What is a UGC Creator and How to Become One in 2024

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UGC content creator vouching for your brand not only makes your brand popular but also acts as an impactful social proof. Not only this, a UGC creator can also be a part of other marketing strategies such as hashtag campaigns or emails. 

However, choosing a perfect UGC creator is not a piece of cake, as it requires a lot of brainstorming. Choosing the right creator is essential to ensure you can get the most out of this strategy. This is why we have cumulated everything you need about UGC creators. We’ve also briefly explained the steps you need to follow to be a UGC creator. 

What is a UGC Creator?

A UGC Creator is someone who specializes in creating content that looks like user-generated content. This content can take many forms, such as videos, images, reviews, etc.

Brands often reach out to UGC- creators and ask them to promote their product by sharing it. They create content around the product in return for some incentive, such as monetary benefits or free product/ subscription. The content might include information, visual reviews, or general thoughts about the product.

Difference Between UGC Creators & Influencers

We said a great deal about UGC Creators, and a common thought emerging from it could be, “But isn’t that what shopify influencers do?” 

You’re right, there. But quite not. 

While influencers have built a following and often collaborate with brands in exchange for compensation, UGC creators are known for their authenticity and relatability, as they create content from a consumer’s perspective. In contrast, fashion influencers may have a more curated and sponsored approach to their content.

UGC Creators	Influencers
Create content based on personal interests and experiences without formal partnerships or collaborations with brands.	Create more polished content representing their partner brands through sponsored content and endorsements.
79% of people’s purchase decisions are based on a brand’s UGC.	Their content may be more commercial or sponsored than UGC creators
May have a smaller but engaged following within their niche.	Have a significant following on social media.
Driven by authenticity, relatability, and the desire to connect with their audience on a deeper level.	Content is curated to align with their brand collaborations and business goals.
Usually don’t receive compensation from brands for promoting products.	May receive compensation from brands for promoting products

The video shopping landscape has seen a tremendous change in the past few years; there is fierce competition in the market, and brands are constantly looking out for effective ways to speak of their brand in unique ways. UGC creators can be great allies for brands for that reason.

Why Are UGC Creators Valuable For Brands?

Brands love UGC creators because they bring a fresh and authentic perspective to the table, creating content that resonates with their audience in a genuine and relatable way. UGC creators are often experts in their niche, with a passionate and engaged following that trusts their opinions. More than 73% of brands believe using UGC has helped them connect with consumers in a more trusted way. 

When UGC creators share their experiences, stories, and opinions about a brand’s product or service, it can generate authentic word-of-mouth marketing, which is incredibly valuable in building brand awareness and increasing conversions.

How To Become A UGC Creator?

Here are the 6 Steps to become a UGC Creator:

1. Find Your Inspiration:

• Dive into social media! Look at the content you enjoy, like funny skits on TikTok or fashion reviews on YouTube. See what grabs your attention and what kind of content you’d love to create yourself.

2. Pick Your Platform Playground:

• Not all UGC live on the same platform. Think about where your content would shine. Do you love quick bites? Try TikTok or Instagram Reels. More in-depth explanations? YouTube might be your jam.

3. Gear Up (but Not Fancy!):

• You don’t need a Hollywood studio! A good smartphone camera and some natural lighting can work wonders. You can always upgrade later as you grow.

4. Become a Content Ninja:

• Start creating! Practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Film your shoppable content ideas, edit them (most phones have editing tools!), and post away.

5. Build Your Portfolio (like a brag book):

• Save your best work! As you create content you love, showcase it in a collection. This could be a website, a specific Instagram folder, or even a YouTube playlist.

6. Brand Bonanza (find companies to work with):

• Look for brands you genuinely like that would fit your style well. Many brands look for UGC creators directly on social media, or you can use platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to find opportunities.

Finding and Collaborating with UGC Creators For Brands

Finding the right UGC creators to collaborate with can make all the difference in the success of your eCommerce brand’s marketing efforts. It’s like finding the perfect partner for your brand – you want someone who shares your vision, understands your brand values, and can align with your goals. 

Before collaborating with UGC creators, it’s important to do your research about the creators – understanding their niche, audience, and content style.

UGC creators are not just a means to find authentic content but valuable partners in your brand’s journey. With a successful collaboration, the outcomes can be remarkable – from increased brand awareness, higher engagement levels, and more loyal customers. 

Here are a few tips for finding and collaborating with UGC creators for brands:

1. Define Your Target Audience And UGC Creator Persona

Before starting your search for UGC creators, defining your target audience and the type of creator who would best resonate with them is essential. Create a persona of your ideal UGC creator based on their interests, niche, engagement levels, and values.

2. Use Social Media And Influencer Platforms

Social media is a great place to find UGC creators who align with your brand’s principles and values. You can use hashtags, search for relevant accounts, and explore creator discovery tools to find potential collaborators. You can also use influencer marketing platforms to discover, manage, and collaborate with UGC creators.

3. Engage With Their Content

Good communication goes a long way to maintaining brand-consumer relationships. Once you’ve identified potential UGC creators, take the time to engage with their content. Like and comment on their posts, share their content, and build relationships with them. This will help you understand their content style and spark an interest in the creator for your brand.

4. Be Transparent About Your Expectations

When approaching UGC creators, be clear and transparent about your brand’s expectations and goals. Discuss the type of content you’re looking for, the timeline, and the compensation (if any). Also, be open to their ideas and feedback, and collaborate to create content that aligns with both your brand and the creator’s unique perspective.

