What is a UGC Creator and How to Become One?

In this article, we will look at everything you need to know to become a UGC creator – from building your personal brand and creating impactful content on social media to monetizing your UGC efforts.

What does UGC stand for?

Well, if you’re used to scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, we’re pretty sure you've come across this type of content, maybe without even realizing it! User-Generated Content, or UGC, refers to any kind of content - like videos, images, or text - that's created and shared by regular users, rather than brands or businesses.

What is a UGC Creator?

A UGC creator is someone who produces content that has that same genuine, user-made feel, but they get paid by brands to create it. Unlike regular UGC that customers make for free, these creators are compensated for their work - either through cash payments or by receiving free products from the brand. UGC creators play a crucial role in generating social proof for brands and products!

Here’s a great example of UGC content by a creator with less than 7k followers at the time of writing.

UGC Creators vs. Influencers: What are the differences?

While UGC creators and influencers may seem quite similar, there are some important distinctions between the two.

• Influencers are the stars of social media platforms. These individuals have built up huge, dedicated and engaged followings on social media. Brands love to partner with influencers because they can leverage their audience and tap into their influence to promote products or services.
• UGC creators may not necessarily have a massive following. Brands value UGC creators for their ability to produce high-quality, genuine-looking content that aligns with the brand's visual style and tone. The focus is on the content creation skills and artistic style of the UGC creator, rather than their reach or influence.

Why are brands looking for UGC creators?

Brands are increasingly turning to UGC creators as a valuable part of their social media marketing strategy. The reason is simple: UGC content resonates strongly with consumers in a way that traditional branded content often doesn’t.

Outsourcing content creation

Not all brands can create content in-house. Creating content can be a time-consuming process. Not to mention the fact that you need a content creation team, equipment, and studio time to produce high-quality content. UGC creators already have the tools and skills for this mission!

Authenticity and trust

Customers tend to view user-generated content as more authentic, trustworthy and relatable compared to content that is directly produced by the brand itself. 80 percent of respondents in a survey say that UGC content impacts their purchase decisions.

Increased Engagement

More likes, comments, shares... Because content created by a UGC content creator appears more authentic and reliable, it tends to be more engaging!

Cost-Effective Content

One of the main reasons for using an influencer as a marketer is to take advantage of their influence on their community, which can be large or small. The larger the community, the more expensive it is to use the services of an influencer to promote a product or service. As UGC content creators are solicited for their ability to create high value-added content and not for their follower base, they are generally less expensive.

How to become a UGC Creator? (in 7 steps)

Find your niche

Finding your niche as a UGC creator allows you to focus your efforts and create content that is specifically tailored to a particular audience. Because you’re making your content more relevant and engaging for a well-defined niche, you stand out by highlighting your unique expertise or perspective. This will allow you to attract a dedicated and loyal following, not to mention brands in your preferred fields (beauty, cosmetics, sports, food...).

To choose your specific niche, ask yourself the right questions:

• What are your interests?
• What are your passions?
• What are your skills?
• What types of activities, topics, and hobbies excite you?

If you love fashion, you can become a creator creating UGC for fashion brands! Here is an example of a fashion UGC ad from @curatedbyange.

Analyze your market and niche

Now that you’ve selected a niche, you have to study the social media market landscape to find where your interests and expertise can thrive. By understanding what content currently resonates with target audiences and on which social media platforms, you can tailor your content to meet demand, increase visibility, and attract more engagement.

Use tools like Google Trends and social media platforms to see current popular and emerging topics, trending keywords or popular hashtags. Also, study creators who are successful in potential niches. Observe what they do well and identify areas where you can offer something unique.

Set up your social media presence

Now that you know what to deliver and to whom, you have to choose where. Indeed, establishing a strong social media presence begins with choosing the right platforms to focus on.

This is not necessarily easy, as there are more and more social networks. But each platform has its strengths and its audience. Here are some hints.

Facebook

• Demographics: Broad age range, with a strong presence of users aged 25-54.
• Interests: Diverse interests, from family and lifestyle content to business and community engagement.
• Behavior: Users often engage with friends and family, join groups, follow brands, and participate in local events.

Instagram

• Demographics: Predominantly younger users, aged 18-34.
• Interests: Highly visual content, including fashion, beauty, travel, food, and fitness.
• Behavior: Users engage with visually appealing posts, stories, reels, and influencers. They often use the platform for inspiration and discovery.

TikTok

• Demographics: Very young user base, primarily aged 13-24.
• Interests: Short, engaging videos on trends, music, dance, comedy, fashion, and DIY.
• Behavior: Users consume and create short-form video content, follow trends, and participate in challenges and viral content.

YouTube

• Demographics: Wide age range, with strong viewership among 18-49 year-olds.
• Interests: Long-form video content, tutorials, entertainment, education, vlogs, and product reviews.
• Behavior: Users watch videos, subscribe to channels, engage with creators through comments, and follow video series or playlists.

