In recent times, the terms UGC Creator and influencer marketing have become quite popular because of their ability to influence public opinion on brands. However, before you decide to choose one of them as a profession, you need to know what exactly user-generated content is. The name reveals its definition precisely: content that has been generated by the user. It is any form of published content that a user contributes to a brand. It can be used in multiple marketing channels like social media, websites, email marketing, product pages, ad campaigns, digital displays, etc.
One way for the brands to get UGC content is to wait till a customer is impressed by the services and organically shares photos or videos. Another way is to pay creators to generate tailor-made content that can promote services and products, which can help in building the credibility of a brand. The process of becoming a UGC content creator is extremely simple. It is not necessary to have followers in millions or high engagement levels. You can start small and then build on that using consistent efforts and the right strategy. If you are starting out, take tips from the following section that will help you out in your creator journey:
What Is UGC Content Creator?
As we know the term UGC is an acronym for the user generated content. So, as the name suggests, UGC content creator is a creator that creates UGC content. The content can be of any type such as reviews, videos, images, comments, or various forms of media. Any creator can generate this kind of content but not everyone can be called a UGC content creator. The definition suggests that in order for the content to be called as UGC content, it must be created by either users or professional creators.
Are UGC Creators and Influencers Similar?
It is an intriguing question and the short answer is no. This is because a UGC creator does not have to be an influencer to be able to create UGC content. Let us dive deep-
Primarily, UGC content is the content that is created by the loyal customers of the brand. If a customer leaves an impactful review for your website, that itself becomes UGC content. Moreover, if a user tags you in a social media post praising your customer support, it is also UGC content. There are freelancers and creators who specialize in creating this type of content and give an impression as if they are organic fans of the brand. These creators work for the brands to create content that can convince the target audience of the brand.
Irrespective of whether the content has been created organically by a customer or by a paid creator, the goal of UGC content is to maximize conversion and build relationships. In order to become a UGC creator, you need to have a solid hold on a particular niche. It is important to understand the industry, brand, and the audience you are creating for. Let us explore this further in the next section-
Tips to Build a Successful Career as UGC Creator
Explore the tips that you can use to build your career in UGC creation-
Create Your Account for UGC
As a beginner in the UGC creation, you must create your account on a platform that is aligned with your content creation goals. Moreover, refrain from selecting a casual username as it might repel top brands from contacting you. Select a username that reflects your style or the niche or brand you are targeting. Then, make your profile professional by including a suitable bio or other relevant details. Avoid mixing your personal profile with a UGC content creation profile due to privacy reasons. Moreover, it will allow brands to find you faster if you use the word UGC creator in your bio and description or create a profile, especially for UGC usage. Make sure that you have the required skills like copywriting, research, video and photo creation, editing, communication, etc.
Know the UGC Industry
Since you have created your account, it might be time to start your research on the type of industry you want to work in. Before going straight ahead with the creation process, proceed to research deeply about the platforms or industry you want to engage with. Essentially, it is important to research the platform guidelines, audience needs, and popular UGC trends. Think about the various kinds of niches you want to write in. For example, you can choose to write for brands in skincare, wellness, publishing, technology, etc. After you have decided on your niche, you can create a list of brands you want to work with. Feel free to follow a few fellow UGC content creators in your niche to get yourself familiar with the standards and make useful associations.
Create a Detailed UGC Strategy
If you are serious about building a successful career as a UGC creator, you need to have the right strategy in place. Think deeply about aspects like themes, objectives, writing style, and frequency of posting. Think about the various demographics of audiences you are going to write for. Research the kind of content that can create an impact on them. Create content for practice and get it reviewed by trusted professionals who work in the same industry. You can test your content on LinkedIn to see if it reaches the right audience groups. Creating a well-defined plan makes sure there is consistency in your work and quality in your content. Then, as a professional, you will be able to deliver a steady stream of engaging content.
Generate Quality Content
Once you have done your research, found your interests, and created your profile, it is time to think about the main aspect: the content. As a UGC content creator, your intent must be to deliver unique and engaging copy that leaves a lasting impression on the audience. You need to focus not only on the quality of the content but also on its utility. Gain experience in creating content in different formats like digital documents, written posts, photos, videos, etc. In this way, you can diversify your profile and attain the ability to serve different preferences and audiences. You will also understand your core areas of strength. You can know whether you are more comfortable creating long-form or short-form content. Moreover, you will know whether you are more skilled in creating written content, images, or even reels for social media platforms. You can even explore a few courses to get yourself educated if you are not sure where to start and then start creating.
Build the Best Portfolio As a UGC Creator
To convince a brand to hire you, you need to have a few samples of your work to show. For this, you need to select your best work and compile them to build an impressive portfolio. Your work samples must display your unique perspectives, creativity, and skill sets. Your portfolio might be your greatest asset if you want to be recruited by top brands, as it showcases your expertise and value. Make sure that your portfolios are visually compelling, as they can make or break a deal for you.
