What is a UGC Creator?
A UGC creator is someone who produces user-generated content (UGC) and posts it to social media platforms like TikTok. UGC refers to any form of content that is created and shared by unpaid users of a product, brand or service.
UGC creators are different from influencers because they are everyday, authentic users rather than professional content creators. Influencers typically get paid to create branded content and promote products, while UGC creators voluntarily create content about brands they love as fans and customers.
According to TINT, “An influencer gets paid to create content and distribute it across their social channels. Their contract involves the number of Stories, TikToks, IG grid posts they’ll create for a brand. A UGC creator isn’t getting paid to support a brand. They genuinely love the product or service and want to create content about it.”
Brands are increasingly interested in working with UGC creators because their content comes across as more authentic and genuine. UGC has a stronger impact on purchase decisions because it showcases real customer experiences rather than polished influencer promotions. By re-sharing UGC, brands can build trust and connections with potential customers.
Types of UGC Content
There are several popular types of user-generated content (UGC) on platforms like TikTok:
- Reviews – Users share their honest opinions and experiences with products or services. This provides social proof and helps consumers make purchase decisions. For example, makeup review videos are hugely popular on TikTok.
- Unboxings – Videos where users record themselves opening and testing new products for the first time. Unboxing videos allow viewers to experience the product along with the creator.
- Reaction Videos – UGC creators film themselves reacting to things like movie trailers, popular videos, or funny memes. This content is entertaining and helps spread viral moments.
- Tutorials – Educational content where users teach viewers how to do something, like a dance, recipe, or DIY project. These how-to videos are helpful for learning new skills.
Other types of UGC include challenges, pranks, FAQs, comparisons, listicles, and more. The key is creating content that provides value to the audience in an authentic way.
Why UGC is Effective
User-generated content is effective because it provides authenticity. When real people share their genuine experiences and opinions, it builds trust with audiences who find it more relatable than branded content. According to research by Constant Contact, 83% of consumers say they trust recommendations from friends and family above all other forms of marketing. UGC acts as a form of social proof, with real users vouching for a brand or product.
Additionally, UGC gives brands access to unique, personalized perspectives from their own customers. This makes the content seem more authentic compared to content solely created by the brand. Audiences perceive UGC as more organic and credible. Brands that incorporate UGC can improve engagement and connection with their audiences.
Finding UGC Creators
When looking for UGC creators to partner with, it’s important to focus on engagement, creativity, consistency, and audience feedback. Look at metrics like views, comments, and shares to gauge engagement. Seek out creators that produce innovative, high-quality content regularly. Check that they post on a consistent schedule, as consistency helps build an engaged audience. It’s also key to find creators whose audiences respond positively through likes, comments, and by sharing their content. This shows they have built trust and loyalty with their followers.
Some tips for identifying promising UGC creators are:
- Search relevant hashtags and look for accounts with top posts and lots of engagement
- Check comment sections for creators getting mentioned and praised by followers
- Look at user-generated content hashtags like #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt to find creators making content about your products
Focus on creators who align with your brand identity and values. Prioritize quality over quantity of followers. With the right creators, UGC can become an invaluable source of authentic, engaging content for your brand.
For more tips on finding UGC creators, check out this guide: https://getflowbox.com/blog/user-generated-content-creator/
Working with UGC Creators
Brands looking to work with UGC creators should start by providing free products for the creators to review and feature in their content. This allows the creators to authentically showcase the products in real-world use cases. According to The Role of UGC Creators in Fostering Community, sending free products helps “earn the trust of creators” and facilitates “collaborations [that] aim to earn the trust of the community.”
Brands should provide clear usage guidelines to ensure the creator’s content aligns with the brand’s messaging and goals. This includes suggestions for content topics, preferred platforms, and recommendations for highlighting specific product features or benefits.
Many UGC creator partnerships involve embedding affiliate links so the creator earns commission for resulting sales. According to Impact.com, this incentivizes creators to feature the products organically within their content. The affiliate program should reward creators for driving real business results.
UGC Creators vs Influencers
UGC creators and influencers both produce content to engage audiences, but there are some key differences between the two.
