UGC 101: Do I need to have a following on social media to be a UGC creator?
Mar 31, 2024
UGC has become a buzzword on many FYPs and has become a viral topic, many people are curious about how to get started and what the requirements are to be a UGC creator and get paid. We are here to answer all your questions and make the process as quick as possible. Do you need a large following or a following at all to become a UGC creator?
The answer in short is no, you do not need followers to be a UGC creator or get paid.
A UGC creator does not need a huge following on social media to start making money. UGC creators don’t post the content to their personal social feeds, they give the brand the right to own the content & repost it on their marketing channels. UGC content is less polished, and highly shareable, to replicate the authentic nature of content created by customers.
The value of UGC lies in the content’s genuineness, relevance, and ability to connect with the brand's target audience. 72% of customers believe it is more credible when other customers share their experiences rather than brands speak for themselves. However, I will say that the following is not necessary but it is a key step if you want to scale your business, especially in opening multiple income portals.
We always suggest that new UGC creators make dedicated social media accounts to act as a visual portfolio of example content that displays the value you can bring to your clients.
The Goal is Social Proof + Credibility as a UGC Creator, Not a Huge Following.
A UGC creator and influencer are completely different roles with different requirements and meet different goals for brand marketing strategies. When a brand partners with an influencer they are paying for sponsored content; as well as, access to their following, and the bigger the following/engagement the more an influencer can charge. A UGC creator is paid for the content itself and usage rights of the content. Meaning that UGC creators don’t post the content to their social feed, they give the brand the right to own the content & repost it on their marketing platforms.
Just like a photographer, social media manager, or graphic designer, you don't hire them for their following, you hire them for their portfolios, examples, and proven client results. Or their social proof and credibility NOT their following. A UGC creator is hired because they are expert content creators for authentic relatable, quality content. Expert tip: try niching down and working with brands in a similar space (ex: clean beauty brands) to grab brands' attention and have relevant examples to show potential new clients.
Securing Social Proof
What is social proof? A tendency people have to conform to the actions of others, utilized in advertising to show popularity, virality, or endorsements (e.g., customer testimonials).
Credibility + social proof often comes with more practice and successful UGC campaigns. When you consistently deliver high-quality content that resonates with audiences, you will accumulate testimonials, 5-star reviews, and success testimonials. Such social proof becomes invaluable in showcasing your abilities to potential clients, leading to increased authority and trust in the space.
With authority may come followers, but these are not the main goal of a UGC creator. Creating quality, authentic example content to furnish your UGC social accounts + portfolio are far more important when trying to secure brand deals.
Engagement Rate
A metric way more important than a large following is the amount of engagement UGC creators receive on both brand campaigns and posted content on social profiles. The higher the engagement rate (aka the total likes + comments + saves and shares divided by views) the more social proof content has. Pay attention to comments and positive sentiments, I always encourage creators to screenshot positive comments from branded content on socials and feature it on your portfolio for even more social proof!
Charging Higher Rates as a UGC Creator
As an authoritative UGC creator, you should position yourself as an expert in your niche or industry. Brands and clients are more willing to pay a premium for content produced by creators who have established themselves as knowledgeable and experienced figures. Building social proof as a UGC creator is key to standing out, leaving a lasting impact, and positioning yourself for long-term success.
So again to answer your question, Do you need a large following or a following at all to become a UGC creator?
No, you do not need followers to be a UGC creator or get paid. You do need to build social proof and credibility in the space starting with your portfolio and dedicated UGC social accounts.
Grab our Free UGC Career Kickstarter guide to speed up your journey this blueprint is your way to start getting paid for content creation in 2 weeks! We also understand that entering a new space like UGC can be time-consuming, that's why we did the work for you. Check out done for you UGC Portfolio template for Canva to have your pitch-ready aesthetic portfolio in minutes instead of days!
xo
VITAMINC
