Ad creatives - Blog - Hustler Marketing eCommerce Email Marketing Sat, 27 Sep 2025 18:14:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-favicon-72px-2-32x32.png Ad creatives - Blog - Hustler Marketing 32 32 UGC vs Influencer Marketing in 2025: What’s the difference? Which one should you choose? https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/ugc-vs-influencer-marketing-in-2025/ Sat, 27 Sep 2025 18:14:00 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=25408 Brands are asking this a lot in 2025. Paid ads cost more. Trust is fragile, especially consumer trust. 

Shoppers today are skeptical of glossy ads and polished promises. They have seen too many overhyped campaigns that did not deliver, and they have learned to question whether a message is genuine or just paid placement. That is why credibility is currency: the brands that feel real earn attention, while the ones that feel manufactured get ignored.

So the question becomes simple: do you lean into real customer content, or rent attention from creators with an audience? Both can work. Both can flop. The right choice depends on your goal, your product, and your timeline. 

Let’s break it down in plain language so you can act on it today.

What is UGC Marketing?

UGC means user-generated content. It is content made by customers, fans, or everyday creators. Think selfie videos, unboxings, before–andafter clips, stitch reactions, product demos at home, and honest reviews. 

Some of it appears organically. Some is created based on briefs sent to paid UGC creators who do not post to their own channels. You get the raw files. You use them in ads, on product pages, in email, and across social media.

Why brands love it

  • It feels like a friend talking.
  • It is fast to produce and test.
  • It is cheaper than paying for a big audience.
  • It can scale inside performance channels.

Who creates it

  • Real customers and community members
  • Paid UGC creators who film to your brief.
  • Employees and founders who show the product in use

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer marketing uses creators who already have an audience. 

You pay for access to that audience. The creator posts to their own channels. That post can be a feed post, a story set, a live stream, a YouTube review, or a TikTok series. You can also arrange usage rights so you can run their content as ads on your brand account or through the creator’s handle.

Why brands love it

  • Reach and discovery
  • Borrowed credibility from a trusted voice
  • PR value that goes beyond direct response
  • Access to specific communities 

Who creates it

  • Nano influencers with under 10k followers
  • Micro and mid-tier creators
  • Macro creators and celebrities 

Key Differences Between UGC and Influencer Marketing

Cost

UGC is usually cheaper per asset. You pay per video or per batch. Influencer posts cost more because you rent reach. Add fees for usage and whitelisting.

Reach

UGC on your channels needs paid distribution to scale. Influencer content can reach its audience without media spend. For serious results, you will still boost it.

Authenticity

UGC tends to feel more like a friend’s take. Influencer content can feel too polished. Authenticity depends on the creator’s style and how tightly you script.

Content ownership

UGC deals often grant you full usage for the ads and creatives that were made for your brand. Influencer deals can vary quite a lot. Usage windows and whitelisting terms matter. Read the contract.

Audience type

UGC wins in lower funnel moments. Retargeting. Product detail pages. Email. Influencer content shines at the top of the funnel, launches, and buzz.

When to Use UGC

Use UGC when you need fresh creative for performance channels. You want fast testing. You want believable demos. You want proof on the page.

Great fits

  • DTC and eCommerce brands that live and die by paid social
  • Beauty, skincare, wellness, fitness, and home goods
  • Any product with a clear demo or transformation
  • Subscriptions where routines and habits matter

Smart plays

  • Film three to five angles per brief. Hook, problem, solution, proof, CTA.
  • Ask for native formats that match the platform.
  • Edit for silence first. Add captions.
  • Use user-generated content (UGC) snippets in emails and product detail pages (PDPs) to lift conversion.
  • Refresh your approach monthly to keep your ads fresh.

Watchouts

  • “Organic UGC” is not free. It needs outreach and incentives.
  • Cheap content that looks fake will hurt your customers’ trust.
  • Always collect releases and usage rights. 

When to Use Influencer Marketing

Use influencer marketing when you need to reach new people with credibility. You want authority. You want stories that spark conversation. You want social proof at scale.

Great fits

  • Product launches and big moments that need buzz
  • Categories that require education or expert trust, like health-related niches, finance tools, or specialty tech
  • Fashion and lifestyle where taste and style curation matter
  • Local markets where a few creators drive regional demand

Smart plays

  • Match the creator’s audience to your buyer, not just follower count.
  • Agree on one clear message and a natural format for that creator.
  • Negotiate usage and whitelisting rights up front.
  • Layer tracking. Use unique codes and links to see which influencer or campaign drives real sales, not just likes. This helps you compare performance and double down on what works.
  • Plan a content ladder. Feed posts, stories, short clips, then a long-form review.

Watchouts

  • Big reach can drive vanity metrics without sales.
  • Post timing can slip. Build a buffer into your plan.
  • Usage rights can kill your budget if you don’t set them early.

Can You Combine Both?

Yes. In fact, the strongest brands in 2025 do. Here is a simple hybrid model:

1. Seed and spark

Send product to small creators and loyal customers. Invite honest takes. No pressure. Repost the best organic UGC with permission.

2. Anchor with authority

Book a few well-matched influencers for launch week. They bring reach and context. You clip their posts into short assets.

3. Scale with paid ads

Turn the UGC and influencer cuts into ad variants. Test hooks, opening frames, offers, and CTAs. Use creator whitelisting to run ads from the influencer’s handle.

