February 5th Edition

Leveling Up

Welcome back to Leveling Up. Let’s start this week strong.

Here’s what I’ve prepared for you today:

• How Noah Kagan would build a $1M business today

• The rise of LinkedIn UGC content that led to 3X more traffic

• How to turbocharge your growth with a private network

• And more

- Eric Siu :)

Let’s Link

Here are the top 5 most helpful links to check out today:

1. 🐊 Gatorade is doubling down with a free membership platform

2. 🖼️ You can now use Bard to generate "high-quality” images

3. 🤖 A guide to mastering the new “power skill” of 2024

4. 💰 Want to become irreplaceable? Become nicheless

5. ❤️ Don’t lurk online, do this instead

Grab a FREE Marketing Plan For Your Brand

Tell us a little bit about your company, and our marketing experts will put together a detailed plan to hit your growth goals—100% free.

Interview Highlights

Noah Kagan: He Built 7 Multi-Million Dollar Businesses. Now He’ll Show You How You Can Build One Today…

Here are the highlights:

• 💭 It's good to be jealous because it's a direction of do I actually want that or not, but there's never amount of external things that finally make you feel good internally.

• 💰 Hiring coaches can be a game-changer for business growth, even if it means paying a high price for their expertise.

• 💡 Coaches can help provide structure, consistency, and thoughtfulness in a patient way, aiming for long-term success rather than just quick wins.

• 👥 Having coaches in almost every single aspect of life is like a cheat code for success.

• 🎯 Having a singular focus and a big vision is key to success in business.

• 💌 Focus on building a strong audience on one platform and use email to communicate with them, rather than being dependent on social media algorithms.

• 📈 When you find something that works, test and invest and double down on it, but most people don't actually live by that principle.

• ⏳ It takes multiple decades to build something generational, so think in decades, not years.

Deep Dive

LinkedIn AI and UGC Together Got 3x Traffic (& What It Means for Marketers)

User-generated content (UGC) is fast becoming a cornerstone for successful marketing strategies, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn.

So much so that the social network has managed to blend the authenticity of content from its users with the organization and management of LinkedIn AI to develop “Collaborative Articles.”

In this post, we’ll walk through exactly what LinkedIn managed to pull off and the lessons we marketers can learn from marrying UGC with AI.

What Is UGC on LinkedIn?

UGC on LinkedIn revolves around encouraging users to engage and contribute content, specifically targeting business-related queries. These manifest in the form of LinkedIn’s Collaborative Articles, which are basically an amalgamation of industry experts’ combined nuggets of wisdom and commentary on a particular topic:

This approach not only fosters community interaction but also significantly amplifies content visibility for search engines. Influential figures and everyday users alike are prompted to participate, generating a diverse range of insights and discussions.

The Strategy Behind LinkedIn’s UGC

LinkedIn’s key play has been blending AI with UGC, turbocharging its SEO game like never before. Think of it as a digital magnet: Initially pulling in somewhere near 1 million visits monthly, their adjusted approach has amplified the visits threefold (!), reaching an impressive three million eyeballs:

But here’s the real kicker: LinkedIn isn’t just sitting back and waiting for content to roll in. Nope.

That’s where digital badges come in – LinkedIn’s secret sauce to spur user engagement. These aren’t just shiny digital trinkets; they’re a nod to the movers and shakers who are making waves on the platform.

And this isn’t just about upping the quantity of posts. It’s a strategic move to amp up quality, engagement, and visibility. In a nutshell, LinkedIn has turned the UGC game on its head, transforming it from a mere content factory to a thriving hub of expert insights and buzzing interaction.

LinkedIn’s UGC Strategy Breakdown

The Impact of AI and UGC on SEO and Traffic

While the spike in traffic – from one to three million visits – is notable, it’s crucial to assess the real impact of this traffic on business metrics. In the realm of digital marketing, sheer numbers can be misleading. What matters most is the conversion of this traffic into tangible business outcomes like increased signups, sales or lead generation.

