How to Make UGC: Easy Tips for Authentic Content

Learn how to make UGC that truly connects. Discover proven strategies to create authentic content that builds trust and boosts growth.

Learning how to create great UGC is way more straightforward than it looks. It really just comes down to four key stages: Strategize what you need, Source or inspire creators to make it, Create the actual content, and then Distribute it where it’ll make the biggest impact.

Think of this as your roadmap for turning genuine customer love into real, measurable marketing wins.

Why Authentic UGC Is Your Strongest Marketing Asset

User-Generated Content (UGC) isn't just another marketing buzzword anymore; it's a fundamental shift in how brands talk to people. At its core, UGC builds a level of trust that a slick, high-budget ad campaign just can't touch.

Today's consumers are smart. They're skeptical of traditional advertising, but they absolutely trust recommendations from real people like them.

When a customer posts a video unboxing your new product or a photo of themselves using your service, it’s instant social proof. This isn't a paid actor reading a script; it's a genuine endorsement from someone who actually connects with your brand. And that connection is what drives modern marketing.

The Psychology Behind Its Power

The magic of UGC is all about basic human psychology. We're wired to trust what our peers say far more than what a corporation tells us. This kind of content feels more relatable and less "salesy," which immediately breaks down the walls between a brand and its audience.

It's really just the digital version of word-of-mouth—the oldest and most effective marketing trick in the book. It builds a sense of community and gives potential buyers the confidence they need to make a purchase.

The real power of UGC is that it allows your customers to become your most compelling storytellers. Their authentic experiences provide social proof that is more persuasive and trustworthy than any brand-created advertisement.

This simple infographic breaks down the core creation process.

As you can see, the journey from a simple idea to a published piece of content is a clear, repeatable flow.

To give you a bird's-eye view, here's how these four stages work together.

The Four Pillars of Effective UGC Creation

This table summarizes the core framework for making successful User-Generated Content, providing a quick overview of the key stages discussed in the article.

Following these pillars ensures your UGC efforts are structured, intentional, and geared for success.

Tapping Into a Growing Market

The financial impact here is massive and can't be ignored. The global UGC market was valued at around $9.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to explode to $46.5 billion by 2034. That's a compound annual growth rate of roughly 19.5%.

This explosive growth makes one thing clear: UGC is now critical. Brands that don't build a solid UGC framework are going to get left behind. The first step to grabbing a piece of this opportunity is developing a clear plan. For a deeper dive, check out our complete guide on building a powerful user-generated content strategy. This framework will get your efforts organized, effective, and ready to deliver results.

Building Your UGC Game Plan and Creative Briefs

The best User-Generated Content campaigns don't just happen by accident. They're the direct result of a solid, thoughtful plan. Before you even think about reaching out to a single creator, you have to define what success actually looks like for your brand. A clear game plan is your compass—it makes sure every video, every image, and every story serves a purpose.

So, what’s the goal? Are you trying to blow up brand awareness? If so, you’ll want creators making fun, highly shareable videos that grab as many eyeballs as possible. Or is the real mission to drive sales? In that case, you’re looking for direct, benefit-focused testimonials and product demos that hit home.

Without that initial clarity, you’ll just end up with a random pile of content that looks pretty but doesn't actually move the needle on your business goals. As you build your plan, it’s always a good idea to explore different effective UGC strategies for social media success to spark new ideas and find what works for you.

Crafting a Winning Creative Brief

Once your goals are locked in, the creative brief becomes your single most important document. This isn't just paperwork; it’s the instruction manual that connects your brand's vision with a creator's unique, authentic voice. A weak brief inevitably leads to off-brand, unusable content, which is a massive waste of everyone's time and money.

A great brief gives direction without killing creativity. It should lay out the non-negotiables—like brand voice, key messages, and the exact call-to-action—but also give creators the freedom to be themselves. Finding that balance is the real secret to getting content that feels genuine and strategic.

The best creative briefs are like a partnership agreement. They give creators the essential info they need to win while trusting them to bring their own perspective and authenticity to the final cut.

To get this right, you need to be super specific about what you want to see and hear.

Key Elements of a Strong Brief

Your brief should be a one-stop shop for a creator. Vague instructions like "make a fun video about our product" are a recipe for disaster. Instead, build your brief with clear, actionable sections that leave no room for guessing.

Campaign Objective: Nail it down in one sentence. For instance, "Drive traffic to our new summer collection landing page."
Target Audience: Give a quick sketch of who this is for. Think about their demographics, what they like, and what problems they face.
Key Talking Points: List 3-5 must-have messages. This could be specific product features, core benefits, or what makes you different from the competition.
The "Do's and Don'ts": Get crystal clear on the rules. A "Do" might be "Show the product in natural, everyday lighting." A "Don't" could be "Don't include competitor logos in the background."
Call to Action (CTA): Tell the creator exactly what you want viewers to do. Is it "click the link in bio," "use discount code SUMMER20," or "share your own experience in the comments"?
Visual Inspiration: This one is huge. Include a few links to content you love, whether it’s from your own brand or someone else. Visual examples are often way more powerful than just words.

