Out of Office? Let UGC Do the Posting.

Taking a break in your business shouldn’t mean ghosting your followers. But let’s be real, when you’re on vacation, the last thing you want to do is worry about posting on Instagram.
Enter your secret weapon: User-Generated Content (UGC).

UGC is any content - photos, videos, reviews - created by your audience for your brand. It’s authentic, engaging, and a smart way to keep your feed fresh without lifting a finger while you’re away.

Why UGC Is a Small Business Superpower

• It’s trustworthy - People trust real people more than polished ads.

• It’s relatable - UGC feels more real than a staged product shoot.

• It boosts engagement - Fans love seeing themselves featured!

• It saves time - No need to create every photo or video yourself.

How to Source UGC

Here are three simple ways to find great UGC for your summer content calendar:

• Check Your Tags & Mentions
  Look at who’s tagging you in posts and Stories. Happy customers are often already creating content for you - you just need to ask to share it.

• Create a Branded Hashtag
  Encourage your audience to share their photos using a specific hashtag. Make it fun and easy to remember - think #SevenSocialSummer or #YourBrandStories.

• Run a UGC Campaign or Giveaway
  Host a summer photo contest: “Post a pic with our product for a chance to win!” Not only do you get fresh content, but you boost engagement too.

• Hire a UGC Professional

  There are a number of great sites available where you can hire creators to come up with fresh content for you! Where this differentiates from an influencer is that UGC creators often don’t have the largest folowings and create the content for you to post, not for them to post on their own pages.

Your Plug-and-Play Vacation UGC Plan

Here’s how to keep your feed active while you’re offline:

Batch your UGC in advance - Save 5–10 approved posts.
Write quick captions now - Simple thank-yous, stories about the customer, or related tips.
Schedule them - Either schedule posts yourself or have your social media manager plan them in advance.
Add Stories too - UGC works great as casual, easy Stories to keep your profile active.

Bonus Tip: Repurpose It!

Turn UGC into:

• Reels with trending audio

• Carousel posts (“Our community in action!”)

• Story Highlights (“Customer Love”)

• Testimonials for your website

You deserve a break, but your feed doesn’t have to slow down! User-generated content is the simplest way to stay consistent and build trust while you’re logged off.