Pinterest

• Demographics: Predominantly female users, with a strong presence of users aged 25-54.
• Interests: Highly visual and inspirational content, including home decor, DIY projects, fashion, beauty, food, and travel.
• Behavior: Users engage with visually appealing pins, create and curate boards, save ideas for future reference, and discover new content through search and recommendations.

X (Twitter)

• Demographics: Users typically aged 18-49.
• Interests: News, politics, technology, entertainment, and real-time updates.
• Behavior: Users engage with short-form content, participate in discussions, follow news, and interact with brands and influencers through tweets and retweets.

LinkedIn

• Demographics: Professional users, with a focus on those aged 25-54.
• Interests: Career development, industry news, thought leadership, job opportunities, and professional networking.
• Behavior: Users engage with content related to their careers, industries, and professional interests. They connect with colleagues, peers, and industry leaders, share updates and insights, and seek out new job opportunities or career advancement.

Once you've decided which platforms to invest in, don’t forget to optimize your social media profiles for discoverability. Complete your profiles thoroughly. Fill out all sections, including the bio, contact information, and any platform-specific fields. A well-completed profile appears professional and trustworthy. High-quality images for your profile picture and cover photo will make strong first impressions.

💡 Tip: Leverage multiple social media platforms to reach a broader audience. Share your content across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Cross-promotion helps increase your visibility and attract new followers!

Build your personal brand

Next, you have to build a strong personal brand! It is essential to establishing your identity, credibility and authority in your chosen niche.

Having a brand strategy helps you stand out in a crowded marketplace, making it easier for people to recognize you and connect with you, provided it's consistent across all the platforms you'll be using. And you can do it in only 3 steps!

• Define your brand identity: Start by clearly defining what your personal brand represents. Consider your values, mission, and the unique qualities that set you apart. This foundation will guide all your branding efforts.
• Develop your brand voice: Your brand voice is the tone and style you use in your communication. It should reflect your personality and resonate with your audience. Whether your voice is professional, casual, humorous, or inspirational, maintain consistency across all platforms and content. This consistency helps create a recognizable and reliable brand.
• Create a visual identity: Your visual identity includes your logo, color scheme, typography, and overall aesthetic. Choose elements that represent your brand and appeal to your audience.

Get essential tools and equipment

When starting out as a creator, having the right tools and equipment can make a significant difference in the quality of your content and the efficiency of your workflow.

• Camera or smartphone

Investing in a good camera is crucial for capturing clear and professional-looking content. A smartphone with superior photo quality will work well with proper lighting! You can also invest in a dedicated DSLR or mirrorless camera that can offer better control over your settings and improved image quality. You also get more versatility with interchangeable lenses. Popular options include the Canon EOS M50, Sony Alpha a6400, and Nikon Z50.

• Microphone

Good audio quality is just as important as video quality. Poor sound can turn viewers away, even if the video quality is high. For a UGC creator, a Lavalier microphone will work perfectly.

• Lighting equipment

Proper lighting can dramatically enhance the look of your videos. Natural light is excellent, but having artificial lighting gives you more control. Rainy day? Night time? No more worries, create content when you want! A ring light is a cheap option for even lighting and reducing shadows. You can also invest in a softbox light for soft and diffused lighting. Softboxes are also perfect for indoor shooting.

There's a fourth piece of equipment you need to be 100% well-equipped: a tripod. It permits you to avoid shaky footage.

• Editing Software

Depending on your budget and needs, there are several options:

• Video editing: Capcut, Davinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie for beginners.
• Photo editing: Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or GIMP for a free alternative.

• Computer or laptop

A reliable computer with good processing power and memory is necessary for editing and storing your content. Look for models with strong CPU performance, adequate RAM (at least 16GB), and a dedicated graphics card if you plan on doing intensive video editing.

PS: Not having a computer shouldn’t stop you from starting your UGC journey. With a good smartphone and a mobile app, you can record and edit your videos.

• Social media management tools

Managing multiple social media platforms can be overwhelming. Tools like Iconosquare will help you schedule posts, track performance, and manage all your social media accounts in one place. And best of all, it's easy to create and configure an Iconosquare account. ✨

• Branding tools

As we have already seen, creating a consistent brand image is essential. Use Canva, Adobe Spark, or Photoshop for creating thumbnails, social media posts, and other graphics.

Create engaging content

You’re now all set-up, you can begin your UGC journey! As a UGC creator, producing engaging and authentic content is the cornerstone of building a loyal audience and achieving success. Engaging content captures attention, encourages interaction, and fosters a sense of community among your followers.

Understand your audience

The first step in creating engaging content is understanding who your audience is and what they want. Conduct thorough research to identify your target audience’s demographics, interests, pain points, and preferences.

As a new creator, it might be hard to pinpoint who your audience is since you have little or no data. A good way to do this is by identifying successful creators in your niche and studying their audiences.

Look at who follows them, the types of content that get the most engagement, and the topics they cover. Analyzing the comment sections can provide clues about audience preferences and common questions or issues you can target with your content.

Define your unique value proposition

Your unique value proposition (UVP) is what sets you apart from other creators. It’s the unique value that your content provides to your audience. Clearly defining your UVP will help you create content that stands out and resonates with your followers.

