UGC video is changing how brands connect with their audiences. This type of video uses natural, authentic visuals that highlight real people and genuine experiences. 62% of experts say this is the most effective way to market, and it’s easy to see why. UGC videos build trust and relatability like no other medium.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the power of UGC video, why this content type is a game-changer for marketing, some examples, strategies, and the best platforms and ways to collect them.
What is UGC video?
User-generated content (UGC) videos are authentic, brand-specific videos created by people who use the products or services, rather than by the brands themselves. They show people having genuine experiences with a product or service, sharing their honest reviews, or expressing themselves creatively. Many brands now use an AI video generator for UGC content to scale authentic content while maintaining the same relatable feel.
Common UGC video types include:
- Problem-solution: You show the problem and then present the product or service as the solution.
- Feature highlights: Showcasing the best features and benefits of a product in a way that really engages people.
- Listicles: Showing content in a list format, like “3 reasons to try X.”
- Tutorials: Showing people how to use a product or get the result they want.
- Before/after: Showing the results before and after using a product.
- UGC mashups: Putting together content from different creators into one unified video.
- Trends: Making the most of current trends to create content that’s in line with what people are looking for right now.
- Any video of someone using your product, visiting your store, or attending your event is considered UGC.
The great thing is, a GRC Compliant UGC video can follow any of these formats, but it doesn’t have to! Ultimately, a UGC video will be created in whatever way the user wants. As long as they mention your brand, you can count it as user-generated content video.
Let’s dive deeper into examples of brands using UGC video.
The easiest way to collect UGC video is with Walls.io
5 UGC video examples and why they work
Here are the a few brands using UGC video in their marketing strategy:
1. KIKO Milano
This Italian cosmetics brand offers stylish makeup and high-quality skincare products at affordable prices in more than 66 countries. They had a great idea of putting user-generated content from TikTok right next to the products on their website.
Why it works: A customer visits the Kiko Milano website and sees their TikTok content, which features lots of users trying out the products and raving about them. The result is an immediate purchase.
Kiko Milano uses Walls.io to embed UGC video
2. Sciton – Skin CEO
Skin CEO is a two-day event for professionals in the aesthetics industry who want to brush up on their skills and grow their businesses. At the event, Sciton set up a social wall to collect all the content created by attendees, including user-generated content videos.
Why it works: It’s a great way to get people involved by giving them a platform to post videos during the event. It basically turns them into UGC video content creators! Walls.io lets you post videos directly on a social wall, so you don’t have to use social media if you don’t want to.
3. Beauty of Joseon
This Korean skincare brand posts UGC videos of customers reviewing their products on Instagram. Of course, they get the okay to repost the videos.
Why it works: It’s a great strategy because it allows potential customers to see reviews from loyal customers on the Beauty of Joseon Instagram page, which motivates them to buy the products.
4. City, University of London
City, University of London has been using TikTok to connect with its community and show what life is like on campus. In an interview with Walls.io, the university’s Social Media Officer, Esen Bozdagli, highlighted the value of authentic, student-led content.
Why it works: TikTok videos made by students are shown on social media across the university’s website and during key events like graduation and welcome week, which puts student-generated content in the spotlight.
5. #IGrowYourFood Global Action Day
Every year in September, IFOAM – Organics International organises the #IGrowYourFood Global Action Day, which is a chance for the people who grow organic food to show off their work and be celebrated.
The campaign calls for farmer-generated video content to be submitted directly to IFOAM – Organics International or via social media using the hashtag. All content is collected on a social wall, embedded on the #IGrowYourFood website.
Why it works: They facilitate the submission of UGC videos from farmers by asking them to tag it with the hashtag #IGrowYourFood on multiple social media platforms. The cherry on top is how they put all the video content in one single feed embedded on the website with the help of Walls.io.
Benefits of using UGC video
UGC videos bring unmatched authenticity to modern marketing. Here are some powerful statistics that showcase their impact:
- Around 85% of consumers believe user-generated content is more influential than brand-produced photos or videos.
- TikTok and YouTube, as the giants of social video, demonstrate the growing demand for video content. YouTube saw 500 hours of video uploaded every minute as of February 2022, and YouTube Shorts attracted 2 billion monthly logged-in users by July 2023.
- User-generated videos on YouTube receive 10 times more views than videos created by brands.
- 60% of users say they would create content for a brand if given a reward, proving that a little incentive can go a long way in boosting UGC contributions.
These compelling facts highlight why UGC videos are essential for scaling your brand’s trustworthiness.
Best platforms for gathering UGC videos
Any UGC campaign will be tied to a specific platform to submit the videos easily. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Walls.io
Walls.io makes it easy for brands to collect UGC videos by bringing together content from different social media platforms into one place. With simple setup and powerful moderation tools, brands can quickly and effectively curate and display UGC videos on their screens or websites.
💡Did you know Walls.io now offers AI moderation and sentiment filtering options? Try it out!
How to gather UGC video on Walls.io:
- With Direct Posts your community can upload videos (up to 3 minutes long) directly to your social wall!
- Via hashtag aggregation from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
Collect UGC video from all major platoforms with Walls.io
TikTok
TikTok’s algorithm is all about user engagement, which makes it a great place to find user-generated content videos. Brands can set up challenges, hashtags, or trends to get users to share creative, short-form videos featuring their products.
How to gather UGC video on TikTok:
- Through branded hashtag or mentions.
- TikTok aggregation on a social wall.
Instagram’s a visual-first platform, and it offers tools like Stories, Reels, and hashtags to encourage users to submit content. Tools like tagging, mentions, and branded AR filters make it simple for brands to gather high-quality UGC videos.
How to gather UGC video on Instagram:
- Through branded hashtag or mentions.
- Instagram aggregation on a social wall.
YouTube
YouTube is great for hosting long-form user-generated content, with users regularly creating reviews, tutorials, and unboxings. Brands can get people to submit content by running contests or collaborating with other brands, and they can use YouTube’s search tools to find great content.
How to gather UGC video on YouTube:
- Through keywords, playlists or profiles.
- YouTube aggregation on a socia wall.
UGC video FAQ
How to make a ugc video?
If you’re a business looking to make a UGC video, it’s important to define your campaign goals and audience. Give users some simple tips for creating content that’s genuine and relevant, and offer incentives to get them involved. Use tools like Walls.io to collect, curate, and show off these videos across your marketing channels.
What is the style of a UGC video?
A UGC-style video is all about being genuine, relatable, and showing real-world experiences. It’s usually casual, unscripted, and filmed in a way that feels genuine, which makes it really engaging for audiences.
How long should a UGC video be?
A UGC video should typically be 15–60 seconds for platforms like TikTok or Instagram and up to 2–3 minutes for YouTube or other long-form content platforms, depending on the message and audience.