5. Measure And Analyze The Outcomes

Track the outcomes of your UGC collaborations, such as engagement levels, reach, conversions, and sentiment analysis. This will help you assess the impact of your collaborations and make data-driven decisions for future collaborations.

How Can Brands Leverage UGC Creators for Marketing?

Brands can leverage UGC creators for marketing in various ways. Here are some ways to do it:

1. Social Media Campaigns

Social media campaigns are among the most popular ways brands leverage UGC creators. Brands can ask UGC creators to create content featuring their products or services as a part of a hashtag campaign where they can use the campaign hashtag or as a part of a social media contest, like a giveaway, and share it with their followers. This not only helps in building brand awareness but also encourages user-generated content.

2. Creating Content for Social Media

UGC creators can create high-quality and authentic content for your brand’s social media platforms. This content can help increase engagement levels, reach, and brand awareness. Posting authentic content along with user-generated content is an excellent strategy to leverage content by UGC creators for your brand.

3. Showcase UGC

Brands can also showcase UGC created by their followers and customers on their social media channels or website. This helps create a sense of community, encourages user-generated content, and builds customer trust and loyalty.

Brands can also repurpose UGC created by UGC creators across different marketing channels, such as email marketing, paid ads, or on their website. This helps create a more cohesive brand experience and reach a wider audience.

4. Showcasing Product or Service Reviews

Brands can utilize content from UGC creators to showcase their products and customer reviews on their various marketing touchpoints. This includes brand websites as well as social media channels.

Brands can integrate UGC into their homepages, product pages and category pages, and drive revenue directly through this content by turning it shoppable with the help of social commerce tools. This is the utmost use of creators’ content, which improves the website’s overall look and directly benefits the brand by generating sales.

Overall, leveraging UGC creators can be a powerful way to increase brand awareness, build trust and credibility, and drive conversions. By partnering with UGC creators, brands can tap into their creativity, authenticity, and unique perspectives to create compelling marketing campaigns that resonate with their target audience.

Examples of UGC Creator Campaigns by Brands

1. Calvin Klien

Calvin Klein’s “My Calvin” campaign is an excellent social commerce example of a successful UGC creator campaign. The campaign was launched in 2016 and invited users to share photos of themselves wearing Calvin Klein clothing using the hashtag #MyCalvins. 

What made the campaign particularly successful was the fact that it focused on authenticity and inclusivity. The campaign featured a diverse group of participants with over 800,000 posts on the hashtag alone on Instagram.

2. Glossier

Glossier’s “You Look Good” UGC campaign is another great example of a successful UGC creator campaign. The campaign launched and invited users to share photos of themselves wearing Glossier products using the hashtag #glossier. 

The campaign encouraged users to showcase their own unique style and beauty, and Glossier featured some of the best submissions on their website and social media channels.

3. Starbucks

Starbucks’ Red Cup UGC campaign is one of the most successful UGC campaigns of all time. The campaign invited customers to decorate their red cups and share their creations on social media using the hashtag #RedCupContest. The campaign encouraged customers to get creative and share their unique designs.

The campaign generated over 40,000 user-generated entries and 1.2 million social media engagements in just three weeks and got customers worldwide to participate.

4. Airbnb

Airbnb’s #WeAccept Campaign is another powerful example of creating an impact with UGC. In response to the U.S. travel ban in 2017, Airbnb launched a UGC campaign that invited users to share photos and stories of people from different cultures and backgrounds coming together. The campaign was hugely successful, with over 7 million views and over 140,000 social media engagements.

Best Practices for UGC Creator Campaigns

UGC creator campaigns are a way for brands to create a connection with their audience by leveraging user-generated content. 

These campaigns help build a sense of community and trust between the brand and their audience, leading to increased brand awareness, engagement, and, ultimately, sales. 

When it comes to UGC creator campaigns, there are some best practices that brands should follow to ensure success. Here are some of them:

1. Clearly define campaign goals

It’s important for brands to clearly define their campaign goals before starting the UGC creator campaign. It is essential to draw a clear parchment of whether they are looking to increase brand awareness, drive sales, or build a community. Defining these goals will help in creating a more targeted and effective campaign.

2. Provide Clear Guidelines

Another must-do is to provide clear guidelines to UGC content creators about what type of content they are looking for and how it should be created. This can include guidelines around image quality, tone of voice, and messaging.

3. Use a Specific Hashtag

Brands should use a specific hashtag for their UGC creator campaign. This makes tracking and monitoring UGC content easier and encourages followers to participate in the campaign.

4. Offer Participation Incentives

Brands can offer UGC creator participation incentives by offering rewards or prizes for the best content. This helps create more engagement and encourages UGC creators to create high-quality content.

5. Engage with UGC Creators

Brands should engage with UGC content creators by commenting and sharing their content. This helps build a relationship with UGC creators and encourages them to create more content in the future.

6. Repurpose UGC Content

Brands can repurpose UGC content across different marketing channels such as email marketing, paid ads, or on their website. This helps create a more cohesive brand experience and reach a wider audience.

Conclusion

Wrapping it up, the gist of the article, What is a UGC Creator, remains to shed light on the power of UGC creators and its significance in modern-day marketing. The authenticity and creativity that UGC creators bring in can help brands connect with their audience on a deeper level, building trust and loyalty. 

As we move further into 2024, the role of UGC creators in marketing will only continue to grow, and brands that don’t leverage their power may be left behind.

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