After a year of restrictions, in-person events look set to roar back. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to ditch the user-generated content that kept so many brands front-of-mind in 2020. After 12 months of proving its value, UGC is here to stay. Here are four ways it could drive engagement and strengthen your content strategy in a post-Covid world.

1. Simplify Recaps with User-Generated Footage

Cut the expensive film crew. With the cameras on smartphones getting better every year, film pros are just not necessary. All you need is a community of people happy to film themselves. You could even use incentives like free tickets to get people to provide footage. Think of the hype and authentic excitement your community will capture when it’s finally able to get back to live in-person events. With a tool like Cinebody, you can tap into the crowd to collect recap footage with ease.

2. Harness the Power of Action Shots

In-person events go beyond conferences; they often feature competitions and dynamic activities. Encouraging participants to create UGC not only enhances their experience but also provides you with valuable content. There are two significant advantages to this approach:

• Validating each competitor's effort becomes effortless when they document their journey through UGC.

• You can accumulate a wealth of event-related content without incurring the costs associated with hiring a film crew.

Take Anglers All, for example. They successfully employed this two-in-one UGC strategy for their Mile High 25 event, resulting in over 620 unique clips. Davis James, the Media and Marketing Director at Anglers All, described it as an unprecedented success.

3. Overcome Accessibility Barriers with UGC

In the last 12 months, we’ve got used to being able to attend any event we want – all from the comfort of our own house. In-person events threaten to make things more difficult for those who can’t travel. But a proactive approach to UGC means global engagement is still well within your reach. Encourage attendees or designated influencers to film footage through Cinebody and you can quickly edit and share in-person perspectives – just like Macerich. It’s a great way to engage remote fans with real-time insights.

4. Build Pre-Event Buzz with UGC

Don’t wait until your event to build a buzz. Content strategies that include pre-event UGC give you the chance to share attendee experiences from front to back. Even simple clips of attendees buying their tickets, packing, or traveling enhance the overall content coming from your event. And it’s awesome for either live release or to add extra depth to planned recaps.

In conclusion, as in-person events regain their popularity, it is crucial to embrace the power of user-generated content. By implementing these four strategies, you can drive engagement, strengthen your content strategy, and create a lasting impact in a post-Covid world. Remember, UGC is more than just capturing moments – it's about fostering a sense of community and authenticity that resonates with your audience.