You can become a helpful UGC content creator for any brand looking to create content online.
Hint: That’s a lot of brands!
Without content, a marketing strategy is far from complete. Content single-handedly has the
power to turn prospects into customers. For years, brands have seen this paradigm shift in
the trend toward creative content.
Brands have also seen the importance of building trust with customers, as individual creators and influencers have taken center stage.
We have now seen content creation becoming a full-time job as more brands seek out high-quality and trusted creators.
There are now millions of creators who impact the purchase decisions of consumers.
Today, there are influencers, micro-influencers, podcasters, and Amazon influencers, all creating UGC content for brands.
And these brands have been investing in them for curating this desired content.
What is a UGC Creator?
UGC, which stands for User-Generated Content, is focused on customers and influencers in the customer demographic, who create the content outside of a particular brand.
Brands hire UGC content creators to create authentic and reliable content for the brand’s products and services. Brands realize that consumers look for authenticity. Consumers trust a brand only when they share relatable and relevant content.
They trust content created by people like them, even more so than big name celebrities and brands. This is why we see content created by someone just like you and me rather than the typical over-the-top and flashy promotional content.
On average, a UGC creator is paid around $250 for a particular piece of content. They earn an additional $60 for any extra content they create, per the brand’s requirements. They typically sign a full-fledged contract and agreement between both parties to avoid any disputes.
How Can You Become a UGC Creator and Help Brands?
Here are the basic steps you can follow to become a UGC creator yourself:
- Choose the niche that you are an expert in or interested in. This can vary from fashion, beauty, food, nutrition, fitness, gaming, technology, automobiles, beverages, restaurants, etc.
- Now figure out the format you wish to publish as UGC content. Some of the most popular options
include written blogs, videos, podcasts, and newsletters. - The next step is to determine the platform you will be using. You can choose from social media, Google, blogging platforms, etc. The most common platforms are Instagram and TikTok.
- You are now required to create and publish content. Make sure that you are following the guidelines provided by the brands you collaborate with. Your content needs to be under community standards and conditions.
- Engage your audience, build a community, and join other creator communities to see what they are doing. Respond to comments and messages. Ask for feedback and always be up for a friendly discussion.
- Be consistent with your creative development and publishing to ensure that your community keeps growing in order to establish yourself as a legit creator.
Building trust is not easy. It requires transparency and a multichannel outreach.
For the brand and your new growing audience, you need to be reliable. Your UGC content is expected to be honest and also able to be repurposed into any marketing channel, such as social ads, emails, product marketing, event marketing, etc.
Here are a few reasons how you can help a brand as a UGC content creator:
1) You help them gain a real audience
When real people talk about a brand, it creates a bandwagon effect and more people start creating content for the brand. UGC is like a magnet, attracting a similar and loyal audience.
They tend to come back and stay with the brand for a long time.
Ideally, your content will help the brand gather a real audience and inspire them throughout their journey.
2) You help them gain trust
Consumers seek UGC content that resonates with them. Once they learn which brands align with them, it builds trust in those brands.
If a brand promises consumers all-size clothing, consumers want to see images and videos of people wearing their clothing … in all sizes.
Trust is conditional, and you will be providing the brands with the right conditions.
3) You give them a more human vibe
People are tired of hearing brands talk about themselves, and UGC changes that.
People rely on other people, especially existing customers. When you as a UGC creator create content for a brand, it tells new prospective customers that real people are creating content for the brand.
This signal gives people a human vibe rather than a cold, robotic one. This helps consumers make decisions and trust the brand.
4) You help consumers make quicker decisions
UGC accurately tells you what the product or the brand is all about and what they represent.
Because UGC content is from customers of the brand, it is expected to not be sugar-coated. This is why it is so trustworthy and smart shoppers place their purchase decisions on it.
When they see real people making content for the brand who is not associated with them, it inspires people.
Your content tells quickly and plainly tells the users what the product is, what it does, and what it means for them. This information then makes it easy for them to finalize their decisions.
Conclusion
Becoming a UGC creator is not an easy task.
It is also not a short process. It is a long and continuous process.
You need to be consistent with your work and make your content creative enough to ensure that the brands are getting the best quality content.
Since it will be repurposed across multiple marketing channels like websites, emails, social media, advertisements, etc. it’s on the content creator to stay up to date on the latest trends and tools.
But with the right intent, talent, and drive, there is plenty of opportunity in the market.