It can serve as a convincing representation as it shows not only your capabilities but also your versatility in creating UGC content. For example, if you have some experience in creating images, you can create a portfolio with Canva AI and select the best examples of your work. Similarly, if you have experience in creating videos, choose the best ones that can capture the attention of brands.
Build Associations
As is true in any field, your network plays a vital role in determining your success as a UGC creator. Form partnerships and associations with brands, professionals, and other creators. This will help you get valuable opportunities and breakthroughs that can take your profile to another level. Feel free to start conversations, connect with top brands on social media, and build lasting relationships. As a beginner, you must make yourself easy to find by optimizing your bio, descriptions, and profile. In the beginning, you might be all alone in the market. However, if you work hard and spend some time in the industry, you can surely build a great network that can take you far in the industry.
Create a Loyal Follower Base
Though, at the beginning, they are not as important, your followers do play a crucial role in building your credibility. When you start out, prioritize increasing your follower count, as it plays a pivotal role in establishing online success. If you have a dedicated base with a decent number of followers, it will make it easier for the top brands to notice your work. It will also enhance your reputation in the market and validate your ability to reach out to the right people with your content. To start your journey, you can start engaging with UGC communities on social media related to your niche and share your work. If people like your work, they might be tempted to visit your profile or even press the follow button.
Get Feedback to Grow and Improve
The journey of becoming a successful UGC creator is long and filled with challenges. It is important to find your flaws along the road and fix them. For this, you can prioritize feedback and implement suggestions to improve the quality of your content. You can get feedback from other creators or even your audience to find drawbacks. This will also allow you to build your relationships within your community and demonstrate to the audience that you care about their opinions. Using suggestions, you can also fine-tune your work to make it more engaging and relevant to the audience. This will also show your commitment and dedication to becoming one of the best creators in the industry.
Why Do Brands Trust a UGC Creator?
Brands always prefer real users and experiences to market their products because it helps them build authenticity. A considerable number of brands have started to include UGC content in their marketing strategy. Find out the main reasons UGC content creation has gained so much hype within brands:
- Statistics: User-generated content statistics reveal the real reason why brands lean more toward them than branded ads. A recent study suggested that consumers spend an average of 4-5 hours per day with user-generated content. Moreover, a staggering 93% of marketers believe that user-generated content performs better than conventional content. Around 75% of them agree that having UGC in their marketing campaigns improves the authenticity of the brands. Approximately 31% of consumers also agree that they can remember user-generated content more than conventional marketing. Additionally, around 86% of companies have already started deploying user-generated content in their marketing campaigns.
- Cost-effectiveness: Investing in UGC content creators is more affordable for the companies than contacting agencies. Obviously, UGC content cannot offer the same level of optimization, professional tone, and branded pieces. But, it does help them to connect to their audience well and improve the authenticity of their brands. One of the reasons UGC content is more affordable is because influencers mostly charge for the content creation and not for giving access to their audience. Brands can also rely on their consumers to give them content rather than build it from scratch, which also contributes to its cost-effectiveness.
- Establishes Trust: Sometimes, corporate branded content can be micromanaged which deviates the shift from the consumers. A recent research by Nielsen suggested that around 50% of consumers are more likely to trust suggestions and recommendations than banner or SEO content. UGC enables brands to go to the ground level and make their products resonate with the audience. This also allows their brands to be more relatable, naturally fostering reliability and trust. Through UGC content, brands can also get real-time feedback and know how the audience perceives them.
Conclusion
As a UGC creator, your success solely relies on your creativity, authenticity, commitment, and ability to improve and connect with your audience. The key takeaway you can take from the blog is that you can start fairly simple. All you need to do is build a creative profile and research extensively on the niche and brands. This equips you with enough details when finally you start to create content. You do not need a large follower group. Your focus must be on creating authentic and high-quality content that can work as social proof for the brands. You can start small and then gradually improve your skills and network. With more brands looking to switch to UGC content, the future prospects of this profession look to be quite promising.
FAQs
Q. How can I become a UGC content creator?
Start by selecting a niche you are interested in or you have knowledge of. Pick the brand or the kind of content you want to create. Build your UGC profile and form connections with other creators. Create sample content and seek feedback to improve your skills.
Q. What is the salary of UGC content creators?
The salary of UGC creators depends on many factors like project, brands they are working, niche they are creating in, and their experience level. As per ZipRecruiter, the top earners can expect to earn around $128,000.
Q. How many followers must you have to be a UGC creator?
While starting out, you actually don’t require a following. All you need to do is create content that can be utilized by brands for their marketing. If you are successful in doing so, then you can call yourself a UGC content creator.
Q. Is becoming a UGC content creator difficult or easy?
Becoming a UGC content creator is very easy if you follow the right strategies and ensure consistent efforts.