The value you offer your audience could be your expertise, your unique perspective, or your entertaining presentation style. Whatever it may be, make sure it shines through in your content.

Plan your content types, themes and topics

Identify the main themes and topics that you will cover. These should align with your goals, audience interests, and your UVP. Create a list of specific content ideas under each theme to ensure you have a steady stream of topics to cover.

Don't forget to indicate what type of content you're going to produce for each topic. Are you going to create videos? Photos? What form will the content take? (e.g., tutorials, DIY, unboxing, review).

Create a content calendar

A content calendar helps you plan and organize your content in advance. It should include details such as the type of content, the topic, the publishing date, and the distribution channels. A content calendar ensures consistency and helps you stay on track with your publishing schedule.

With Iconosquare’s publishing tool, you can build your content calendar and schedule your social media content in advance. This will ensure you are consistent with posting.

Consistency is key to maintaining and growing your audience. Regular posting helps keep your audience engaged and expecting new content. Whether you post daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, make sure you are consistent with your timing. It helps build trust and keeps your audience coming back for more.

Utilize trends and hashtags

Stay updated with the latest trends and incorporate them into your content. Trending topics and challenges can boost visibility and engagement. Use relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Encourage interaction

Engagement is a two-way street. To encourage your audience to interact with your content, pose questions in your videos, posts, or captions to prompt responses. Including calls to action (CTAs) can also be very effective. Invite viewers to like, comment, share, or subscribe and respond to their comments, messages, and feedback promptly.

Additionally, using tools like Instagram Stories or Twitter polls allows you to gather opinions and feedback. Hosting live sessions, where you can interact with your audience in real time, will also further foster a sense of community and engagement.

Experiment, analyze, adapt

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different content formats, topics, and styles. Pay attention to audience feedback and engagement to see what resonates best. Being adaptable and open to change allows you to grow and evolve with your audience's preferences!

The key is to stay flexible, relevant and competitive in your niche. Remain open to evolving your niche as trends and interests change. There's nothing better than keeping an eye on all your social statistics in one place!

Indeed, regularly analyzing your content performance using analytics tools is key. Track metrics like views, likes, shares, comments, and watch time to understand what type of content works best. Use this data and audience feedback to refine your content strategy and make informed decisions about future content.

Monetizing Your UGC

Choose brands you want to work with

Not all brand collaborations are created equal, and aligning yourself with the right brands can make a big difference in your success and growth. Take some time to identify brands that truly resonate with you and your content.

Research their brand image, target audience, and marketing strategies to ensure they're a great fit:

• Does the brand's values and image align with my own personal brand?
• Does the brand's target audience overlap with my own follower base?
• What type of content does the brand typically feature or request from creators?
• What type of partnership or compensation is the brand offering?
• Does the brand have a history of successful UGC creator partnerships?
• What level of creative freedom and content approval will the brand provide?

When your choice is made, it’s time for you to show what you’re capable of!

Build your portfolio

One of the most important steps in becoming a successful UGC creator is building a strong, polished portfolio showcasing your best work. Your portfolio is like a window into your unique skills, creativity, and the type of content you can produce.

• Start by making an introduction about yourself.
• Curate a selection of your highest-performing posts, videos, and other pieces that really demonstrate your style and ability to create engaging, on-brand content. Don’t forget to include detailed audience demographics and key metrics of your content performance.
• Consider organizing your portfolio in a way that highlights your versatility, whether that's by service you offer, theme, platform, or client.
• As you continue creating amazing content, be sure to regularly update your portfolio to include your latest and greatest work.

A well-crafted portfolio can help you attract potential brand partnerships, secure lucrative collaborations, and establish yourself as a sought-after UGC creator in your industry. So take the time to build a portfolio you're truly proud of!

Pitch yourself to brands

Once you've found the brands you want to work with and shared your portfolio with them, it's time to pitch to brands for sponsorships and collaborations! Tailor each pitch to these brands by highlighting why you like their products, how your content aligns with their brand, and what value you can bring to their marketing efforts.

Be professional, concise, and ready to follow up if you don’t hear back initially. When a brand shows interest, be prepared to negotiate terms and deliver high-quality work to build long-term relationships.

Find opportunities on UGC creator platforms

Of course, you can contact the brands directly. But there is another, less time-consuming solution: you can find monetization opportunities on various UGC creator platforms.

These platforms connect creators with brands looking for UGC creators to promote their products or services by allowing them to create a profile showcasing audience demographics, content performance, and past collaborations. It makes it easier for brands to find and contact you.

By actively participating on these platforms, you can increase your visibility, connect with more brands, and secure more paid collaborations.

To further enhance your content strategy and gain valuable insights, consider using Iconosquare! Iconosquare offers powerful analytics and management tools that help you track your social media performance, optimize your content, and grow your online presence. With Iconosquare, you can streamline your efforts and focus on what you do best—creating amazing content. Start your free trial with Iconosquare today and take your UGC creation to the next level.