Show, don't sell. That's my number one. People scroll past anything that feels like an ad. But if they see someone using a product naturally—messy hair, real lighting, no script—they lean in. I keep things loose on purpose. No studio setups, no forced angles. Kids interrupt, pets walk by, and that's what makes it work. I start with one question: What would I actually say to a friend if I loved this product? Then I hit record. No pressure to be perfect. I also film in vertical, with movement, so it feels like a story—not a pitch. Keep it simple, keep it real, and always think from the viewer's side.
' Invite people to tell a specific story rather than ask for generic praise. We give customers a single, open-ended prompt—such as "Show us the moment our platform saved you time",—and let them record it in their own environment using their own devices. By keeping the brief laser-focused and the production entirely in their hands, the content retains natural language, settings, and emotions that polished brand shoots can't replicate. We then feature submissions exactly as received (aside from trimming for length) and tag the creator prominently, so the community sees genuine experiences and the contributor gains recognition. That combination of a tight prompt, zero interference, and public credit consistently produces user-generated content that feels credible, relatable, and highly shareable. '
Start with your customers. Real people using your product in real spaces will always outperform scripted content or influencer gloss. The best user-generated content starts before the camera rolls. It is through giving people something worth sharing. That means delivering a product that solves a clear problem, exceeds expectations, and feels like a win. When people feel proud of a purchase, they share it without prompting. We focus on the before-and-after moments. When customers see the transformation in their homes, they talk about it. They post. They tag. Our approach is simple. We remove the hassle. We make it easy for people to share. We include clear instructions, sample content, and small incentives. Not discounts but gratitude. A thank you goes further than a coupon. We also feature their posts publicly. That recognition turns a one-time customer into a brand advocate. We don't script or direct the tone. We don't edit the rough edges. We want the shaky phone footage. We want the kids and pets in the background. The mess makes it real. This kind of content doesn't look polished. That's the point. People scroll past perfection. They stop when they see themselves. A floor with scuff marks from a dog's nails means more than a showroom shot. It tells a story. That story builds trust. Our job is to create moments worth sharing and then get out of the way. When we do it right, our customers do the marketing for us and they do it better than we ever could.
Start with real people. I've found the most engaging UGC comes from customers and employees who don't sound like marketers. We ask them to explain what they did, what happened, and why they'd do it again. No scripts. No talking points. Just their own experience. That creates content that feels real because it is. When someone records on their phone, with background noise and all, it builds trust faster than a polished ad ever will. I apply the same approach across campaigns. We test multiple versions of raw content with different voices, different angles, and different stories. Sometimes a short, unedited clip from a user outperforms everything else. We don't guess. We run fast tests and follow the data. If a story gets attention, we double down. If it doesn't, we move on. That speed lets us stay close to what people care about. Internally, our team uses the same strategy. We ask employees to walk through how things work. We show real use. That gives people confidence before they ever walk up to a machine. No one wants to feel unsure. When they see someone like them do it, they trust it more. That's how we keep it simple and keep it human.
One of our most engaging posts came from a customer email we almost overlooked. She described how a support rep helped her fix a last-minute issue before her daughter's birthday. It was emotional, unpolished, and full of gratitude. We asked for permission and posted it exactly as written. That post sparked more real conversation than anything we had crafted ourselves. Since then, we have focused on inviting honest feedback instead of scripting content. We ask simple questions and let the customer speak in their own words. People respond more when it feels like a real person is talking, not a brand. The less perfect it is, the more relatable it becomes. Authentic UGC comes from listening, not directing.
We've found that the best UGC doesn't come from asking people to "leave a review." Instead, we ask them to share a small moment like how our service helped them get through a stressful deadline or made their job easier in some real way. When people talk about real experiences, not just features, it feels honest. And others connect with it more. We also stopped polishing the content too much. If someone sends us a short phone video or a casual caption, we use it as-is. The rough edges make it feel real and that's what works. So the real tip? Don't ask for perfect posts. Ask for stories. That's what makes UGC connect.
