Looking to earn big money online?
There are different paths you can choose from: become a superstar influencer, a well-sought freelancer, or try the latest fad of being a UGC creator.
If you love spending time on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve likely heard about how lucrative it is to be a UGC Creator.
Well, for your information, UGC creators can earn as much as $5,000 monthly or $100 per post. This comes as no surprise, as about 86% of brands have already added UGC to their marketing arsenal.
Knowing how promising this career is, I bet you’re now asking how to become a UGC creator.
Don’t worry, our dear readers, this comprehensive guide will answer your every query about what is a UGC creator and all the essential steps to become one.
Here’s what you can learn from this guide:
- What is a UGC Creator
- How to Become a UGC Creator
- What Is The Difference Between UGC Creator And Influencer?
- Why Is UGC Better Than Influencer
What is a UGC Creator?
UGC Creator, meaning User-Generated Content is an individual who promotes a specific brand's product or service by creating online content that appears "organic" or "authentic" but is actually sponsored.
These creators are not highly prominent influencers or online celebrities. They're just ordinary people like you who share their thoughts about a specific product.
But of course, they’re not “reviewing” these products just because they want to. Businesses give UGC creators some incentives to make videos or post photos for product promotion.
If you're an avid user of Instagram or TikTok, chances are you've encountered some UGC creators. For instance, you might come across ordinary individuals discussing a particular brand of shoes they recently purchased or individuals sharing their admiration for a specific makeup brand.
Here’s what @urbbylinn says about being a UGC creator working with a brand:
“As a UGC creator, it`s important to understand that you directly represent the brand and don't just promote it. We negotiated in detail about the important points to mention, and therefore both parties were satisfied with the end result”.
What Makes UGC Creators So Popular Today?
Brands are now increasingly seeking UGC creators due to the changes in the consumer landscape. People are now more inclined to buy products when they’re marketed in an authentic fashion.
Extravagant and pretentious advertisements are now taking a step back as more personalized and relatable content is deemed a more effective marketing approach.
When these creators market a product, it’s hard not to get persuaded because they share their genuine experiences. They actually use these products, so they can give honest opinions.
Remember, people prefer authentic thoughts over exaggerated claims.
On top of that, these creators produce content that’s usually quirky, relatable, and in line with current trends. Some go the extra mile by adding creativity and aesthetics, putting lots of effort into making their audience’s eyes glued to their content.
Stop scrolling, start creating!
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How To Become A UGC Creator
The path to becoming a UGC creator (and earning those bucks) can be challenging and difficult in the beginning. However, with determination and the right guidance, you can become one of the most sought-after UGC creators on the internet.
In this section, we have provided a detailed guide on how to become a UGC creator on TikTok, Instagram, and other popular online platforms.
1. Discover Your Passion and Niche
Ask yourself, "What are the things that bring me happiness?"
It could be branded shoes, food, automobiles, beauty products, musical instruments, or trendy clothes.
Answering this simple question will help you discover the best niche to work in as a UGC creator.
For example, if you enjoy discussing moisturizers, lipsticks, or anything related to enhancing a woman's appearance, then the beauty product niche might be your calling.
Whatever niche you choose, it should be something you are genuinely passionate about. Creating high-quality content to promote your chosen product requires a significant amount of time and energy. You cannot succeed if your motivation is solely driven by money.
Here’s what @leaveyour_marc has to say about the passion:
“You can become a UGC creator by finding what you love and sharing it with the world! People are amazing and may need to realize how much the world would love seeing their hobbies, lifestyle, and niche. Once you figure out the technological aspect of being a UGC creator, you do what you love and bring joy to the world by sharing it”.
2. Build Your Personal Brand
Once you already have a niche in mind, your next goal is to create your own brand that stands out from the sea of other UGC creators.
It may be tempting to simply emulate what other UGC creators are doing and replicate their style, but that is a big mistake. This approach will not lead you to fame and success. Your audience will never truly remember you, let alone follow you in the long run.
So how to be a UGC content creator with a unique personal brand?
Here are some tips to keep in mind when building your personal brand:
Develop Your Voice And Style
Cultivate a distinctive manner of speaking that will resonate with your audience. You can adopt a funny, quirky manner of speaking. You may also opt to use soft voices or something that’s more authoritative. Talk to yourself in front of a mirror and experiment to see what voice and speaking style fit you well.
Add Creativity To Your Content
Some UGC creators just talk in front of the camera to promote a product. This approach is too bland and will not help you captivate the audience's attention. Prominent UGC creators spice up their content by doing something creative, such as unboxing, role-playing, talent showcasing, contest hosting, interactive storytelling, and even behind-the-scenes viewing.
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Here’s a tip from @tosmoothjay for you:
"As a young creator hungry for opportunity, I believe UGS creator jobs allowing individuals like myself to showcase our creativity and talent without the need for traditional gatekeepers”.
Connect With Your Audience
Your audience is just as influential as the brand you are promoting. Give the impression that you genuinely care about them and connect with them. Engage with their comments, respond to their questions, and show that you value their support and feedback.
Be Yourself
Copying the style of well-known UGC creators won't make you stand out. Embrace your own unique personality and let it shine through in your content. Authenticity is key to building a strong personal brand.
3. Master Content Creation
Being familiar with content creation know-how is the most reliable way to consistently upload posts or videos that captivate the audience.
