Amplifying Your Content
By gamifying user-generated content (UGC) through in-store campaigns with prizes, brands can generate authentic, local content that's more engaging and cost-effective, while also driving foot traffic to their business.
The most effective creative content in 2025 is authentic, local, and feels as if it was shot on a personal device. This raw, organic style performs best on platforms like TikTok and Instagram because it feels "real, relevant, and relatable to your local community."
To amplify this type of content and make it a powerful marketing tool, you need to **gamify the creation process.** By running simple, in-store campaigns, you're not just hoping for UGC—you're actively generating it. This approach gives customers a tangible incentive and a clear call to action, turning a passive experience into an active, creative one. By having staff promote the prize, using table tents, and adding a simple call-to-action like, "Hey, want to win your next meal on the house? Here's what to do," you give your UGC a purpose and a built-in promotion engine.
This strategy ensures a steady stream of authentic, on-brand content while also creating buzz and excitement in your local community. Here are 25 examples of user-generated content (UGC) a brand could use, categorized by who creates them.
25 Examples of UGC
Customer-Created Content
These examples are perfect for in-store campaigns where you can reward one to four customers with a prize at the end of the week or month.
- **The "Happy Place" Photo Contest:** A photo of someone biting into a juicy burger with a big smile, a group shot of friends celebrating, or an overhead shot of a perfectly messy burger.
- **The "Show Us Your Stack" Challenge:** A TikTok or Reel of someone trying to fit the whole double cheeseburger in their mouth, a time-lapse of a group devouring their meal, or a slow-motion video of a cheese pull.
- **The "Clean Plate Club" Spotlight:** A before-and-after photo showing a full burger and an empty plate, a short video of someone patting their stomach after a satisfying meal, or a photo of an empty plate with a thumbs-up in the background.
- **The "Burger Assembly" Reel:** A short video of a customer trying to "stack" all their favorite toppings, a video showing off a custom order from the "secret menu," or a quick clip of them arranging the perfect bite.
- **The "My Go-To" Video Review:** A short, authentic video review on Yelp or Google, a quick clip on Instagram Stories with a poll, or a reel of them describing their favorite menu item.
- **The "I Spy" Scavenger Hunt:** A photo of a specific item in the restaurant (a neon sign, a unique piece of art), a video showing them finding the "secret menu" QR code, or a reel of them trying to find and eat all five of the "Top 5" late-night eats.
- **The "Post-Game Meal" Shot:** A photo of a local high school athlete celebrating a win with a huge burger, a short video of a team huddle with burgers in hand, or a quick clip of them talking about their favorite post-game meal.
- **The "Burger & Shake" Pairing:** A photo of the perfect combination of a burger and a milkshake, a video of them trying to pour a thick shake, or a reel of them talking about the best pairing on the menu.
- **The "First Timer" Reaction:** A short video of someone trying a burger from the restaurant for the very first time, a reaction video to the size of the burger, or a video of them describing their first impression of the restaurant.
- **The "Family Fun" Photo Collage:** A series of photos of a family with kids eating burgers and fries, a photo of a family celebrating a birthday, or a short video of a kid getting a milkshake mustache.
Local Influencer/Creator Collaborations
These are examples of content created by local creators or influencers that the brand collaborated with.
- A "Best of [City Name]" food blog post that features the restaurant's signature burger.
- A "First-Time-Trying-This" TikTok from a local foodie creator.
- A short video of a local DJ or musician talking about their favorite post-gig meal.
- An Instagram Reel of a local artist sketching the restaurant's exterior while sipping a shake.
- A video of a local sports team celebrating a win with a huge order of burgers and fries.
- A local "lifestyle" blogger's photo of a burger alongside their daily planner and coffee.
- A video from a local personal trainer talking about a "cheat day" meal that's worth it.
- A local travel blogger's photo guide to the "Hidden Gems of [City Name]" with the restaurant as a featured stop.
- A video of a local dog walker sharing a "must-try" spot after a long day of work (with a dog-friendly patio, of course).
- A short video from a local fashion creator featuring an outfit they'd wear for a casual lunch at the restaurant.
Staff-Created Content
These are examples of content created by the brand's own employees, but with an authentic, non-corporate feel.
- A "Day in the Life" series from a kitchen staff member, showing the energy and fun of the job.
- A TikTok of a new employee learning how to perfectly stack the burger toppings.
- A short video of a staff member sharing their favorite burger and shake pairing.
- A "Burger Assembly Challenge" video between two staff members.
- A series of short videos of staff members trying to perfectly pour a milkshake without it spilling.