Chapter #9. 5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Creating UGC-Like Ads In-House

Hi everyone! ?? My name is Andrew Shemet. I'm the founder and CEO of UGC Ninja We have been creating cutting-edge UGC-style creatives in various languages for over 3 years.

We have over 300 happy clients worldwide, a monthly production capacity of 3000+ UGC creatives, and native researchers in 60+ countries managing our database of 24,000+ creators globally. So yeah, I know what I'm talking about when it comes to UGC-style ads! ??

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Synopsis of chapter #9. Today we are going to cover:

• main mistakes that in-house teams do while starting off
• how to avoid making these mistakes
• top trend to use for your UGC-like ads

As more brands recognize the power of authentic, relatable content, many are attempting to recreate the UGC magic themselves. While I applaud the initiative, and truly believe it works even better when there is a developed in-house team that is strengthen by a reliable UGC-ad partner. Though I've seen some recurring mistakes that can undermine these efforts. Let's dive into the top 5:

1. Overlooking the 'User' in UGC.

One of the biggest mistakes is forgetting what makes UGC special - its authenticity. When creating UGC-like ads in-house, it's easy to fall into the trap of over-polishing. Remember, the goal is to mimic real user content, not create a glossy commercial. Embrace imperfections, use natural lighting, and avoid overly scripted dialogue or even perfectly written text overlay.

P.S. Making a mistake in a text can be a great hook

2. Ignoring Platform-Specific Best Practices

Each social media platform has its own culture and best practices. What works on TikTok might not resonate on Youtube. Ensure you're tailoring your UGC-like content to the platform it's intended for. This includes aspect ratios, content length, and platform-specific features. For example trying to repeat TikTok Creative Challenge success on other platforms likely to fail.

P.S. To know yourself, always better to test to define - on which platform, which type of creator, which message works the best. It will be evolving, but knowing your ground will save you a lot of $$$.

3. Focusing Too Much on the Product

Yes, you want to showcase your product, but authentic UGC is more about the experience and less about features. Instead of listing product specs, focus on how your product fits into the user's life and solves their problems. The most shareable UGC-like content often barely mentions the product directly.

P.S. Show something that will resonate with potential users that will make them feel relatable to the creator and the situation.

4. Neglecting to Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

While you want your UGC-like ads to feel natural, don't forget you're still creating an ad. Many in-house teams get so caught up in creating 'authentic' content that they forget to include a clear CTA. Without direction, your audience might enjoy your content but not take the next step.

P.S. Most importantly be clear with what you want your potential users to do. With the content overdose they can be easily carried away.

5. Underestimating the Time and Resources Required

Creating high-quality UGC-like content consistently is more challenging than it seems. Many companies underestimate the time, effort, and skills required to produce a steady stream of authentic-feeling content. This often leads to burnout or a drop in quality over time.

P.S. Do not forget to include the price of created ad all the salaries you are paying to your team. I hear a lot, we just paid the creator $100 and it is way cheaper if we work with the agency. Let's face it- you don't pay the agency to get the creator- you pay for the expertise, for the research, for the scenarios and etc, but most certainly you pay to avoid this massive pain in the ass of keeping under control the whole process.

Avoiding these mistakes can significantly improve your in-house UGC-like ad efforts. However, if you find yourself struggling with these challenges, remember that there are experts who can help. At UGC Ninja , we specialize in creating authentic, high-performing UGC-style ads that resonate with audiences and drive results.

Talking about the current UGC-like ad trends to implement into your performance marketing - STREET TALK INTERVIEWS

Speaking of hot trends in UGC-like ads, have you noticed the surge in 'street talks' style videos? These impromptu interview-style ads are taking social media by storm, and for good reason!

Street talks videos typically feature a seemingly random person on the street being asked about a product or service. The unscripted, authentic responses create a powerful form of social proof that viewers find incredibly relatable and trustworthy.

Why are these performing so well?

1. Authenticity: They capture genuine, unfiltered opinions. Or at least it looks real.
2. Diversity: They showcase a range of real people and perspectives.
3. Relatability: Viewers see themselves in these everyday individuals.
4. Trust: Third-party endorsements are more credible than brand claims.
5. Curiosity: The spontaneous nature keeps viewers engaged.

We've seen conversion rates skyrocket with these street talks UGC-like ads.?Brands across various sectors - from edtech to gaming - are leveraging this format to build trust and drive users.

Here's the exciting part: at UGC Ninja, we've just launched a 'Street Talks' package starting at just $175 per video! Check out the examples - CLICK HERE

?concept writing on us

?creators on us

?shooting and editing on us

Use the trend while it lasts!

Interested in giving it a try? Drop me a DM Andrew Shemet , and let's discuss how we can create some attention-grabbing street talks videos for your brand!