While there is no specific formula for creating compelling content, here are some key considerations to keep in mind once you decide to become a UGC creator:
- Invest in high-quality filming equipment: This includes a high-resolution camera, a well-functioning ring light, and a microphone or recording device that’s separate from your phone to enhance audio quality.
- Grasp the basic structure of a UGC post: The simplest structure is to start with a hook. You can mention here some problems that your viewers can relate to. After that, educate your viewers on how to solve the problem. Then, introduce the product as a potential solution and discuss its benefits. Finally, include a clear call to action for viewers to support the product.
- Create eye-catching video edits: Although TikTok already has built-in video templates, it’s still necessary to be meticulous in video editing. Make sure to trim and remove unnecessary footage. Take advantage also of jump cuts and transitions to make your content more fascinating to watch.
- Produce Value-Adding content: Your content must appear like educational or informative material. If it’s presented only in a way like a sponsored ad, people will not feel authenticity from it. Some ways to add value to your posts include comparing your promoted brand to others, explaining its pros and cons, or providing a step-by-step guide on how to use it.
- Get straight to the point: Some creators beat around the bush just to make their content longer. However, people now have shorter attention spans. So, focus on what really matters—hook your audience, then quickly review the brand.
4. Grow Your Online Presence
There are different ways to grow your online presence, one of which is by writing a compelling social media bio.
Whether you’re using Instagram or TikTok, your bio serves as the viewer's window into your personality. If it’s unique and captivating, it will help you grab more followers.
One common growth hack that some online personalities use is following back their followers. This helps in making your connection to your viewers more intact.
Another effective way to reach a larger audience is by utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Incorporate relevant keywords in your description and hashtags to drive more traffic to your content.
However, the most reliable method for UGC creator growth is to consistently produce exceptional content. If your content offers something new, valuable, and authentic, and if you avoid merely echoing the opinions of others, people will be more inclined to follow you.
There are various methods to grow your online presence, and one of them is by crafting a
5. Engage with Your Audience
Interacting with your audience is essential, even after you've uploaded your content. This gives your audience the impression that you're 100% committed to making genuine connections and that you're not just trying to sell products to them.
Here are a couple of ways to engage with your viewers:
- Reply to comments: You don't have to reply to every single comment. Strive to respond to at least three fascinating comments that you think can spark a lively discussion. You may also reply using cute emojis like ❤ ️ or 😊 if someone praises you.
- Invite them to your other platforms: Let your audience know that they can also connect with you through other online platforms. Just drop a link anywhere in your post so they can visit the site with ease. They might enjoy viewing your stories and reels as well.
- Incentivize your audience: One way to enhance your followers’ viewing experience is by offering rewards to randomly selected viewers who engage with your content through likes, shares, and comments.
6. Monetize Your UGC
There's no minimum follower count required to start earning as a UGC creator. However, you need to find brands that are willing to pay for your work. Here are some online platforms where you can find brands in need of UGC creators:
- Freelance Platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour are examples of freelance platforms where you can find clients looking for UGC creators.
- Job sites: You can also find lots of brands seeking UGC creators in traditional job-hunting sites like Indeed and JobStreet.
- Social Media Sites: You can directly message the social media handles of your chosen brands and offer them UGC deals.
- Startups and Small Businesses: These entities love to make partnerships with UGC creators. You can send them proposals via their website or email address to encourage them to make UGC deals with you.
7. Evolve as a UGC Creator
Once you've created a few UGCs, it's important to evaluate what's working and what's not. Take the time to review your audience's engagement and determine which type of content resonates with them the most.
Do they prefer unboxing videos, product walkthroughs, testimonials, or role-playing?
Platforms like TikTok and other social media sites offer analytical tools to help you assess performance. Take a look at which posts got the most views and generated the most likes, comments, and link clicks. Use this data as a foundation for your future content strategy.
Identify any aspects of your previous posts that may have turned off your viewers or seemed unnecessary. By understanding what doesn't work, you can improve and avoid similar pitfalls in your future content.
Furthermore, don’t forget to create a UGC Creator Portfolio. This compilation of your previous posts serves as a showcase that you can present to potential clients. It helps entice them to collaborate with you and demonstrates the quality and variety of your work.
What is a UGC Creator: FAQs
What Is The Difference Between UGC Creator And Influencer?
The difference between a UGC Creator and an Influencer lies in their brand promotion approach. UGC Creators rely on spontaneity and authenticity in their content to endorse products. While they are paid by brands for sponsored advertisements, their content maintains the appearance of being created by ordinary individuals. On the other hand, influencers utilize their popularity to persuade their fanbase to support brands.
Why Is UGC Better Than Influencer?
UGC is often considered a preferable option compared to being an influencer because it does not necessarily demand a large following to begin with. Even if you are not an online superstar, you can collaborate with startups and small businesses as a UGC creator as long as you possess the ability to generate compelling and genuine promotional content.
Final Words
UGC creators are currently making a significant impact on the internet, leading many individuals to wonder, "How can I become a UGC creator?"
These creators represent a new generation of advertisers who have moved away from extravagant and artificial production styles. Instead, they connect more deeply with their audience through their genuine authenticity, spontaneity, and creative approach.
However, becoming a UGC creator is not a simple task. It's not a profession where you can quickly earn a substantial amount of money overnight. Success in this career requires hard work, dedication, and a unique mindset.
Do you have what it takes to become a UGC creator?
If so, grab your microphone and camera and embark on this exciting journey to find out for yourself.
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