Your potential customers trust real people more than brand promises.
That’s why user-generated content (UGC) is a game-changer. By leveraging authentic customer experiences, you can capture attention, build credibility, and nudge potential buyers toward purchasing.
Social proof strengthens brand messaging and reassures shoppers by providing logical reasoning behind their decisions.
UGC videos, in particular, immerse buyers in the real-life experience of a product, filling the gap left by the inability to try before they buy. In e-commerce and retail, where touch-and-feel options are limited, UGC is the next best thing to an in-store experience.
Let’s explore the types of UGC videos that drive trust and conversions.
This blog will cover the types of UGC videos and help you optimize video marketing strategies. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
What are UGC Videos?
User-generated content videos (UGC) are created by the actual customer, not by the brand or any commissioned creator. They can include product reviews, unboxings, testimonials, tutorials, or creative content showcasing a brand’s product or service. UGC videos are highly authentic and relatable, making them a powerful UGC tool for brands to build trust, drive engagement, and influence purchase decisions.
Types of UGC Videos (Core Content)
Here are all the types of UGC videos brands need to know about.
Product Reviews and Testimonials:
Best for: Fashion, apparel, accessories and more.
Multiple types of UGC videos that feature reviews, ratings, and feedback are far more influential than written ones.
82% of video marketers say video has helped them increase web traffic.
Written reviews cannot capture the experience, product quality, or customer satisfaction. For example, how would one showcase the feel of a fabric in a written review?
But everything comes through when the customer sees someone talking about a recently purchased hoodie in a video and hears about their micro experiences.
Source: YouTube
Here is a perfect example of a UGC video that includes reviews and testimonials. In this video, the customer tries the Skims Bodysuit for the first time and is pretty happy with it.
Tutorials and How-To Videos:
Tutorials and How-to videos help the viewers guide them through the step-by-step process of using the products.
83% of people prefer to consume instructional or informational content by watching a video.
They emphasize clarity by breaking down the procedure into easy-to-follow steps. This helps the brands empower the viewers with the knowledge and confidence to attain specific goals independently.
Here is an example of Tutorial and How to videos :
Source: YouTube
In this video, the creator showcases five easy steps to a flawless foundation using CHANEL products.
Best for: Electronic gadgets, cosmetics, wellness products, and more.
Vlogs (Video Blogs)
Vlogs are videos in which users document their daily lives, share their thoughts and opinions, or discuss topics of interest.
Vlogs can cover various topics, from travel and lifestyle to cooking, gaming, beauty, and personal stories. They are typically posted on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, often featuring a more personal and casual style than traditional videos or professional productions. When UGC creators showcase the products incorporated into the lifestyles, the products become more familiar.
Best for: Travel and Tourism, Lifestyle industry
Challenge Videos:
Let’s understand this with an example. GymShark is a fitness brand that markets products using the power of influencer marketing on TikTok. It became a prime example of influencer marketing, reaching 2 million followers in just the first six months. GymShark caters to fitness freaks by posting short videos about workout challenges, inspirational health processes, relatable fitness content, and humor to make gymming less daunting.
They have been breaking the stereotype around gyming and started with a notable campaign, 66 Days: Change your life. They showcased the effects shown in the body in 66 days and won the hearts of their users to the extent that they generated 193 million views. Exceptional, isn’t it? They probably used TikTok monitoring tools to keep track of such monumental success while measuring engagement and making strategic adjustments so that each campaign they ran was on target.
Best For: Fitness and Health, Food and beverage
Haul Videos:
A haul video is a video where a person shows off and discusses the items they recently bought.
People enjoy display platforms mainly because they can see different types of items and feel good about them without purchasing the product. These products can range from beauty cosmetics to journals and more.
Why don’t you show them while using the products? It does not work. It detracts attention from the products and directs it to an action. People don’t need to see poorly scribbled notes on expensive cream paper.
To better understand this, look at Notebook Therapy’s collaboration with UGC Creators. It’s a short clip of her unboxing stationery goods to Taylor Swift’s ‘August.’
Source: Instagram
Now, you and I may not be journaling people with an addiction. But to those who are, that reel hits all the right spots.
Benefit: Unlike single-product reviews, haul videos highlight several items in one go, increasing the chances of viewers finding a product they might like.
Best For: Fashion & Apparel, Beauty and cosmetics
Unboxing Videos
Unboxing videos are among the most popular formats of user-generated content. These clips feature people filming themselves opening their parcels. Creators love this kind of video because it is easy to make and grabs their audience’s attention.
You can find unboxing videos with no edits and others with lots of montages and a faster pace.
Did you know that YouTube has 20 million results when searching for “unboxing”? This makes it an essential types of UGC video that brands must heed.
More importantly, a Google Consumer survey revealed that one in five consumers had watched an unboxing video.
Source: YouTube
Here is an example of an unboxing UGC video.
The creator unboxes products, discusses them, and provides live reactions to each item.