4. Maintain Momentum with Consistent Content

Commission monthly UGC batches to refresh your creative library. Keep one or two influencer partners for deeper stories each quarter.

Example flows

  • A skincare launch uses a dermatologist influencer for education, then runs ten UGC testimonial clips for retargeting.
  • A fitness brand partners with a coach for a program overview, then fills the funnel with member progress videos and weekly UGC tips.
  • A home gadget brand features a YouTube review for search intent, then turns three UGC problem solver clips into high-performing reels ads. 

Comparing UGC and Influencer Marketing

Aspect UGC marketing Influencer marketing
Primary value Believable demos and social proof Reach and borrowed credibility
Speed Fast to brief and produce Slower due to negotiations and schedules
Cost Lower per asset Higher per post or campaign
Control High control over format and edits Lower control once posted on creator channels
Ownership Often full usage rights for ads and creatives Usage limits are common. Negotiate up front
Best for Conversion lifts and ad testing Discovery, launches, and brand storytelling
Risks Low quality looks fake and hurts trust Mismatch hurts brand and wastes budget
Measurement Easy in ads Needs blended metrics across channels

Which Approach Works When

1. Need more creatives for a paid social post

Go UGC first. Order a batch. Test fast.

2. Need a splashy launch

Book influencers who speak to your niche. Add usage rights so you can extend the life of the posts.

3. Need proof on PDPs and in emails

UGC wins. Short clips, quotes, and before and after shots.

4. Need to enter a new country or subculture

Influencers with local trust will open doors.

5. Need steady performance all quarter

Run a hybrid plan. Monthly UGC plus a few influencer moments.

Building Your UGC Content Strategy

Start with a clear brief that focuses on one product, one problem, and one promise. 

Once that’s defined, ask creators to produce three hooks and two CTAs to give you options to test. Make sure to request both raw files and edited cuts in 9:16 and 1:1 formats, since you will need flexibility across platforms. 

To keep the content engaging, encourage big captions, bright scenes, and the product shown within the first two seconds. 

Finally, close the loop by logging every asset and result so you can spot patterns and repeat what works.

Building Your Influencer Campaign Strategy

Define the goal first. Awareness, traffic, or sales. 

From there, choose creators who already sound like your customer, since alignment matters more than follower count. 

Share a loose script with non-negotiables to guide them, but leave room for their own style so the content feels natural. 

Once expectations are clear, confirm deliverables, dates, and usage rights in writing to avoid surprises. When the campaign goes live, measure not just direct sales but also the ripple effect across search, direct traffic, and brand mentions. 

This broader view shows the real impact.

Stay Compliant, Keep Your Brand Safe

Send clear guidelines. Disclose paid partnerships. Avoid medical or financial claims unless supported. Vet creators for past controversies. If you partner with them for the long term, share talking points and product updates to keep them informed.

Your Next Move

UGC vs influencer marketing is not a fight. It is a choice based on goals. UGC feeds your performance engine with believable proof and fast tests. Influencer marketing expands your reach and adds authority. Most brands need both across a quarter.

Pick your next move based on the job to be done. If you want help, reply with your product, budget range, and timing. Our team of experts will map a simple hybrid plan with three UGC briefs, two influencer options, and a test calendar you can launch within two weeks.

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Taming Creator Chaos: Top 5 UGC Marketing Challenges for eCommerce Brands https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/the-top-5-ugc-marketing-mistakes-brands-are-making-in-2025/ Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:51:38 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=20952 User-generated content (UGC) videos have become the holy grail of digital marketing. They can outperform polished ads, at a fraction of the cost. Unlike traditional ads, UGC ads feel real: a welcome break from the flood of branded content that’s cluttering everyone’s feed.

But while the concept is simple, execution is anything but. Many brands are beginning to try their hand at UGC production, assuming they can handle it in-house.

Until they hit a wall. Suddenly, they’re drowning in creator outreach, struggling with revisions, and dealing with underwhelming results.

Here are the five biggest struggles brands face when producing UGC videos, and why outsourcing to experts can save time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

1. Finding the Right Creators

A winning UGC ad starts with the right creator. This has to be someone who ticks 3 boxes:

  • Experience in UGC creation.
  • An ability to sell naturally without feeling like an ad or an influencer.
  • Relatable and relevant to your target audience demographic.

If you’ve worked with UGC creators, you know that’s a pretty rare combo. 

So brands usually spend hours sifting through hundreds of potential creators, analyzing their content, negotiating rates, and crossing their fingers that they actually deliver.

Why every UGC campaign rises or falls with the right choice of UGC creator

If the creator doesn’t “get” your brand, their content won’t resonate with your audience. A mismatch can make your UGC feel forced, generic, or even misleading.

The risk-free way to get the right UGC creators every time

If you’re looking for a skilled contractor in any other marketing role, you don’t wing it. You turn to talent platforms, job boards or even Slack communities. Our network of UGC creators works the same way. Through years of experience, we have built a pool of creators who know how to make content. We match your brand with the right face, voice, and vibe, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through TikTok, DM’ing strangers, or dealing with flaky influencers.

Access our UGC creator talent pool and find the perfect fit for your product.

2. Managing the Entire Production Process

Finding a creator is one thing. Actually managing UGC production is an entirely different beast.