When you provide this level of detail, you’re setting your creators up for success, ensuring they deliver high-quality, on-brand UGC that hits your marketing goals from the very first take.

Creating UGC That Feels Real and Resonates

This is where the real work begins—turning your plans into user-generated content that people actually want to watch. Good news: you don't need a fancy studio or expensive gear. Your smartphone is probably the most powerful tool you have.

The secret isn't polished perfection; it's authenticity.

You're aiming for a sweet spot. The content needs to look and sound professional enough to be clear, but not so slick that it screams "scripted ad." It's a tricky balance, but a natural-feeling testimonial will crush a stiff, overproduced video every single time because it connects on a human level.

This screenshot from TikTok is a perfect example of how raw, user-filmed content is what people are there for.

The entire interface is built around immediate, unfiltered video. That's the heart of UGC.

Mastering the Basics for Better Quality

Even though UGC thrives on its raw energy, a few simple tweaks can make a huge difference. These aren't about faking it; they're about removing distractions so the creator's personality and message can really land.

First up, lighting is non-negotiable. You don't need a pro setup. Just filming near a window during the day provides soft, natural light that looks incredible. The goal is simple: make sure the creator's face is clearly visible.

Next, get the audio right. Nobody sticks around for a video that's noisy or muffled. Even using the microphone on a standard pair of headphones is a massive improvement over a phone's built-in mic. It cuts background noise and makes the voice pop.

Choosing the Right UGC Format

Not all UGC is built the same. The format you choose needs to ladder up to the goals you set in your creative brief. Different styles work for different objectives, and picking the right one is a big part of getting the results you're after.

Unboxing Videos: These are perfect for new product launches. They build hype and let viewers experience that "first look" thrill.
Tutorials and How-Tos: Got a complex product or software? A creator-led tutorial feels way more trustworthy and relatable than a corporate demo. It's a fantastic way to show value.
Day-in-the-Life Stories: This is how you build an emotional connection. It weaves your product into a creator's actual routine, showing it off in a natural, aspirational way.
Testimonials and Reviews: This is the classic social proof builder. A genuinely excited review from a real person is more persuasive than any ad copy you could write.

If you want to go even deeper on the creative process, our guide on https://viewprinter.tech/blog/articles/how-to-create-ugc-content is a must-read.

The best UGC format isn't always the trendiest one. It's the one that tells the most authentic story about your product and connects with what your specific audience actually cares about.

Focusing on Authentic Storytelling

At the end of the day, powerful UGC is just great storytelling. It’s about so much more than showing off a product—it’s about sharing a real experience. Encourage creators to just be themselves. Let their real opinions and personalities shine.

Honestly, the best stuff often comes from unscripted moments. A creator fumbling with a feature before having that "aha!" moment is way more compelling than someone rattling off a list of benefits. That kind of vulnerability builds trust and makes the whole thing feel real.

For even more ideas on making your content stand out, check out this complete creator's guide to making interactive video. When you let creators tell their own stories, in their own way, you don't just get an ad. You get a piece of content that resonates, builds community, and drives real action.

Getting Your UGC Seen on the Right Platforms

Creating incredible UGC is only half the battle. If that content just sits on a hard drive, it's a massive missed opportunity. Smart distribution is how you turn authentic content into tangible results, making sure all your hard work actually reaches the right people at the right time.

This isn't about just blasting the same video across every platform and hoping for the best. That's a rookie mistake. Each channel has its own algorithm, its own audience, and its own unwritten rules. What absolutely kills it on TikTok might completely fall flat on Facebook or your own website.

The key is to tailor your content for each specific environment.

Matching Content to the Platform

Think of each social media platform as a different kind of party. You wouldn't wear the same outfit to a casual barbecue that you'd wear to a formal gala, right? The same logic applies to where and how you post your UGC.

TikTok and Instagram Reels: This is the home for your fast-paced, entertaining, and trend-driven videos. If you've got a piece of UGC that grabs attention in the first three seconds, this is where it belongs. To really dig into this, check out our guide on how to get more views on Reels.
Instagram Feed and Stories: Your main feed is perfect for those high-quality, aesthetically pleasing photos and carousels. Stories, on the other hand, are for the raw, behind-the-scenes stuff that builds a real connection with your followers.
YouTube: This is where your longer-form UGC gets to shine. Think in-depth reviews, detailed tutorials, or full product demonstrations that offer genuine, lasting value.
Your Website and Product Pages: Embedding UGC directly on your site is a powerhouse move for social proof. Putting customer photos and video reviews right next to the "buy" button can do wonders for your conversion rates.

Don't just post your UGC; place it strategically. The right content on the right platform at the right moment is what transforms a simple video into a powerful driver of sales and brand loyalty.

Driving Action from Your UGC

Once your content is live, you need to guide your audience toward a specific action. A clear call-to-action is non-negotiable here. For creators trying to make a real impact on TikTok, exploring effective strategies for your TikTok link in bio is a fantastic way to turn all those views into actual traffic and sales.

This mindset applies everywhere. Whether you're adding a swipe-up link in an Instagram Story or including a product tag in a feed post, you're building a bridge between authentic content and your business goals.

