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TikTok UGC: Everything You Need To Know

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Are you one of those who believes Tiktok is only for dance challenges and lip-syncing videos? If so, you're a bit behind in time because TikTok user-generated content is a powerful marketing technique that can make your brand fly.

It follows this popular saying, "happy customers are the best salespeople." This is true with TikTok because it favors organic and original content from satisfied customers over brand-created videos.

In the same way, your potential customers prefer to see videos on TikTok from people who trust your product or service. The best part is that TikTok UGC has proven its effectiveness over the 6 years since the app was created.

Why Is TikTok Good For Marketing Campaigns?


TikTok was created in 2016, and since then, it has caused quite a rave because it prioritizes entertainment through short-form video content. Within a short time, it has grown in popularity over other platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, and even Twitter.

It allows users to show their creativity using their mobile phones by providing video editing tools, music, and effects to ease the process.

According to Beckie Turnbull, PrettyLittleThing's social media manager from the TikTok pdf titled, "The Power of TikTok,"

"TikTok pushes marketers to think outside of the usual parameters when it comes to social campaigns."

TikTok is an excellent platform for your marketing campaign, especially if you're targeting the younger generation. 66 percent of the people using TikTok are under 30, which makes it perfect if they're your target audience.

Chipotle is a perfect example of a brand that has leveraged TikTok to create awareness. It includes videos of fans sharing interesting recipes and hacks, which drive traffic to the brand.

Still wondering if marketing on TikTok is for you? Here are some statistics that you will find intriguing:

  • As of January 2022, TikTok boasts 1.2 billion monthly active users.
  • TikTok UGC stats show that user-generated content is 22% more effective than branded-created videos. They are 32% higher than Facebook ads and 46% more than regular ads.
  • According to Influencer Marketing Hub, TikTok has the strongest social media engagement rates per post.
  • Users of TikTok spend an average of 1.5 hours on the platform every day.
  • There are more than 170 million TikTok videos watched in an internet minute.
  • Nine out of ten TikTok users use the platform numerous times daily.

You can download the TikTok Pitch Deck pdf for more details about the platform.

What is TikTok UGC?


One of the first questions that must have crossed your mind is, "What is a UGC video?"

UGC simply means user-generated content. It has to do with video content created by users or contributors of a media platform, of which TikTok is the primary emphasis.

The traditional equivalent of user-generated content is word-of-mouth marketing, which requires users to document their brand experiences for the public. The power of TikTok UGC lies with the contributors because they help brands reach a massive audience.

TikTok UGC is a powerful marketing tool, especially with the growing popularity of virtual marketing. However, agencies and freelancers have now mastered the art of producing content like a user.

The brand only needs to give the freelancer their products in exchange for a video that portrays them as a user. Thus, major brands such as Asos and Guess have used influencers to create brand awareness and increase their reach.

Another way to get users to make videos about your product or service is to host giveaways. Users respond differently to giveaways, mainly because of the joy of getting exclusive products or services for free.

Popular TikTok UGC Post Types


There are different types of user-generated content that you can harness to engage your audience and give them the ultimate experience.

Giveaways

You can offer your audience a prize related to your brand in exchange for videos. Original and fun content quickly goes viral on TikTok because of its unique algorithm.

You can leverage the peculiarities of the social platform to increase your followers and get your audience to create content about your brand.

Sounds easy, right? Well, there’s more.

Before you start the giveaway, you must set goals you want to achieve and also ensure that the prize is mouth-watering. People will only make creative content when they think the prize is worth their sweat. Afterward, create rules and guidelines that participants must follow before participating.

Contiki, a tour company, created a giveaway that allows the winner to travel as an official creator with the brand. The competition offer real value by promising users a trip to anywhere in the world.

Challenges

What’s TikTok without challenges? This post allows you to see how users interact with your brand’s product while also getting the content you need for your brand to blow up.

Think of challenges as a way of killing two birds with one stone. Exciting, right?

All you have to do is call on contributors on the platform to join a contest or perform a particular task in a video that promotes your brand.

Choosing the right song for your TikTok challenge can also make a lot of difference for your brand, especially if it's related to the challenge. You can always create a video and challenge others to copy you. That’s the easiest way to go about it.

One popular example is Gymshark's famous campaign 66 Days: Change Your Life with the hashtag Gymshark66. The challenge flew over the roof as TikTokers hoped to win a membership to the fitness brand by creating videos.

Duets

A duet on TikTok is a video that allows users to use existing content to create videos. This post requires that contributors offer a creative twist to the authentic version.

Afterward, the creative version is placed alongside the original one so your fans can see how you enhanced the video. Users can view it on a split screen and watch both simultaneously.

You can get an influencer within your niche to create a duet on TikTok, which you can share with your fans so they can make their own version. However, your account must be public before you decide to create a duet so that it can reach your desired audience with ease.