Brands often underestimate the level of coordination UGC requires. Once you have a creator, you need to:

  • Ship products to them, with instructions on how to use them.
  • Give them a script that’s detailed enough to ensure alignment, with enough room for creative freedom.
  • Track deliverables: raw footage, b-rolls, and everything else you need.
  • Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to UGC usage rights.
  • Review the material you get back from creators, provide feedback, and brief revisions.

This is all complex enough when you’re in the same Slack channel. But when you’re working asynchronously, challenges multiply.

And if you’re working with multiple creators? You’re looking at a full-time role.

If you don’t have a full-time UGC marketing manager, that’s not ideal

Miscommunication, delays, and inconsistencies can tank your UGC marketing ROI. A single misstep can throw off an entire UGC campaign. And it doesn’t have to be a big misstep. A late submission or a misaligned script can do it.

Expert outsourcing replaces chaos with streamlined ad production

In place of all that drama, A UGC agency brings simplicity. An expert agency team handles everything, from scripting to final edits. As experts, they make sure your creators deliver high-performing content, on time and on-brand, without you having to chase them down.

3. Getting Creators to Follow a Brief (Without Squashing Their Creativity)

A UGC video needs structure, but it also needs to feel natural. Finding the right balance between direction and creative freedom can be tricky.

Some creators go rogue and miss key messaging. Others follow the script too rigidly, so the content feels robotic and unauthentic.

If the messaging isn’t spot on, your video won’t convert. Consumers can smell inauthenticity from a mile away, and if a video feels too scripted, they’ll scroll right past it.

Balancing structure & creativity comes down to having a great brief

Our UGC marketing team creates detailed yet flexible briefs that allow creators to add their own personal touch while staying aligned with your brand’s messaging. We also provide real-time feedback to ensure every video hits the mark.

That all happens behind the scenes: our clients simply receive a steady stream of platform-appropriate ads.

UGC Briefing

Learn how to brief UGC creators the right way with our FREE guide.

4. Editing & Optimizing for Performance

Raw UGC isn’t enough. Without strategic editing, your content won’t stop the scroll or drive conversions.

Adding captions, cutting fluff, ensuring the first three seconds hook the audience, and optimizing for different platforms (TikTok, IG Reels, Meta Ads) – these extra steps all take time and experience to get right.

After all, a great UGC ad isn’t just about the footage. It’s about the right music, transitions, pace, and rhythm. These all combine to make it engaging and high-converting.

How we optimize UGC for maximum impact

Our team edits with performance in mind: hook-first, fast-paced, and ad-optimized for every platform. We ensure your UGC videos keep audiences engaged and drive action.

They’re all social media obsessives (with the screen time summaries to prove it). And they live and breathe UGC ads. The journey of each ad goes something like this:

  • A UGC ad strategist comes up with fresh ideas based on in-depth research of your brand, your niche, and the memes and trend that are defining the conversation right now.
  • She briefs UGC ad copywriters, who turn that idea into a strong script, with scroll-stopping hooks and transitions.
  • Once the UGC creator sends footage back, video editors get to work, turning it all into clickworthy content.

Learn more about the day-to-day life of aa leading UGC agency here.

5. Scaling UGC Marketing Without Losing Quality

A single UGC ad can be the gateway to unprecedented revenue. Like this one:

UGC ads
This UGC ad shot out the stars. But it wasn’t a fluke.

Those results don’t just happen. And they’re hard to replicate. If you want consistent results, you need a system for ongoing content production at a big enough scale to increase the odds of a breakout success.

The struggle: UGC growing pains

Scaling UGC often leads to inconsistency. Many brands try to ramp up production, only to end up with rushed, low-quality content. Or worse, burned-out teams who can’t keep up with demand.

To scale successfully, you need both quantity and quality, testing a high volume of content while continuously refining what works best for your audience.

We build a sustainable UGC pipeline, so you always have fresh, high-quality content ready to go. Our dedicated team ensures your videos maintain brand consistency while scaling seamlessly.

Start testing UGC at scale with a dedicated team.

We Would Love to Create Your Next Winning Ad

On paper, UGC marketing looks simple. In reality, it’s an intricate, time-consuming process that requires strategy, experience, and expertise.

Many brands try to handle UGC in-house, only to find themselves managing an overwhelming workload, with underwhelming results. Outsourcing to a UGC agency is the strategic investment that an increasing number of brands is making, to shift from reactive management to proactive, stress-free  UGC marketing.

If you’re ready to get high-performing, hassle-free UGC ads, we’re here to help.

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AI UGC Video Generators: We’re Not There Yet (And Might Never Be). https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/ai-ugc-video-generators-ecommerce/ Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:39:19 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=20728 “AI UGC video generators: no creators or editing needed”.

Sounds very attractive for any eCommerce brand that wants to scale up their UGC and dominate social media.

But it also sounds too good to be true. Because it is.

Let’s be real: when it comes to User-Generated Content (UGC) ads, GenAI is not quite ready to take the wheel. Sure, some brands are pumping fully AI-generated UGC ads with no human creator, no human oversight, and no human in the loop anywhere.

But the fact that you know those ads exist means that you know that an AI UGC video generator made them. You can spot it, usually from the first few seconds. And that’s the problem.

AI-generated UGC ads might be efficient, but they lack the one thing that makes user-generated content work: an actual user.