Influencers tend to have much larger followings, with some reaching millions of followers across platforms like Instagram and TikTok. UGC creators often have smaller, more niche audiences. According to TINT, the average UGC creator has just 550 followers. https://futureofmarketing.tintup.com/ugc-creators-vs-influencers/
Working with influencers can be very expensive, with top influencers charging over $10,000 per sponsored post. UGC creators often charge much less, with typical prices ranging from $20 to $2,000 per post depending on the creator’s reach and engagement levels. https://brands.joinstatus.com/ugc-creators
UGC creators typically allow brands more creative control over the content produced. Influencers maintain strict control over their feeds and sponsored content to maintain their personal brand image. UGC creators are more flexible about collaborating with brands on content ideas.
In summary, influencers offer huge reach but less creative control, while UGC creators provide more affordable and customizable content options for brands.
UGC Creator Content Strategy
A successful UGC creator needs to have a strong content strategy. This involves being consistent, playing to your strengths, and understanding the algorithm of the platform you are creating for.
Consistency is key – viewers will come to expect and look forward to your style of content if you stick to a regular posting schedule and format. For example, if you make weekly recipe videos, release them at the same time each week.
Play to your strengths and interests. Creating content around topics you’re passionate about will come across as more genuine and engaging for your audience. Lean into your niche and unique perspective.
Understanding how the platform’s algorithm works can help inform the style, length, captions, hashtags, etc. of your content. Pay attention to which posts perform best and mimic that success. Appealing to the algorithm will help your content be seen by more users.
Having a thoughtful content strategy and truly understanding your niche, your talents, and your audience is what will set you apart as a UGC creator. Consistency, authenticity and optimizing for the platform are key.
UGC Creator Equipment
Having the proper equipment is essential for creating high-quality UGC content. Here is some of the key gear UGC creators need:
Camera
Most UGC creators use their smartphone camera to shoot videos. However, investing in a dedicated camera like a Canon or Sony mirrorless camera can improve video quality. Look for one that shoots in 4K resolution or higher.
Lighting
Proper lighting eliminates shadows and makes videos look more professional. Basic lighting kits include key lights, fill lights, and reflectors. Some affordable options are ring lights and LED panel lights.
Audio
A dedicated external microphone helps improve audio quality over built-in phone mics. Lavalier mics that clip on are popular for vlogging-style videos.
Editing Software
Apps like CapCut, iMovie, and Adobe Premiere Rush provide robust editing tools for mobile video creators. Investing in a laptop and desktop software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro offers more advanced capabilities.
With high-quality equipment, UGC creators can produce engaging content that looks and sounds professional. The right camera, lighting, audio gear, and editing tools are worth the investment for those serious about building their channel.
Growing a UGC Channel
Cross-promoting with other creators is one of the most effective ways to grow your UGC channel. If you collaborate with creators that have an audience similar to yours, you can tap into a new pool of potential subscribers. Ask to be featured on another creator’s channel or do a collaboration video to get exposure. According to Impact.com, collaborating with micro and nano influencers can be an affordable way to expand your reach.
Having a strong social media strategy is key for a UGC creator. You should be active on multiple platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. to reach the widest audience. Post consistently, engage with your followers, and utilize relevant hashtags. The YouTube video “How to Become a UGC Creator in 2024” recommends posting at least 1-2 times per day when starting out.
Interacting and building relationships with your audience helps create a loyal following over time. Respond to comments, ask questions, and maintain an authentic personality online. UGC creators build their brand around their unique content style and niche, so stay true to that in all of your posts.
Monetization for UGC Creators
There are several ways UGC creators can make money from their content:
Affiliate Marketing
Many UGC creators make money through affiliate marketing programs. They promote products relevant to their niche and earn a commission when followers purchase through their affiliate links. Popular affiliate programs used by UGC creators include Amazon Associates, RewardStyle, Awin, CJ Affiliate, and more. The commission earned varies by program and product. According to Business Insider, some UGC creators can make over $10,000 per month from affiliate commissions.
Sponsorships
Brand sponsorships are a lucrative income stream for top UGC creators. Brands pay a lump sum or ongoing payments for sponsored content, product placements, endorsements, and promotions. Sponsorship deals can range from a few hundred dollars for smaller creators to tens of thousands for creators with millions of followers, as noted in this Leap article.
Merchandise
Many popular UGC creators sell custom branded merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and other items. Merch allows creators to further monetize their brand while giving fans a way to support them. UGC creators can work with print-on-demand companies so they don’t have to invest in or warehouse inventory.
Subscriptions
Some UGC creators offer exclusive content and perks to paying subscribers. This includes subscription services like Patreon as well as channel memberships on YouTube. Subscriptions provide a recurring revenue stream for creators while incentivizing loyal fans to pay for extra content.
