Leveraging User-Generated Content During Virtual Events to Drive Engagement and Reach

Riddhik Kochhar -

When it comes to virtual events, engagement is everything. A lively chat, an active social feed, or even a few well-timed memes can transform a passive audience into an active community. One of the most effective ways to achieve that? Encouraging user-generated content (UGC)—authentic, attendee-created moments that give your event life beyond the screen.

UGC isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore; it’s a vital engagement strategy. When attendees share photos, tweets, or short clips about their experience, they help amplify your event’s reach, add social proof, and foster connection among participants. Whether you’re hosting a product launch, conference, or hybrid summit, learning how to tap into UGC can significantly elevate your virtual event engagement, both on and off social media.

Why User-Generated Content Matters in Virtual Events

User-generated content works because it feels real. Audiences trust people more than brands, and when attendees share their personal take on an event, it adds credibility and authenticity that polished marketing materials can’t replicate.

For event organizers, this means UGC offers several benefits:

  • Increased reach: Every tweet, post, or story becomes free promotion for your event.
  • Community building: When attendees see their peers posting, they’re encouraged to join in the conversation.
  • Sustained engagement: Content generated during an event often continues circulating long after it ends.
  • Social proof: Prospective attendees are more likely to register for future events when they see real people enjoying the experience.

In short, UGC transforms attendees into ambassadors. Each share, tag, or comment expands your digital footprint and reinforces your event’s credibility.

Creating the Right Environment for Social Sharing

The best UGC campaigns don’t happen by accident—they’re designed. Event organizers can encourage participation by making it easy, rewarding, and fun for attendees to share content.

Here’s how to make that happen:

1. Build a Hashtag Strategy

A clear, catchy event hashtag acts as the anchor for all social content. Keep it short, relevant, and easy to spell, something participants can remember and use naturally in their posts. Display the hashtag prominently in your event interface, welcome slides, and chat spaces so everyone knows where to contribute.

For instance, a simple “#EventName2025” can help attendees tag their posts consistently across Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and Instagram.

2. Gamify Engagement

Nothing sparks creativity like a friendly challenge. Consider hosting live contests, like “best virtual background,” “most creative event selfie,” or “top tweet of the session.” Reward winners with digital prizes or shoutouts during closing remarks. This not only boosts participation but keeps energy levels high throughout the event.

If your virtual event platform supports real-time recognition or spotlight features, use them. Highlighting attendee content during live sessions encourages more people to join in.

3. Integrate Social Media Walls

Visual feedback loops are powerful motivators. When attendees can see their posts appear instantly on a social media wall, engagement skyrockets. It creates an atmosphere of shared excitement and visibility, and each contribution becomes part of the event story.

Virtual event platforms today make this easy, allowing organizers to embed social feeds directly within event spaces. Imagine a dynamic wall that showcases tweets, polls, and photos as they roll in, thereby turning passive scrolling into a real-time celebration.

4. Encourage Behind-the-Scenes Moments

Not all content needs to be polished or public-facing. Invite participants to share snapshots of their setups, favorite sessions, or how they’re participating from home. These behind-the-scenes glimpses humanize the experience and connect remote attendees in a relatable way.

Using SpatialChat to Foster User Participation

While strategy matters, technology can make or break execution. Virtual events need to make sharing effortless, and that’s where platforms like SpatialChat shine.

Imagine a virtual venue where attendees can:

  • Capture and share photos within breakout spaces or social lounges.
  • Use integrated links to post directly to Twitter or LinkedIn.
  • Display attendee posts or artwork on a live, customizable media wall.
  • Celebrate contributions together by reacting, commenting, and discussing in real time.

By embedding UGC-driven tools directly into the environment, SpatialChat helps you bridge the gap between social media engagement and live interaction. Instead of toggling between tabs or missing moments, attendees can share and celebrate collectively, all within one immersive space.

Prompts That Spark Attendee Creativity

Sometimes people want to participate but aren’t sure what to post. Give them direction through structured prompts before and during your event. A few examples:

  • “Show us your virtual workspace for today’s event!”
  • “Take a selfie with your favorite slide or speaker moment.”
  • “Post your biggest takeaway from this session with #EventHashtag.”
  • “What’s one idea you’ll implement after this conference? Share it below.”

You can also run themed “social breaks” between sessions, encouraging attendees to share reflections or quotes while giving them time to recharge.

Don’t Forget the Post-Event Push

User-generated content doesn’t stop when your virtual event ends. In fact, that’s when it becomes most valuable. After the event:

  • Compile attendee posts into a recap video or gallery.
  • Tag contributors and thank them publicly.
  • Use standout quotes or photos in post-event blogs or highlight reels.
  • Encourage continued sharing, perhaps by teasing next year’s event or inviting feedback.

This not only keeps your social media presence active but also helps extend your event’s life cycle, sustaining engagement well beyond the closing session.

Measuring the Impact of UGC on Event Engagement

To truly understand the value of user-generated content, track key metrics such as:

  • Hashtag mentions and impressions
  • Number of attendee posts and shares
  • Engagement rate (likes, comments, retweets)
  • Growth in followers or brand mentions during the event window

Combine this with in-platform analytics (like chat participation or media wall activity) to get a 360° view of engagement. The goal isn’t volume, but meaningful connection and visibility that strengthens your community.

Bringing It All Together

In the digital era, virtual event engagement through social media is the pulse of your brand community. By weaving user-generated content into your event strategy, you create space for attendees to express themselves, connect with others, and amplify your message far beyond your virtual venue. And with SpatialChat, you can make that process seamless by transforming audience participation into a shared experience that’s as engaging as it is authentic.

So the next time you plan your virtual conference or online summit, don’t just think about the speakers and sessions. Think about the moments your audience will create, and how those moments will tell your event’s story to the world.