LinkedIn’s use of AI in conjunction with UGC is probably the best application of AI that we currently have access to (when it comes to content generation, that is):

The platform employs AI to optimize the content generated by users so that it aligns with SEO best practices and enhances the overall quality and relevancy of the information.  This blend of human creativity and AI efficiency exemplifies the potential of technology in augmenting content strategies.

Key Takeaways for Marketers

Focus on Conversion, Not Just Traffic

It’s not enough to celebrate high traffic numbers. Marketers should hone in on the conversion rate – the true indicator of a campaign’s success. This means not just attracting visitors but converting them into leads, customers, and active participants in your business narrative.

Analyze user behavior, optimize calls-to-action and tailor content to guide visitors toward desired actions, whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase or filling out a contact form.

Leverage AI Efficiently

AI is a powerful tool, but it’s most effective when used to enhance human creativity, not replace it.

Use AI to analyze user data and trends, personalize content, and improve search engine optimization. But keep in mind that the human touch is crucial in creating relatable and engaging content. Striking the right balance between AI efficiency and human insight can lead to content that resonates with your audience and performs well in search engines.

Encourage Quality UGC

Cultivate an environment where quality UGC is the norm. This means not just encouraging users to post, but guiding them towards creating valuable, informative, and engaging content. Provide clear guidelines, inspire with prompts, and showcase exemplary contributions.

Recognize and reward top contributors to foster a community of active, quality content creators. Remember, quality UGC not only boosts SEO but also enhances brand credibility and customer trust.

Monitor and Adapt

In the fast-paced digital world, what works today may not work tomorrow. Continuously monitor the performance of your UGC strategies using analytics tools. Pay attention to metrics like engagement rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.

Be prepared to pivot and adapt your strategy based on these insights. Stay abreast of the latest digital marketing trends and algorithm updates to keep your strategy relevant and effective.

Build a Community, Not Just a Platform

Engage with your audience and build a community around your brand. Encourage discussions, respond to comments, and create interactive content like polls or Q&A sessions.

A strong community leads to higher user engagement, loyalty and brand advocacy. It transforms your platform from a mere content repository to a vibrant, interactive space where users feel valued and heard.

Align UGC with Brand Goals

Make sure that the UGC aligns with your overall brand goals and messaging. While it’s important to encourage freedom of expression, having a clear brand voice and guidelines helps maintain consistency and reinforces your brand identity.

Use UGC to tell your brand’s story, showcase your values, and connect with your audience on a deeper level.

Utilize UGC for Insights and Innovation

User-generated content is a goldmine for insights into your audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. Analyze UGC to gather feedback, understand customer sentiment, and identify trends.

Use these insights to drive product innovation, improve services, and tailor your marketing strategies to better meet the needs of your audience.

Last Word on LinkedIn AI and UGC Setting an Example for the Future

The integration of UGC, AI and SEO on platforms like LinkedIn is just the start of businesses using AI to collate and organize UGC into potent content pieces. We see more media companies soon following suit, with brands across an array of verticals to follow afterward.

Just as businesses are finding their way onto social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, they will soon start realizing they can better organize their UGC to create optimized content that resonates even more with their audience, driving even more engagement than before.

As this particular application of AI continues to develop, staying ahead of trends and adapting to new technologies will be crucial for maintaining and bolstering brand presence online.

If you’re ready to drive superior sales growth and tangible business results, Single Grain’s LinkedIn experts can help!👇

Turbocharge Your Business Growth With An Elite Private Network

• Fill out this form to apply

• Leveling Up Founders is an invite-only community for the top founders in media, marketing, and business.

• Next event: Aug 5-7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, CA

Timely Tweets

🎤 Your chance to get featured in Marc Lou’s newsletter

😄 Reminder about Google and Yahoo’s recent changes

✍️ Don’t let AI keep you from writing that book

To your growth
- Eric Siu

Ps: We have a ton of free content to help your business grow:

• Listen to our Marketing School podcast for daily marketing news

• Subscribe to the Leveling Up YouTube channel for interviews with key marketers, entrepreneurs, and more

• Apply to join our private network for 7-9 figure founders

• Read the Single Grain blog for actionable marketing tips

• Request a free custom marketing plan if you’re interested in testing our done-for-you services!