Here’s why brands should think twice before handing over their UGC strategy to the robots.

AI UGC Avatars: Entering the Uncanny Valley With AI UGC Video Generators

AI-generated creators still look…off.

There’s a weirdness, an almost-there-but-not-quite feel that makes people uncomfortable. That’s the uncanny valley effect in action. It’s a well studied phenomenon where a humanoid figure is close to looking real, but the small inaccuracies make it deeply unsettling.

“Unsettling” definitely isn’t an emotion you want people to associate with your brand. But unless you edit them, the outputs of an AI UGC video generator will give audiences weird vibes.

Adjusting AI-Generated UGC Ads is Harder Than it Looks

Tinkering with these avatars to get them “just right” takes a lot more time than you’d think. It’s not just that GenAI models suck at rendering human hands (although they do). It’s that, even if the AI avatar doesn’t have 6 fingers, there are many other subtle telltale signs that you’re dealing with a robot.

A mouth that moves weirdly. A disjoint between the voice and facial expression. Surfaces that look way too smooth. The list goes on.

Cleaning those up can take a lot of time, and requires a pretty rare skillset.

How to Edit UGC-Generated UGC Ads

Here are some of the skills you need to edit AI-generated UGC ads:

  • 3D modeling & animation to adjust facial expressions, body movements, and realism using – you guessed it – more AI tools.
  • AI prompt engineering to craft hyper-specific prompts that generate more natural results.
  • Post-processing & editing of those ick-giving oddities.
  • Cultural & emotional nuance like subtle social cues and expressions.

At this point, if you’re investing this much time and expertise, the ROI that got you interested in plug-and-play AI UGC ads is starting to slip away.

But it is possible to drive an impressive ROI with AI, when it’s used as a support tool.

Using AI for UGC: the Right Way to Scale

AI UGC video generators aren’t the only players on the scene. There’s a growing list of AI tools that make UGC ad production easier and faster. You can use these tools to:

✔ Generate slick motion graphics.
✔ Create stunning backgrounds.
✔ Spit out voiceovers in a hundred different tones.
✔ Digest existing content to help speed up the briefing process.

In the hands of an experienced UGC agency, these tools can drastically cut down on the time and resources needed to launch high-converting ads.

But here are just some of the things that AI can’t do (and probably won’t ever be able to do):

❌ Create strategy: AI modes follow patterns. They don’t think outside of them.
❌ Inject true human emotion into copy and delivery.
❌ Understand cultural nuances the way a real person can.
❌ Make anything truly original.

That last point is really important. GenAI models work by ingesting and processing training data. That means that every AI-generated idea has already been done before.

So even if a brand can overcome the technical hurdles of tinkering with AI-generated content we saw earlier (a BIG assumption), the problem of originality remains.

No brand invests time and money in UGC to recycle old ideas, because old ideas don’t convert. Here are some examples of UGC ads that could only have been made by humans being creative, daring, and even a little unhinged.

Ads That No AI UGC Video Generator Could Have Made

This ad features a creator seen from multiple angles, trying to be sneaky about dropping hints to her husband’s phone. It’s organic, not over-polished, and tells a story that’s completely believable (even if it is a little weird).

For this ad, the brief was: “let’s think about the kinds of TV ads that the creators would have seen when they were kids, and give the whole ad that vibe”. It’s relatable, and pretty subtle: something that an AI UGC video generator would have struggled to get right.

Keeping the U in UGC Matters Legally, Too

The regulation of AI in advertising is an ongoing process. The rules vary from industry to industry, and region to region.

But one thing is beyond doubt: regulators expect advertisers to be up-front with consumers. The Federal Trade Commission is increasingly interested in the way that businesses use AI, and ensuring that consumers always know what they’re looking at. While there isn’t an AI disclosure law yet, it’s totally possible that there will be one eventually, just like the rule about influencer disclosures.

A notice saying “This ad is AI-generated” is a sure way to destroy your engagement metrics. And it will put your UGC ad strategy right back at square one.

UGC With AI, Not UGC By AI

AI follows formulas. Humans break them.

AI replicates. Humans innovate.

Formulas and replication have their place. They automate away the tasks that don’t need creativity, so your team can focus on the tasks that do.

But if you want to create ads that scale wildly, you need to break rules and take risks. In other words, let AI handle your laundry and dishes. The art is still 100% yours. Because at the end of the day, UGC isn’t just about looking real. It’s about being real.

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What Does a UGC Agency Do? Everything You Need to Know https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/what-does-a-ugc-agency-do-everything-you-need-to-know/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:06:49 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=20693 Let’s face it: ads that feel like ads just don’t work anymore. People want real. They want raw. They want authentic stories from real people. 

That’s why UGC (User-Generated Content) is on every marketer’s mind, from Coca-Cola to your favorite eCommerce brands. And it’s likely to stay at the top of their to-do list, because these results are hard to achieve through other marketing channels:

  • 4x Higher CTR: UGC ads engage audiences better than traditional branded content.
  • 10% More Conversions: Authenticity drives trust and boosts purchase rates.
  • 50% Lower CPA: Cost-efficient with stronger ad performance.

And if you can throw in a 3+ ROAS (Return on Ad Spend), the results start to be genuinely transformative for your brand.

The success of this marketing channel has driven the growth of the UGC agency category. If you’ve been hearing the buzz about UGC but aren’t quite sure what a UGC agency actually does, you’re about to find out.