And the ecosystem is growing to support this. We're expecting to see 88 distinct UGC platforms emerge by 2025. This infrastructure is fueling a market that's projected to hit $71.3 billion by 2032, which just shows how critical smart distribution has become. Modern tools like ViewPrinter are built to help you navigate this complexity, letting you schedule, analyze, and fine-tune your campaigns for the biggest possible impact.

So, you've launched your UGC campaign and the content is rolling in. Awesome. But here's the million-dollar question: is any of it actually working?

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of likes and views. They feel good, but they don't pay the bills. If you really want to know if your UGC is moving the needle, you have to look past those surface-level vanity metrics and focus on what truly matters to your business.

The real goal is to see if this content is prompting the actions you care about. We're talking about digging into the key performance indicators (KPIs) that show how people are really interacting with your brand. After all, a video with a handful of views but a sky-high conversion rate is worth infinitely more than a viral hit that drives zero sales.

This shift in mindset—from chasing reach to demanding results—is what turns a fun side project into a powerful, scalable marketing engine.

Identifying Your Core KPIs

Before you can measure success, you have to define what it looks like for you. Your KPIs should tie directly back to the goals you set in your original campaign brief. Different goals mean you'll be tracking different things.

Think about it this way:

Trying to build brand awareness? Sure, track reach and impressions, but pay closer attention to the share rate. When someone shares a piece of UGC, they're vouching for your brand. That’s a powerful signal.
Focused on engagement? Go deeper than just likes. Calculate your engagement rate (likes + comments + shares / followers). This gives you a much clearer picture of how healthy and active your community is.
Need to drive conversions? This is where the rubber meets the road. Keep a close eye on the click-through rate (CTR) from links in creator bios, use unique discount codes to track sales, and measure how many people are hitting your landing pages from UGC sources.

True UGC success isn't about going viral; it's about making a tangible impact. Focus on metrics that directly reflect business growth, like conversion rates and audience sentiment, not just the ones that look good on paper.

Gathering and Interpreting the Data

So, where do you find all this information? Most of it is right at your fingertips.

Social media platforms have their own built-in analytics that are a goldmine for this kind of data. Tools like Instagram Insights and TikTok Analytics are your first stop. You can see everything from who your audience is to the exact second they dropped off a video.

Start looking for patterns. Are videos from one particular creator always driving more clicks? Do your tutorial-style videos consistently outperform unboxings? This data is your roadmap. It tells you which creators to work with again, which content formats to lean into, and which calls-to-action are actually getting people to move.

Using this data-driven approach is what lets you optimize your efforts and prove the ROI of your entire UGC program.

It’s a strategy that’s become standard practice for a reason. By 2025, an estimated 86% of businesses were using UGC in their marketing, a clear sign of its effectiveness and consumers' trust in real user experiences. To see the full picture, you can discover more insights about user-generated content statistics. These numbers really drive home why having a solid measurement plan is no longer optional—it's essential for staying competitive.

Got Questions About Making UGC?

Even with a killer strategy in place, jumping into User-Generated Content can feel like navigating a new world. Let's break down some of the most common questions I hear from brands so you can move forward with total confidence.

One of the first things people ask is, "Do UGC creators need a huge following?" The answer is a hard no. This isn't influencer marketing. The magic of UGC is its raw authenticity, not the creator's follower count. A video from someone with 500 followers can feel way more genuine and trustworthy than a celebrity endorsement, often driving significantly better engagement and sales.

Then comes the money question: do you have to pay for this stuff? Well, it depends on the type of UGC you're after.

Organic UGC: This is the gold standard—content your actual customers create on their own because they genuinely love your product. You don't pay for them to make it, but you absolutely must get their permission before you use it anywhere.
Paid UGC: This is when you commission a creator to make content specifically for your brand. You're paying for their time and the rights to use the content in your ads, on your social feeds, or wherever else you need it.

"Do They Need a Fancy Camera?"

So many brands get hung up on production quality, thinking creators need professional cameras and a full lighting rig. This is one of the biggest myths in the UGC space.

Truthfully, content shot on a smartphone almost always outperforms slick, polished ads because it looks and feels native to the platform. It's what people are used to seeing from their friends.

Focus on the fundamentals: good natural light and clear audio. A simple video shot on an iPhone in front of a window will crush a dark, muffled video filmed on a pro-level camera. Authenticity always wins.

"How Do I Even Find These Creators?"

Finding the right people to create content can seem like a huge hurdle, but it's easier than you think. A great starting point is to search hashtags relevant to your niche or product. You'll quickly find people who are already creating content in your space.

The single best way to get amazing UGC is to build a real community. When you engage with your customers and make them feel seen, they become your biggest advocates and start creating content without you even asking.

You can also kick things off with a contest or a targeted campaign, asking your audience to share how they use your product. If you want a more direct route, there are platforms that connect brands with creators looking for partnerships. This gives you a bit more control over the outcome while keeping that crucial, authentic vibe.

Ready to stop wasting time and start making high-converting UGC ads in minutes? ViewPrinter's AI tools help you build slideshows, generate viral hooks, and schedule everything across your social channels. Start creating faster today at https://viewprinter.tech.