There are many ways to earn money on social media, and becoming a UGC Creator on TikTok is one of them.
However, you might ask yourself, “Of course, I want to earn, but what does UGC mean, and how can I earn from it?”
If you’re one of the aspiring TikTok creators looking to make money while spending time on the platform, read on as we share how you can earn by producing User-Generated Content.
What Does UGC Stand For?
First and foremost, UGC stands for User-Generated Content. Not so long ago, consumers used to rely on professionals and artists for content regarding a company or a business.
Now, even simpletons like you and me can create valuable content for businesses. Thanks to that one small, powerful thing in our pockets – the smartphone.
What Is A UGC Creator And How To Become One
To put it simply, user-generated content encompasses any form of content, including posts, reviews, photos, and videos that are created by individuals (not brands) and published online.
What better way to promote your business than by seeing content from actual users (not artists or big influencers) representing your brand?
While user-generated content has been around for as early as 2005, we are now seeing a rise in the number of people who want to be a UGC creator on TikTok. The question is, why?
TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms. In fact, in 2022, TikTok surpassed Google (which has been around for decades) as a search engine for Gen Z.
This means that having a good standing on TikTok can prove useful to your business, and most companies are leveraging this by employing UGC creators on TikTok.
What Is UGC Marketing?
Businesses spend thousands of dollars in their marketing efforts to produce something perfect, but they forget one thing – consumers are after authenticity, not perfection.
Consumers trust what other consumers say, rather than what a famous celebrity or what the company itself says about their products and services.
They can also feel whether something is authentic or “forced”.
After all, consumers are not after protecting a company’s name or promoting brand loyalty. They are after real results, which can only be found in user-generated content.
How To Become A UGC Creator On TikTok
Now comes the important question – how can you become a UGC creator on TikTok and help brands reach millions of users by providing authentic and quality content?
Invest in good equipment
Since you’ll be shooting content for brands, you must have at least good quality (not necessarily top-tier) equipment.
This includes a smartphone, ring light, mic, and a good (and clean) backdrop. Check out phones that provide great quality images and videos but don’t come with a hefty price.
You can also easily order ring lights, a microphone, and a long plain fabric that would serve as your backdrop online. Simply make sure to thoroughly check the reviews first.
Build a portfolio
The next thing you need to do is start shooting using your equipment and build an impressive portfolio.
To get started, you can feature your favorite brands (makeup, skincare, colognes) – the list is endless. You can create unboxing videos, product reviews, and tutorials.
Since your goal is to be a UGC creator on TikTok, we suggest focusing on video-type content and practicing your editing using built-in TikTok tools.
Create a TikTok account dedicated to your UGC
By creating a TikTok account dedicated solely to your UGC, you can reach brands faster (and you might even gain a couple of followers along the way).
Aside from that, make sure to add your e-mail to your TikTok profile so that interested brands can have a way of contacting you. It would also help to use relevant hashtags.
However, avoid using #UGC or #UGCCreator since your videos will be shown to your fellow creators instead of being shown to brands.
Instead, research the proper hashtags you can use and go for those that can help you reach out to the brands you want to work with.
For instance, if you are promoting makeup, use hashtags like #makeuptutorial or #getreadywithme instead of using #UGC.
The more specific your hashtag is, the better your chances of snagging that first paid UGC task is.
Reach out to brands
When we say “reach out to brands” we don’t mean just any brand, we mean to reach out to brands that you trust and have absolute confidence in.
Remember, people can sense which content is authentic and which one is “too sales-y” or done for the sake of earning.
If you really want to have a voice and become a real influencer, then you must have standards and you must not lower those standards for the sake of money.
Also, avoid spamming brands on TikTok. Make sure to reach out to them via the proper channels, and make sure to have your portfolio and equipment ready before doing so.
The best way to do this is via e-mail so you can send with your letter the appropriate attachments. You can also follow up with them via their social media pages.
Is UGC Creator The Same As Influencer?
While the two might sound exactly the same, they actually differ in nature and purpose.
Most of the time, influencers are paid to promote a brand to their own community of followers, whereas not every UGC creator on TikTok has a huge follower count.
Another thing is that as we previously mentioned, influencers somehow promote brand loyalty. UGC Creators, on the other hand, aim to provide authentic content for other users.
Best UGC Platforms For Creators
If you are a budding UGC creator on TikTok looking to expand your client base, you can try the following platforms:
- Grin
- Trend
- Creator.Co
- Pixlee
- Upfluence
- Bazaarvoice
- Impact.Com
- Olapic
- Ltk (Formerly Rewardstyle)
- Yotpo
- Intellifluence
- Billo
- Insense
- Tagbox
- Crewfire
- Taggshop
- Tint
- Stackla
Start Earning On TikTok!
Social media is a powerful tool and you can use it to your advantage.
Instead of just scrolling for hours on TikTok, why not use the platform to actually make some money on the side as a UGC Creator?
This way, you can enjoy spending time on your favorite app and earn from it at the same time. You might even get exclusive discounts and receive PR packages from some brands too!