My top tip for creating UGC that feels authentic and engaging is to prioritize relatability by consistently highlighting the genuine human element, regardless of the source. True engagement stems from content that resonates on a personal level. While customer testimonials are valuable, focusing solely on them can be limiting. What makes content feel authentic and truly connect with people is often its humanity and the ability of the audience to see themselves or their experiences reflected in it. Our specific approach to implement this tip is by actively showcasing our own team members as a form of internal user-generated content. We encourage and facilitate our employees to share their perspectives, experiences, and personalities related to our industry, company life, or projects. For example, instead of just posting a company update, we might share a short video clip of a team member candidly discussing a challenge they overcame on a project or their genuine reaction to a new tool. This approach creates UGC that feels authentic because it originates from the actual people behind the brand. It's highly engaging because it offers a relatable, behind-the-scenes look that humanizes our company and builds trust far more effectively than generic marketing messages. This specific focus on our internal team's voices ensures a steady stream of relatable content that genuinely connects with our audience.
Creating authentic and engaging user-generated content (UGC) hinges on fostering genuine connections and narratives that resonate with your audience. One of the most effective approaches is to encourage real stories from real people. For instance, a skincare brand might invite their customers to share personal experiences and photos about how a particular product has transformed their skin. This not only provides authenticity but also builds trust as potential customers see real-life testimonials. Another powerful tactic is to utilize user-submitted questions or tips in your content, turning your audience into contributors. For example, a cooking blog could ask followers to submit their own twist on a classic recipe, and then feature these ideas in a dedicated post or video series. This type of engagement not only makes followers feel valued and part of a community, but it also keeps the content fresh and relatable. Such strategies ensure that the UGC doesn’t just speak at the audience but speaks with them, creating a more interactive and immersive experience.
Make it ridiculously easy and insanely personal. Instead of asking people for a boring review or a generic photo, I'll prompt them with something fun and specific like, "Show us your 'I just crushed it' face after using our service." It sparks way more real, human responses because it feels like a conversation, not a corporate survey. The best UGC happens when people feel like they're part of an inside joke or moment, not filling out a form.
When creating UGC, prompt creativity without over-controlling it. For a campaign promoting our app, we simply asked users to show "how it makes your life easier" and left the rest open-ended. We got hilarious, heartfelt, and truly unique videos. Instead of rigid guidelines, we offered fun ideas to spark inspiration. The less corporate it felt, the better the response. Authenticity thrives when users feel like creators, not advertisers. My advice: trust your community's creativity, and your brand will be rewarded with content that feels genuine and engaging, not staged.
My top tip is to focus on storytelling over selling. Real stories from real people make the biggest impact. I always encourage our customers to share how our personal massagers have genuinely improved their daily lives, especially in managing chronic pain. We provide a simple framework: who they are, what pain they were experiencing, and how their life has changed, without scripting their voice. I also make it easy for them to share by offering prompts, incentives, and even co-creating content with those who are comfortable on camera. The key is to spotlight the human experience, not the product features; that's what builds trust and connection.
Listen to your audience, seriously. The best UGC comes from meeting them where they are and creating prompts or opportunities that speak to their real interests, challenges, or humor. At Rise, for example, we noticed job seekers wanted to feel seen and supported, so we created spaces like our "Real Talk" forum and polls where they could share wins, rants, and advice. When people feel like they're contributing to something real and relatable, the content creates itself.
My top tip for creating user-generated content (UGC) that feels authentic and engaging is to focus on making your audience the hero of the story, not your brand. The most powerful UGC doesn't come from scripts or incentives--it comes from real people who feel seen, appreciated, and proud to share their experience. The specific approach I take is to design prompts that tap into identity and emotion rather than features or benefits. Instead of asking for reviews or testimonials in the usual way, I'll frame the prompt around a moment: "Show us how you felt when you finally launched your business site" or "Tag us in the first photo you uploaded to your new portfolio." These kinds of requests invite people to share personal milestones, which naturally leads to content that's rich in emotion and completely unscripted. To make this work, we always engage back. We comment, reshare, and message people directly to thank them or ask to feature their posts. That kind of interaction turns a simple shoutout into a deeper connection, which often leads to repeat engagement. I also avoid over-polishing anything we share. If a post has grainy video or an unfiltered shot, we lean into that. It builds trust because it looks and feels like something a real person posted--not a brand trying to fake relatability. The result is content that not only boosts visibility but also creates a community. When people see others like them being featured, they want to join in. That's how you build momentum without losing authenticity.