Here’s the lowdown on how UGC agencies work their magic to create scroll-stopping, high-converting content.

So, What Even Is a UGC Agency?

Think of a UGC agency as your brand’s creative bestie. They specialize in crafting authentic, user-generated-style content that doesn’t scream “ad.” Instead, it whispers, “This could totally be you.”

To do that, UGC agencies have developed a couple of UGC-specific capabilities to differentiate themselves from run-of-the-mill digital marketing agencies:

  1. Sourcing, briefing and testing creators to find the right face for each product.
  2. Editing raw footage into on-trend ads that pop on users’ social media feeds.
  3. Doing 1 and 2 on a scale that makes meaningful creative testing possible (we’re talking hundreds of ads).

That’s a lot of work, and it calls for some pretty specific skill sets. 

Let’s look at those one by one, to recreate a day in the life of a busy UGC agency.

What Does a UGC Agency Actually Do? A Sneak Peek Behind the Curtain

1. Finding Your Dream Creators

A good UGC agency knows that not all creators are a fit for every brand. Their job? To match you with creators who feel like a natural extension of your brand.

  • No influencers necessary: UGC agencies work with everyday people who know how to create relatable content.
  • Diverse talent pools: They’ll find creators who vibe with your target audience, whether it’s Gen Z fashionistas or boomer pet lovers.

A really good UGC ad agency will make things even simpler by drawing on its own pool of pre-vetted creators they can trust to deliver good quality. Your UGC agency should also handle management, briefing and payment of creators, so that you simply choose from a variety of options.

2. Dreaming Up Killer Creative Angles

Once the creators are on board, the real fun begins. At Hustler Marketing, it’s the Ad Strategist’s time to shine. This is the person who:

  • Obsessively researches your brand, your niche, and your audience to figure out what will work.
  • Comes up with fresh, attention-grabbing angles that make your audience stop scrolling.
  • Creates clear and fun briefs for creators so they know exactly what to do without stifling their creative flow.

3. Perfecting the Script

The Copywriter swoops in to finesse the words. They make sure your hooks are irresistible, your script flows naturally, and your CTA (call-to-action) hits just right.

For example, instead of saying, “Buy this now,” they’ll suggest something like, “This tiny change? Totally changed my skin.” It’s all about speaking your audience’s language.

4. Turning Raw Clips into Gold

Here’s where the magic happens. The Video Editor takes the raw footage from creators and whips it into ad content that looks totally real, but is strategically designed to convert.

  • Authentic vibes only: Think TikTok-style edits, captions, and music that keep things fresh.
  • Multiple versions: The editor will create a few different cuts of the same ad, each with unique hooks or CTAs, so there’s plenty to test.

5. Testing, Tweaking, and Optimizing

No campaign is complete without testing. UGC agencies know that the first version of an ad is rarely the best version, so they’re constantly:

  • A/B Testing: Trying out different hooks, visuals, or captions to see what works best.
  • Making tweaks: Adjusting ads in real time based on what’s performing.
  • Doubling down on winners: When something works, they go all in.

6. Managing Campaigns Like Pros

From start to finish, a UGC agency handles the nitty-gritty of running your campaigns. That means:

  • Keeping fresh content coming in so your ads never go stale.
  • Sending you performance reports that actually make sense.
  • Giving you insights you can use to plan your next big move.

You See It. We UGC It.

Because UGC works. Period. It’s raw, real, and relatable—exactly what today’s audiences want. But creating UGC-style content isn’t as easy as it looks. That’s why working with a UGC agency is a game-changer.

They’ve got:

  • The talent: From strategists to editors, their team lives and breathes content creation.
  • The tools: They know how to test and tweak until your ads are running like a well-oiled machine.
  • The time: Let’s be real. Do you have the time (or the bandwidth) to manage creators, edit videos, and analyze performance? Didn’t think so.

At Hustler Marketing, we know how to create UGC content that doesn’t just look cool – it actually works. Our team of strategists, copywriters, and editors knows how to take your brand’s message and turn it into something audiences can’t scroll past.

Sound like what you need? Hit us up and let’s talk about how we can make your UGC dreams a reality.

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From Black Friday to Santa’s Wishlist: A Technical Guide to Post Black Friday Sales https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/from-black-friday-to-santas-wishlist-a-technical-guide-to-post-black-friday-sales/ Wed, 04 Dec 2024 09:29:38 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=20687 Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Done. Dusted. Slayed. But what now? Boosting post Black Friday sales can feel like an uphill battle. But it’s a necessary one, because there are still so many opportunities to take advantage of. 

With Christmas, New Year, and everything in between, your email strategy needs to go from turbo deals to festive feels. That’s easier said than done, and it calls for careful strategy.

Here are 7 tips we’re using to keep our clients ahead of the competition all the way through December.

1. Know Thy Audience (And Their Festivities)

Before you start jingling bells in every subject line, pause. Not everyone on your list celebrates Christmas or even the holidays in the same way. So, keep it inclusive. General holiday campaigns often hit the right note, so think along the lines of:

  • Boxing Day Blowouts
  • Countdown to New Year’s
  • 12 Days of Gifts
  • The Broke Santa Sale (Relatable, right?)

