In short: Doing it yourself pays off if you need a few videos a month and have time for briefing, coordination and editing. A UGC agency or studio pays off once you test ads regularly and want finished, edited videos with clear ad rights.
What’s really work in UGC
- Finding creators who fit your audience and come across naturally on camera.
- Writing a brief that sets hooks but isn’t a script.
- Shipping products and chasing deadlines.
- Reviewing raw footage and cutting it for ads, with captions and several hooks.
Do it yourself if …
you need a few videos a month, already have customers who like filming, and someone on your team has time to edit.
Hand it off if …
you need new ads all the time, the videos should run straight in Meta or TikTok, and you have no time for coordination.
The point many forget: rights
Put in writing where and for how long you may use a video as advertising. Posting organically and running it as a paid ad are two different things. For ads through the creator’s own account you also need their approval.
Frequently asked questions
What is UGC?
User-generated content: videos and photos that look like real customers made them. For advertising, creators often record them on commission.
How many UGC videos do I need to start?
Enough to test several angles. With three to five videos and several hooks each, you quickly see what works.
More about UGC and content creation