How Local Businesses Can Win With UGC: The Secret to More Customers Without More Ad Spend

client: ascend climbing gym pittsburgh

If you run a local business, you know the struggle: You pour your heart into what you do, but getting the word out—really getting people to notice, engage, and show up—feels like an uphill battle. You’ve tried social media, maybe even run ads, but let’s be honest—most of your posts get lost in the noise.

The game has changed. People don’t trust ads. They trust other people. And that’s where user-generated content (UGC) comes in.

What is UGC and Why Should You Care?

UGC is content created by real customers, local influencers, and everyday people who already love your brand. Think customer photos, reviews, TikToks, Instagram Reels, and personal recommendations—all the content that feels real, relatable, and trustworthy.

And here’s why it works:

✅ 84% of consumers trust peer recommendations over traditional ads
✅ Shoppers who engage with UGC convert 102% more often
✅ Social media algorithms prioritize UGC over brand-created content—meaning UGC gets seen more often than your own posts

The bottom line? Your customers don’t just want to hear from you. They want to hear from people like them.

How Local Businesses Are Using UGC to Get More Customers

🔹 A Local Café Went Viral—Without Running an Ad
A small-town coffee shop partnered with a handful of local foodies to post real, organic videos about their seasonal drinks. The result? 30% more foot traffic and a line out the door on weekends—all from UGC.

🔹 A Boutique Turned Customers Into Influencers
Instead of spending thousands on professional photos, a local boutique started resharing customer posts and tagging them. Those customers, excited to be featured, shared the posts with their own followers, bringing in a wave of new shoppers.

🔹 A Family-Owned Gym Filled Classes Using TikTok Reviews
By encouraging members to post their fitness progress, a neighborhood gym built an online community where real people shared real results. UGC posts got more traction than the gym’s own promotions—leading to higher sign-ups and long-term loyalty.

How Relay Makes UGC Easy for Local Businesses

We get it—you don’t have the time to chase influencers, manage creators, or keep up with every social media trend. That’s why Relay does it for you.

Relay connects you with a network of talented local creators who will feature your business in authentic, engaging content. These aren’t just random influencers—they’re trusted voices in your community, the people your customers already follow and trust.

✅ We handle the content creation—so you don’t have to
✅ We connect you with the right local voices—so your business stands out
✅ We drive real engagement & foot traffic—so you see results, not just likes

Client: Clean Eatz pittsburgh

Stop Fighting for Attention. Start Leveraging UGC.

Your business is already worth talking about—let the right people tell your story. Relay makes it easy to tap into the power of UGC and local influence without the headache.

👉 Ready to see how UGC can transform your business? Join Relay today and start turning local customers into your biggest advocates.