If you are running Christmas-specific campaigns, segment smartly to avoid alienating your audience. Inclusivity equals sales AND good vibes – the recipe for success when it comes to post Black Friday sales.

2. Audit Engagement Post-BFCM

Black Friday/Cyber Monday can be brutal on email lists – and by extension, bad for post Black Friday sales. Some people clicked, some ghosted, and others may have marked you as spam (ouch). Now’s the time to clean house. Focus on metrics that matter:

  • Open Rates: Did they even see your email?
  • Click Rates: Are your CTAs irresistible?
  • Bounce Rates: Clean up those bad email addresses.
  • Spam Rates: If this is climbing, reassess your content and cadence ASAP.

By reevaluating your engagement data, you’ll keep your segmentation strategies sharp and your email deliverability thriving.

3. Post Black Friday Sales: a Chance to Personalize

Remember all that juicy customer data you harvested during BFCM? Time to put it to work. Use shopping behavior, preferences, and demographics to craft ultra-personalized content. Think:

  • Curated product recommendations based on past purchases.
  • Exclusive deals for repeat customers.
  • Special offers for segments like “last-minute shoppers” or “early gifters.”

Laser-focused segmentation isn’t just cool; it’s necessary. Don’t miss the chance to turn that data goldmine into a festive conversion spree that boosts your post Black Friday sales. 

4. Focus on Gifting (And Giving Back)

Holidays are the season of giving, whether it’s to loved ones or the community. Let’s hit both:

  • Gifting: Promote stocking stuffers, smaller collections, or shiny new launches as perfect holiday gifts. This is also prime time to launch (or hype up) a gift card system. Easy, no-stress gifting? Sold.
  • Giving Back: Highlight philanthropic initiatives. Donating a portion of sales or supporting a local cause resonates deeply this time of year. Feel-good purchases = feel-good sales.

5. Fix Your Deliverability Game

If BFCM threw your deliverability into the red zone, don’t panic. Here’s how to bounce back:

  • Template Balance: Mix image-based emails with plain-text ones. This reduces spam flags while keeping things visually appealing.
  • Avoid Spammy Triggers: No more capitalizing every word (SERIOUSLY STOP) or using excessive links in your templates. Simple, clean, and focused wins the inbox.
  • Test Religiously: Use tools like G-Lock to run spam tests and diagnose sending reputation issues before hitting “send.”

Deliverability matters more than ever when every email is competing for attention during the holidays.

6. Get Creative With Content

Nobody’s here for the same old holiday recipes or generic gift guides. Think outside the (gift) box:

  • Unleash “crazy holiday cocktail recipes” that promise to save family gatherings (and sanity).
  • Craft unhinged gift ideas for “that one cousin.”
  • Lean into playful, cheeky, or nostalgic vibes to stand out from the cookie-cutter campaigns flooding inboxes.

Your audience will appreciate the humor and originality, especially if they’re drowning in a sea of “10% off” emails.

Your subject lines need to sparkle, not scream. Avoid spam triggers like excessive punctuation (!!!), clickbait phrases (“Buy Now!!!”), or anything too gimmicky. Keep it genuine and engaging. Free online tools can help you fine-tune subject lines for deliverability without sacrificing flair.

7. UGC: The Holiday Content Goldmine

User-Generated Content (UGC) is the ultimate cheat code for creating authentic, relatable campaigns that convert. Here’s how to make UGC work its holiday magic:

  • Turn Shoppers Into Storytellers: Highlight real customer experiences with your products. Feature UGC in emails, social media, and even paid ads to build trust and hype.
  • Gifting Inspiration: Showcase UGC as gift ideas! A customer rocking your product = “Oh, that would be perfect for Aunt Karen.”
  • Repurpose Everywhere: The beauty of UGC? One piece of content can go far – ads, emails, website banners, you name it.

Placing high-performing UGC ads is a powerful way to beat that post Black Friday sales slump.

…But Don’t Forget the Fine Print

Before you share UGC, secure usage rights. A quick DM or email request ensures you’re in the clear while maintaining customer goodwill. When done right, UGC becomes a cost-effective, high-impact strategy for your holiday campaigns.

This season, let your customers do the selling for you.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Festive, Keep It Fun

Post-BFCM campaigns are all about pivoting from the frenzy to the feels. By focusing on gifting, community, and smart segmentation, you’ll keep the holiday magic alive while driving revenue. Just remember: authenticity beats gimmicks every time.

Now, go forth and sleigh those holiday campaigns.

Better yet: let’s do it together.

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Mastering UGC Video Ads: The Importance of UGC Usage Rights https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/mastering-ugc-video-ads-the-importance-of-ugc-usage-rights/ Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:53:06 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=20674 User-generated content (UGC) is like the Swiss Army knife of eCommerce marketing. You can use it to target multiple platforms, and virtually any stage of the funnel. And it brings serious results in terms of revenue and customer acquisition. But if you don’t nail down the usage rights, things can get messy real quick. 

Why?

Because, as an eCommerce brand (or any brand, for that matter), you’re going to want to work with experienced UGC creators to create your UGC video ads. And because they are the ones creating the content, they have certain rights, which you generally need to buy from them in order to use the content freely. 

Here’s everything you need to know about negotiating UGC rights the right way.

What Are UGC Usage Rights?