The biggest enemy of quality UGC is overproduction, and that is why it is critical to keep it real by including unpolished and behind-the-scenes footage to keep it authentic. Oftentimes, people will try to edit out mistakes or will add high end production effects to their UGC, but this leads to a directed feel that gives off a highly prepared presentation, eliminating the realness. However, by keeping in mistakes, showing behind-the-scenes footage, and refraining from creating dialogue or having multiple takes, you can create UGC that people can more readily identify with rather than a highly stylized production. In keeping the unpolished elements of your UGC, you can create a more authentic feel and provide credibility to your content.
The best way to create user-generated content that feels real is to share stories from your own experience. For example, I once answered a question by describing a challenge I faced and how I solved it, instead of just giving advice. Readers responded well because they saw a real person behind the answer, not just generic tips. When I write, I picture the person asking the question and speak directly to them. I avoid buzzwords and keep my language simple so anyone can follow along. The key is to offer clear steps people can try themselves, backed up by what actually worked for me. This way, the content feels honest, helpful, and easy to trust.
At Caimera, we've learned that for user-generated content (UGC) to feel authentic, it needs to reflect real experiences rather than just polished marketing. We encouraged our customers to share their own photos using our AI-generated images in real-world scenarios. We didn't just want them to post what we created, but how it fit into their brand's story. One example was when a fashion brand posted behind-the-scenes footage of them using Caimera's AI tool during a live photoshoot. This simple, raw content connected with their audience, and their engagement rate jumped by 37%. By showcasing how the product is integrated into their creative process, it felt more genuine and relatable. For other businesses, my takeaway is this: don't be afraid of imperfections or behind-the-scenes moments--they help create a more honest connection with your audience, and that's where the real engagement comes from.
Founder & Community Manager at PR Package Seeding Platform - PRpackage.com
Answered 5 months ago
Use real users, not actors. Scripted = skipped. We usually ask creators to talk like they're sending a voice note to a friend—messy, casual, short. No fancy setup. Bonus if they actually use the product on camera. That raw vibe outperforms polished content almost every time.
From my perspective, the key to creating user-generated content (UGC) that feels authentic and engaging is to truly understand your audience. For instance, with a women's fashion retail client, I personally focused on encouraging customers to share their outfit photos. I believe this approach not only promoted the brand but also fostered a sense of community, making the UGC more relatable and compelling.
My top tip for creating UGC that feels authentic and engaging is to invite real clients to share their "first key moment"—that emotional point when they step into their new condo and it hits them that it's truly theirs. That raw excitement, captured in a short video or even a candid photo, speaks louder than any polished marketing campaign. Instead of scripts or staged testimonials, we simply ask, "Can you capture a quick moment of how this feels for you?" Then we feature it across our platforms with zero edits beyond light captioning. It's real people, real reactions—and that human element builds trust far more effectively than anything overly produced.
The most effective UGC feels real because it is. My top tip is to stop trying to script it. Instead, I ask customers to record a short video on their phone after service, just talking like they would to a friend. I give them a couple of prompts--like "What did we help with today?" and "Would you recommend us?"--but that's it. Their tone and delivery sell it more than anything we could script. What works is catching people in the moment when their experience is fresh, and emotions are high. One client in Houston started doing this with a $50 Visa card incentive. The result? They use dozens of short, punchy video reviews in ads, landing pages, and email follow-ups. Nothing fancy--just raw, direct customer voices that new prospects trust.