Hashtags

According to a survey by Statista , entertainment content on TikTok gains the most hashtag views, about 535 million views. Hashtags are great for grouping content on a particular topic, making it easy for users to find you while searching.

The most effective hashtags are brief, simple, and easy to remember, which makes them really catchy for users. You can also use these elements to create hype around a new product or service your brand is advertising.

Samsung used this technique when they released the Galaxy A Smartphone. The brand partnered with BLACKPINK, using the hashtag #danceAwesome to create awareness.

This produced massive results of 4 million user-generated content videos with over 15 billion views. Your brand might not be as popular as Samsung's, but TikTok doesn’t care about that because its algorithm makes it possible for you to gain massive results.

How to Create a TikTok UGC Strategy:


To create a successful TikTok UGC strategy, you must be able to stir up the right feelings among your audience.

  • Trust is the first thing you must build. Nobody wants to be associated with a brand that is not reliable.
  • Your content must be able to create the fear of missing out (FOMO) among your audience.
  • The last one is to make users feel like a significant part of a community, so they're willing to try out your product and make a video.
The natural make-up of an individual seeks validation, praise, and recognition. Creating a TikTok UGC strategy that allows people to experience these feelings is true success.

Here are a couple of tips you must closely consider that will guide you in creating a successful strategy. They include:

Know Your Audience

TikTok as a platform is in a class of its own, which is why you must understand your audience before launching out.

There are primarily two types of users on TikTok that you must consider. There are the creators and the spectators.

Creators on TikTok are those who actively create videos and showcase their abilities by participating in challenges. This group of people is most willing to make UGC content for brands in exchange for rewards, appreciation, or a sense of community.

Spectators, on the other hand, remain in the background, watching videos and merely satisfying their curiosity.

To sell on TikTok, you must understand that users are interested in engaging and fun content that can help them build solid connections on the platform.

Compelling Content

TikTok is a whole web of enthralling content that keeps its users practically begging for more. Make sure you identify the objectives you’re willing to achieve with the UGC content before you ask users to start creating.

For instance, if you want people to participate in a challenge using your product, you must make the content original. Nobody on TikTok loves an ad that looks like an ad.

They want creative and realistic content they can easily relate to, rather than a pretentious video. TikTok focuses on community, and you must ensure that you focus on that while creating guidelines for the content.

You can use the different types of posts to create FOMO and desire among your audience to build brand awareness.

Crocs is a brand known for its humorous content because they make fun of the ugliness of their shoes. Their technique helps them connect with their audience deeply while offering tutorials on how people can style their shoes.

Partner With Influencers and Creators

One of the ways to fully maximize the benefits of TikTok for your brand is by partnering with influencers and creators with a decent following within your niche. 

Influencers already have an in-depth understanding of how the platform works. They know how to transform boring brand messages into exciting videos that will attract your potential customers.

A popular example of a brand that leveraged influencer marketing on TikTok is Dunkin'. They worked with Charli D'Amelio to launch new items into the market.

Their partnership resulted in a 20% sales increase and a 57% boost in app downloads. The influencer you choose doesn't have to be as popular as Charli; it is best to work with someone that understands your niche.

TikTok UGC: Frequently Asked Questions


What is UGC in video?

UGC (user-generated content) in video is an effective alternative to ads. This deals with videos made by your audience, and it is more engaging than many other marketing techniques.

Naturally, user-generated content can be in any form, such as texts, images, reviews, and, of course, videos. However, using short-form videos on TikTok has produced incredible results for brands, especially the ones that leverage UGC to create awareness.

What is UGC for social media?

User-generated content (UGC) for social media helps in detailing people's experiences, feedback, and opinions after using a particular product or service. UGC works for different platforms. However, Instagram and TikTok have shown the highest turnout in UGC because of their features.

Does UGC include influencers?

UGC doesn't need to include influencers. You can gain user-generated content from fun creators on social media that make high-quality videos with the potential to convert and increase sales.

If you’re just starting as a business owner or brand, there’s a high chance you cannot afford to pay influencers for the job. However, you need not worry because if you use the proper techniques, you can gain original and interested creators on social media who will gladly create content for you

Is Instagram a UGC?

UGC on Instagram is an effective way to reach customers, gain leads, and broaden your reach. The platform uses realistic content from users to convince others of your brand’s value. Instagram allows you to use images and videos to interact with your audience creatively to build customer trust. You can also use hashtags, giveaways, and challenges to make a new audience interested in your content so they can choose your brand.

Final Thoughts

TikTok UGC is a goldmine you can tap into for your brand’s growth. It allows your brand to gain your audience's exposure, user engagement, trust, and loyalty. Using TikTok UGC is also more cost-effective compared to all the other marketing techniques used to gain similar results.

Most importantly, it allows you to focus on the crucial aspect of your business- your customers. Brands that sell online can leverage TikTok to connect deeply with their audience and influence their financial decisions through UGC.

About the Author

Funmilola

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Versatile content writer with 3 years experience in writing website copy. An avid reader and prolific researcher.

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