Usage rights define how, where, and for how long a brand can use content created by a UGC creator. It’s best to agree on these (in writing) before production begins. This agreement should spell out specific details like:

  • Platform permissions: Which channels (e.g., Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube) the content you (the brand) can use the content on.
  • Duration: How long this permission lasts (e.g., six months, one year, indefinitely).
  • Geography: Whether you can distribute the content globally or within a specific region.
  • Type of use: Whether the content can only be used organically, in paid advertising, or repurposed for other campaigns.

Why Are UGC Usage Rights Important?

For eCommerce brands, clarity on usage rights offers the following benefits:

They protect you from legal complications

If you don’t nail down usage rights, creators could claim copyright infringement later on. Proper agreements prevent misunderstandings and potential lawsuits.

A precise agreement can save you money

Knowing the exact scope of usage helps avoid overpaying for rights you don’t need. On the flipside, failing to secure comprehensive rights can lead to additional costs later. 

Clear usage rights agreements also allow you to repurpose and adapt content for different campaigns, maximizing ROI from each creator’s work.

Types of Usage Rights for UGC Video Ads

1. Exclusive vs. non-exclusive rights

Exclusive rights give you sole access to the content. The creator cannot share or sell it to others. This is ideal for branded campaigns, can be more expensive. Non-exclusive rights entitle the creator to retain the ability to use or sell the content elsewhere. 

2. Organic vs. paid media usage

  • Organic use: Content can be shared on your social media profiles or website without additional advertising spend.
  • Paid use: Includes rights to promote the content through ads, which often requires an extended agreement due to the broader reach.

UGC organic use rights

3. Full buyout vs. time-limited licensing 

A full buyout grants you perpetual rights to use the content in any form, on any platform, forever. On the other hand, time-limited licenses give brands rights for a set period. This is common for one-off campaigns.

Negotiating Usage Rights with UGC Creators

Start with transparency: Be upfront about your content plans. Share details like the platforms you plan to use, the campaign duration, and whether you’ll be running paid ads.

Tailor the agreement to your needs: Only pay for the rights you need. For example, if your campaign is platform-specific (e.g., TikTok), there’s no need to negotiate for global or multi-channel rights.

Use buyouts strategically: Use buyouts for evergreen content like product how-tos or lifestyle videos. This is more cost effective than renewing licenses repeatedly.

Understand creator expectations: Many creators are protective of their work. Offering fair compensation for extended or exclusive rights fosters goodwill and builds long-term partnerships.

Be flexible during negotiations: If a creator’s pricing for exclusive rights is too high, consider non-exclusive rights or limiting the scope of use.

Our Advice: Test Creators for Performance Before You Buy

When you work with a creator for the first time, ad performance may vary. For example, many videos only deliver strong results for 2–3 months. Then performance drops off.

So sometimes it makes sense to go for a limited usage rights agreement. That will see you through the initial period, without draining your budget. For example, a three-month license provides enough time to test the creative while keeping costs manageable.

If the content shows potential as a top performer during testing, you can negotiate a new agreement with perpetual rights for scaling. This approach allows you to:

  • Test a new video with refined scripts.
  • Leverage the proven creator for additional campaigns.
  • Scale content across multiple platforms, knowing it resonates with your audience.

Remember, perpetual rights for high-performing creators come at a premium. So this phased strategy ensures you’re investing in content that delivers results, making the higher fees a safer and more calculated expense.

How NOT to Manage UGC Usage Rights With Your Creators

Skipping written agreements: Always document usage rights in a formal contract. Relying on informal agreements (e.g., DMs or emails) can lead to disputes.

Underestimating paid media needs: If you plan to run ads, make sure the agreement explicitly includes paid usage rights. Organic-only agreements are a common source of misunderstanding.

Ignoring renewal terms: For time-limited rights, set reminders to renegotiate before the license expires. Using expired content could result in copyright claims. Remember, creators often retain ownership of their content if there isn’t an explicit agreement. If you want to skip this part, you’ll need to go for perpetual rights – and they come at a premium.

Best Practices for Managing UGC Usage Rights

  1. Standardize Contracts: Work with a lawyer to create a template agreement that covers all usage rights scenarios. This streamlines negotiations and protects your brand legally.
  2. Track Rights Internally: Use a content management system or spreadsheet to document each creator’s content, associated rights, and expiration dates. This ensures compliance and avoids unintentional misuse.
  3. Build Long-Term Relationships: Establishing trust with UGC creators can lead to better deals and a steady flow of high-quality content. Long-term collaborations often come with flexible usage rights.
  4. Plan for Scaling Campaigns: If you anticipate scaling a campaign to new platforms or regions, negotiate those rights upfront to save time and money later.
  5. Audit Existing Content: Regularly review your content library to ensure compliance with existing agreements. Remove or renegotiate expired assets.

Don’t Forget GDPR: Stay Compliant in the EU

If your UGC campaigns target audiences in the European Union, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a must-know. This regulation applies to any brand marketing ads in the EU, even if your business is based elsewhere.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

  • Consent is Key: If the UGC features identifiable individuals (e.g., creators, models, or customers in the content), you’ll need explicit consent from them to use the content in your ads.
  • Be Transparent: Let creators and featured individuals know exactly how, where, and for how long their content will be used. This aligns with GDPR’s emphasis on transparency.
  • Respect Usage Agreements: If your license for UGC is time-limited, ensure you stop using it once the agreement expires—or renegotiate. Using expired content could violate both GDPR and copyright law.
  • Handle Personal Data Responsibly: If you’re collecting personal data as part of your campaigns, like a creator’s contact details, make sure you comply with GDPR’s strict data handling requirements.