As she unveils each product, she shares personal insights and tips on how to use them. The excitement builds with each reveal, keeping the viewers engaged and eager for more.
Best For: Smartphones, gaming consoles, beauty boxes.
Benefit: Viewers experience the thrill of unwrapping a product along with the creator. This creates a fear of missing effects, making people want the product.
Reaction Videos:
Reaction videos capture thoughts and emotions in real time, so the audience sees people react to the content as it plays. They are often hosted on YouTube, and some creators have even created an entire YouTube channel from reaction videos alone. Reaction videos satisfy humans’ innate curiosity about how others see things.
They also provide a feeling of shared experience with the creator. Creators can also add value beyond the initial reaction. They can provide insightful commentary or share their unique expertise.
Best For: Movie trailer, music video.
Benefit: People love watching authentic emotional reactions- excitement, surprise, or humor.
User-Generated Ads
User-generated ads (UGC) are marketing content created by customers or users rather than the brand itself. These ads often leverage authentic experiences, reviews, or creative content made by customers, which can increase trust and engagement. Brands encourage users to share their experiences, photos, or videos featuring their products and then curate this content for advertising. UGC ads can be highly effective because they showcase real-life product usage.
79% of people say UGC influences their buying decisions.
Best For: Health and wellness industry.
Benefit: User-generated content ads are authentic, cost-effective, and highly converting, making them the best brand marketing strategy.
How to Encourage UGC Video Creation
Take a look at some of the ways brands can encourage UGC video creation
1. Run UGC Contests And Challenges
One of the easiest ways to attract more UGC videos is to host contests or challenges. TikTok and Instagram are social media platforms thriving on viral challenges, so UGC campaigns work best here.
Example: Chipotle’s #GuacDance challenge on TikTok urged users to dance for free guacamole. This brought millions of video submissions and much brand exposure.
2. Use Branded Hashtags
A unique and memorable branded hashtag helps make UGC content discoverable. When users post videos using the hashtag, potential customers can more easily find and engage with authentic brand-related content.
Example: Apple’s #ShotOniPhone campaign has inspired thousands of users to share stunning photos and videos, reinforcing the quality of the iPhone’s camera.
3. Offer Incentives And Rewards
People love rewards, and incentives such as exclusive discounts, special offers, or loyalty points can encourage users to create and share UGC videos.
For example, a beauty brand could offer a 20% discount to customers who post a tutorial or review video featuring their products.
4. Feature UGC Videos On Marketing Channels
One of the best ways to keep your UGC videos in the eyes of potential customers is to embed them on your marketing channels, including your website. This helps the brands to enhance their online presence. When you start to leverage UGC and share it across your website and social media channels- you start to build your community UGC.
Most people feel valued and engaged when the brand appreciates their contributions, effort, and time.
Best Practices for Using UGC Videos
Take a look at some of the best practices for using UGC videos.
Obtaining User Consent
Before sharing user-generated content, obtaining explicit consent from the individuals involved is vital. By doing so, brands protect themselves legally and ethically while promoting a culture of sharing and collaboration. This process respects the creators’ rights and creates a positive relationship between brands and their audiences. Consent can be obtained through direct messaging, consent forms, or comment sections where users indicate their willingness to share. Moreover, when users know their content is being used with permission, they are more likely to feel valued and may be encouraged to create and share even more.
Optimizing Videos for Search and Social Media
Optimizing videos for search engines and social media will help reach more people through user-generated content. This is done by including relevant keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags. It is also essential to make engaging thumbnails to attract clicks and views. Every platform has different requirements and expectations, so it would be helpful to tailor the content format to those standards—like the aspect ratio for Instagram or TikTok. Using captions can also ensure accessibility and reach a wider audience. Optimized UGC videos can drive engagement, boost brand visibility, and attract new followers organically.
Promoting UGC Videos Across Different Channels
Sharing the UGC video on multiple channels, such as social media platforms and websites, will help reach a greater audience. However, users’ demographics and behavior change in each channel, so the content must be adjusted accordingly.
To improve your marketing strategy, consider cross-promoting UGC in newsletters, blog posts, and your website.
Successful promotion of UGC across various channels allows brands to access community-driven content, helping to build a more engaged and loyal audience.
Create a Seamless Submission Process
To encourage more user-generated content, make the submission process simple. Provide clear guidelines on creating content, such as format, length of the video, and content expectations, to ensure consistency. Use a dedicated hashtag to track submissions across social platforms, making it easier for users to join the campaign. Brands can also create a submission portal where users can easily upload their videos. This helps to remove friction. Brands increase the likelihood of high-quality UGC. Eventually, this will aid in creating a stronger connection between your brand and its audience.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, we know that UGC videos are one striking way to get your customers’ attention. The good news is that generating UGC videos is manageable and sustainable; you just need to create a UGC campaign to consistently generate more videos yearly.
This blog has mentioned all types of UGC videos that will help you roll out more campaigns. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give it a try to UGC videos.
