Bar with this user reminds the user to come while also confirming to St Pat's that the communication is appreciated! When interaction like this happens, customers are more likely to stay aware of your business and also want to return.
If your business is already enjoying the UPshow experience, call your account manager to assist you in setting up the Connected Commerce process.
Interested but feeling left out? Don’t worry, contact us today to learn more about how to get a customized in-venue experience for your customers with UPshow!
The cocktail for a perfect night out is blue. Stir in a renowned happy hour, nightly live music and UPshow screens displaying all the action and you’ve got yourself an evening at Blue Martini.
With 11 locations nationwide creating customized shareable moments through the UPshow screens, Blue Martini has garnered mega influencers and a reputation for amazing celebrations.
Let's see the "UPshow Effect" at Blue Martini- highlighting customer posts that aren't just pictures but invaluable customer promotions.
We can’t resist the urge to stop and stare when in the presence of fame. But in today’s digital age, celebs aren’t the only ones getting spotted in the spotlight. Social media influencers are sighted at the coolest, trendiest hot spots, like Blue Martini. Even better, they will most definitely be posting a promotional picture during the night. Blue Martini has its fair share of influencers who post their martini-sipping experience to the UPshow screens. From verified accounts to promoters, these influencers are announcing on social that Blue Martini is worth checking out.
Click through the above photos to check out some superstar influencers who posted on the UPshow screens, promoting Blue Martini to their thousands of followers.
Great customer content on social media boosts your business’s brand image and trust amongst social users. But your customers aren’t the only ones with a story to share. Employees are great promoters for your business. When customers see employees having fun, they feel more inclined to join in. Displaying team mentality on the UPshow screens in-venue creates a close-knitted culture between customer and employee. Even better, Blue Martini created its own Instagram account dedicated to The Blue Angels serving drinks at all locations. The Blue Angels post to the UPshow screens, which notifies their thousands of followers to head over for something blue!
Whether you’re headed to a birthday party, bro's night out or bachelorette party, the night is always defined by where you decide to go. The venue you choose for a killer night out impacts how the rest of the evening will go. More importantly, when in celebration mode, you want to know the business cares about your party. While the atmosphere at Blue Martini is party-perfect, posting to the UPshow screen not only allows your party to be famous but also provides some special perks! Busy celebrating bride-to-be, @uncommonchick scored a discounted shot for her UPshow post!
Click through these images to see some spectacular celebrations captured on the UPshow screens.
Blue Martini’s relaxed happy hour and lively dance nights filled with influencers and celebs has caught the eye of bigger brands. Through UPshow’s Spotlight feature, several Blue Martini locations display Red Bull promo videos on the TV screens surrounding guests. Check out the vibrant and enticing digital signage opportunity below:
When people think Chicago, it's pretty likely their first thought is about the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs (still weird to say!). And when Chicago Cubs fans think about heading to Wrigleyville, right alongside the Ivy, the rooftops, and Old Style Beer, is Murphy's Bleachers. Murphy's Bleachers is the quintessential Chicago Cubs bar. When national broadcasts come to town, they set-up shop at Murphy's Bleachers to show true fandom.
You can be sure that when their customers are at Murphy's they want to tell the world about it. And there's no better way to continuously spread the word then having fans of Murphy's and the Cubs spread their joy via social media.
Let’s take a look at the “UPshow Effect” at Murphy’s Bleachers- highlighting customer posts that aren’t just pictures but invaluable customer promotions:
With a cluttered marketplace of Cubs-supporting bars and restaurants in Wrigleyville, especially after the World Series victory, Murphy’s Bleacher has to make itself distinct from others. As customers post great Wrigley Field shots from the bar, they are assisting Murphy’s in utilizing the location as a marketing strength. Not only are followers clued in as to where Murphy’s is, the restaurant has an even more direct association with the Cubs than the other bars and restaurants nearby. This Instagramer even geotag Murphy’s, adding to the ease of other followers to stop in!
Digital influencers all have their niche market online. For Chicago Cubs fans, the accounts to follow are endless. Chicago Cubs Nation is one of the most influential die-hard Cubs fan accounts around, with 185k followers. When this influencer account posts at specific locations, all Cubs-loving followers are notified and take note of a physical venue that connects the digital community of fans. When Chicago Cubs Nation reposted at Murphy’s and was displayed on the UPshow screen, all 185k followers are directed to Murphy’s as the bar for Cubs action.
We’ve all seen the restaurants with a wall dedicated strictly for autographed celebrity photos, marking their presence at the venue for future customers to oogle at. Murphy’s, being the hub of all things Cubs, receives its fair share of celebrity appearances (even when the celeb is rooting for the wrong team!). But instead of hanging a small printout with the celebs chicken scratched remark on the best burger in town, Murphy’s gives customers instant gratification and long-lasting social proof of the celebrity appearance using the UPshow screens. When someone takes a picture with the celebrity, like Bill Murray above, the photo appears on the screen for all in venue to see within seconds. And after the excitement has worn down, Murphy’s has the social proof on Twitter to remember the night Bill made his visit!
Prohibition era class shaken not stirred over contemporary design and motion, Cask Ale & Kitchen’s ambience is just as tasteful as the hand-crafted whiskey, cocktails and cuisine. Located in Sarasota, FL the restaurant/bar receives high customer social media posts and engagement that are then displayed on the UPshow TV screens in venue.
Let’s take a look at the “UPshow Effect” at Cask Ale & Kitchen- highlighting customer posts that aren’t just pictures but invaluable customer promotions.
With such high engagement from customers, it’s no wonder that all different types of foodies venture out to try Cask Ale! Nothing is more appealing to the masses than a restaurant menu that can easily serve any type of eater- from picky to gluten-free and all the way to vegan. Trending on social media is digital influencers that devout their platform to a specific type of food audience, like @_thegreenolive! TheGreenOlive is a chef that focuses on vegan, plant-based recipes. By having such a distinguished vegan influencer post on the UPshow screen and social media tagging Cask Ale, vegan followers receive confirmation and the restaurant gains customers that may have been weary beforehand about whether or not the menu offered fare they could enjoy.
The Cocktail Couple posted to Cask Ale’s UPshow screen all while providing an excellent review of the restaurant’s cocktail. Better yet, they even gave a shout out to the bartender who served them, Rob! Instagrammers who focus on one thing, like cocktails, become a social media expert in that field for their followers. A post by these cocktail experts lets their followers, eager to learn, know that Cask Ale is above the competition. The comments section has even further promoted the restaurant!
Behind the scenes shots are a great way for a business to make social media followers feel included and part of the community. It’s also a fun way to let customers know about different lectures, sessions or master classes the business is participating in. Followers hear this #BTS information and make the connection that the business is growing in industry knowledge. Rob the bartender (featured in The Cocktail Couple’s raving review above!) posted about a whiskey class at Cask Ale and let all his followers know that the restaurant is learning how to provide better drinks and service to customers. Who wouldn’t want to check it out?
