The Ultimate UGC & Creator Economy Guide

Your essential briefing on creator economy trends, featuring TikTok's GMV Max launch, marketing strategies, and game-changing social media updates. Plus, exclusive insights on viral content creation and real success stories from leading brands. Perfect for marketers, creators, and brands navigating the evolving digital landscape.

1. Hot Off the Feed - The latest news and trends in the UGC world

1. TikTok’s GMV Max is Here to Boost Your Revenue

2025 is around the corner, and the UGC world is buzzing with predictions! From TikTok ban debates and Twitter's shaky future to bold new trends in episodic content and mid-form storytelling, the next year promises big shifts for creators, brands, and marketers alike. Think more in-house content creators, bigger social budgets (thanks, Millennials in leadership!), and even Instagram readying to fill the void if TikTok says goodbye. Oh, and let’s not forget: LinkedIn might just start feeling like Facebook 2.0.

2. TikTok’s Best Practices for Short Video Ads

TikTok recently shared its latest short video ad best practices, and here’s the tea: emotion rules everything. Successful ads spark strong emotions - whether it’s laughter, nostalgia, or inspiration. TikTok recommends brands lean into storytelling formats that feel authentic and relatable (ahem, UGC skits and POV-style videos). Partner with creators who can turn your product into a storyline, not just a sales pitch.

?? Pro Tip: Don’t just sell—feel your way to the sale. Focus on storytelling to create lasting impressions.

3. The Q5 Advantage: Post-Holiday Shopping is a Goldmine

According to Adweek, the period after the holidays (aka Q5) is becoming a secret weapon for brands. Why? Ad costs plummet, engagement rises, and consumers are still in the mood to shop. It’s the perfect time to amplify your UGC campaigns and test new ad formats. Don’t pack up your campaigns after Black Friday. Keep the momentum going into Q5 to maximize ROI.

?? Pro Tip: Keep your campaigns running post-holidays and use UGC to stay top of mind with your customers. The sales continue, even after the holiday rush!

4. The 15 Trends Shaping Your 2025 Social Strategy

Hootsuite’s deep dive into 2025 trends reveals where social media is heading - and spoiler: it’s all about performance marketing, AI-powered content, and hyper-personalized experiences. For brands, the message is clear: evolve or get left behind.

Why It Matters:

• Performance marketing will take center stage, prioritizing measurable results over vanity metrics.
• AI and automation are no longer optional - they’re the future of scalable content creation.
• Users are gravitating toward genuine, personalized interactions, making authentic UGC more valuable than ever.

?? Pro Tip: Start incorporating these trends into your UGC strategy now. Experiment with AI tools, focus on real connections, and optimize for performance-driven campaigns.

5. Instagram’s New Collage Feature

Instagram just dropped its new ‘Collage’ option for Stories, basically letting you turn your camera roll chaos into “art.” Forget rigid templates - this is freestyle Instagramming, and it’s giving Pinterest vibes (because, let’s face it, Meta loves getting inspired).

What It Means for Marketers:

• Use it to flex your year-end highlights or pack multiple products into one Story.
• Bonus points for polls or “which product slays harder?” moments.
• Perfect for your “look what I accomplished this year” brag - just in time for New Year’s.

?? Pro Tip: Experiment with interactive features in collages to keep followers engaged and build your audience.

6. Threads Adds Alternate Feeds

Threads is testing new alternate feed displays at the top of the main feed, giving your content a chance to shine in fresh spots. For brands, this means more opportunities to get noticed and inject some fun, conversational UGC into your strategy. Get UGC creators to drive traffic to Threads, turning those alternate feeds into the hottest new real estate for your brand. If you're not making the most of every feed, are you even trying?

?? Pro Tip: Maximize visibility by collaborating with creators to cross-promote your content across multiple feeds. More spots = more chances to shine!

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2. Creative Spotlight - Make Your Content Go Viral

1. Let Them Peek Behind the Curtain Turns out, people love a little chaos. BTS (Behind-the-Scenes) videos show off your process - whether it’s a product being made, a messy workspace, or a creator trying (and failing) to nail the perfect shot. It’s messy, it’s human, and it’s the opposite of a polished ad.

2. TikTok 101

Forget the endless scroll of doom - Joel, a TikTok creator, has the cheat code for finding what’s hot right now. Use this quick hack to spot viral trends and sounds before they’re yesterday’s news - because on TikTok, trends age faster than avocados.

3. Never Run Out of Content Ideas Again

Content block WHO? Never again! Spilled coffee? Content. Your cat giving you side-eye like it owns the place? Absolutely content. TikTok isn’t about perfection; it’s about capturing the chaos, the vibes, and the moments that make people say, “Same.” Check out what Thee Content Queen - it involves a lot of slay.

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3. What’s Trending on TikTok Shop?

1. The Earbud Drama We Didn’t Know We Needed

Ever feel like ads scream “BUY THIS”? Not this one. It’s just a boyfriend saving his relationship—via AI-powered earbuds that translate his parents’ Spanish. The result? 23.88M views, $681K in sales, and 31.6K items sold in two days. Lesson learned: a little humor, some relatability, and a good conversation can sell just about anything.?

2. Science, Suspense, and Sales

What makes this ad click-worthy? It’s the perfect cocktail of research-backed storytelling and mysterious vibes. The subtle suspenseful background track sets the tone - this isn’t just another pitch; it’s information you NEED to know. 611K views, $290K in revenue, and over 6.5K items sold. You know what to do now!

3. Why This TikTok Ad Crushes It

High cortisol? Stubborn belly pooch? Sleepless nights? This ad grabs you by your stress-induced eye twitch and doesn’t let go. It nails the "that’s so me" moment by naming everyday problems everyone blames on their busy lives, then swoops in with the cure. The vibe is part relatable friend, part wellness expert, with just enough urgency to keep you watching - and buying. It’s proof that calling out common struggles, adding a splash of credibility, and topping it off with a FOMO hook is a recipe for viral success.

4. Spotlight Success: How Simple Modern Made UGC Cool Again

The Challenge: Simple Modern wanted to stand out, build trust, and turn casual customers into raving fans - all while staying authentic in a crowded market.

The Solution: They turned UGC into their secret weapon with:

• Community Power: Invited customers to share how they use their products with hashtags and campaigns, creating a movement of loyal fans.
• Authenticity Wins: Reshared customer posts to showcase trust and give fans their well-deserved spotlight (because everyone loves a repost).
• Influencer Magic: Partnered with influencers to hit new audiences while keeping the content real and relatable.
• Fun & Games: Ran giveaways like Stock Your School, where schools competed for prizes, sparking loads of UGC.
• Personal Touches: Their customizable products? Social media gold. Fans couldn’t resist sharing their unique designs.

The Results:

• UGC became their engine for engagement, brand trust, and a content pipeline they didn’t have to create themselves.
• Customers didn’t just buy! They became storytellers, turning the brand into a part of their lives.

?? Takeaway for You: UGC isn’t just content, it’s a community. Let JoinBrands help you build one that grows your brand while keeping it real.

?? That’s a Wrap!?

Thanks for joining us this week! If we made you smile, taught you something new, or just gave you an excuse to procrastinate, don’t gatekeep. Pass us on to your favorite marketing buddy or that one coworker who still calls TikTok “the clock app”. Catch you on the FYP! ??