For brands marketing in the EU, keeping GDPR top of mind not only avoids hefty fines but also builds trust with your creators and audience. It’s all about playing it safe – and smart.

Keep It Legal, Keep It Lit

UGC is pure marketing gold. Until it’s not. Without the right UGC usage rights in place, you’re one DM away from a legal disaster.

At Hustler Marketing, we’re here to make UGC easy, breezy, and drama-free. From sorting contracts to scaling your best-performing content, we’ve got the tools, the talent, and the receipts to help you crush your goals.

Whether you need epic evergreen content, a fire campaign, or some UGC magic that makes your competitors jealous, we’re ready to help you build a killer UGC funnel that propels your brand into a whole new season of growth.

Let’s do this.

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Marketing for eCommerce Pet Stores and Online Pet Supplies Retailers https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/marketing-for-ecommerce-pet-stores-and-online-pet-supplies-retailers/ Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:55:02 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=16765 At HM, we love working with eCommerce pet stores and online pet supplies retailers – and not only because so many of us are pet parents ourselves. 

These brands are exciting for another reason: pet care eCommerce is seeing explosive growth, and it won’t slow down any time soon. By 2027, the pet care and supplies market will be worth $87.433 billion, growing at a healthy 12% CAGR.

Pet food, toys, accessories – even clothing & furniture: people are spending more than ever on their animal companions, especially millennials. We’re invested in the success of our pet supplies clients, and we’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way.

Keep reading to learn more about:

  • The biggest challenges in pet eCommerce (and how to deal with them)
  • A winning email marketing strategy for pet brands
  • How to take your eCommerce pet store multi-channel 

Why is Online Pet Supplies Such a Tough Market?

Let’s begin with the main challenges every eCommerce pet store has to contend with:

One Pet Supplies is an Intensely Competitive Niche

Online pet supplies are big business – and that’s a double-edged sword. More opportunity means more competition, and the pet niche is one of the most competitive. It’s estimated that 1.2% of all online stores cater to the pet niche. That is a staggering number of stores, and it continues to grow. Stores that succeed tend to be the ones who focus on specific product lines and work hard to elbow out their nearest competitors. But whatever strategy you choose, this is a crowded space.

eCommerce Pet Stores Have 2 Audiences

If you’re selling pet care products, you have 2 audiences to appeal to: the buyer (usually human) and the end user (usually not human). Your marketing efforts need to address both. This means showing your audience that:

  • Your products are great for their pet’s wellbeing (this often means longer form, informational content)
  • Your customer experience is great for the human who has to make the purchase

Melding these two into a coherent message is far from easy. This is why monitoring customer reviews is so crucial for pet stores. That’s where you will get the information you need to tailor your offers and improve your products. Recent research into the relationship between customer reviews and positive post-purchase experience revealed just how complex this can be.

The study focused on food and identified the product attributes that most often came up in positive reviews. Among these were: taste, price and appearance. Obviously, the first one (taste) is up to the pet. But the other 2 are judged by humans. Finding the right balance here takes constant testing and eliciting feedback from customers (more on this later).

Pet Owners Have High Expectations 

Related to the 2 audience problem, it’s important to remember that pet owners tend to take these purchasing decisions very seriously. They want to know that you have their pet’s interests at heart, and they expect responsive, efficient customer service. They’re also likely to care about product safety. So, compliance with relevant standards and regulations can be a powerful differentiator that you should include in your marketing outreach.

Over 35% of the People Buying Pet Supplies Online are Millennial 

Millennial audiences continue to show a definite preference for communicating with businesses via email. But they are also increasingly using social media platforms to compare brands. They love Facebook and Instagram, and they use these platforms to guide their buying decisions. For online pet supplies stores, this underscores the need to go multi-channel, especially through UGC ads and other forms of paid media.

Email Marketing Strategies for eCommerce Pet Stores: 3-Point Plan

Before you can leverage social media marketing, it’s crucial to get your email channel performing to its full potential. Here is a 3-point strategy that we have used to kickstart our clients’ email marketing.

Step 1: Create a pre-order option to create hype

This helps to get your audience excited about your product before it lands. You can also use these campaigns to create a sense of scarcity and the “fear of missing out” (FOMO). These emails can be a great place to share information and photos of your production facilities, or your team. All of this helps to ensure a warm welcome for an upcoming product launch.

Step 2: Offer giveaway entries in exchange for customer feedback

As we saw earlier, customer feedback is essential for product optimization for eCommerce pet stores. Giving engaged customers the chance to participate in a giveaway is an effective way to get authentic insights and feedback from people who already know your brand and your products well. In the process, you can boost brand loyalty and gain invaluable data to help your product team.

Step 3: share real-life stories from other pet owners

Everybody loves a personal experience – and most pet parents love talking about their fur babies. User Generated Content (UGC) is one of the bets ways to convert new customers. People trust people more than they trust brands, and content that feels like a personal recommendation from a friend is more powerful than almost any other kind.

Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

Last but definitely not least: create content that focuses on the experiences that pet owners share with their pets. Whether it’s pet food, clothing, or pet care supplies, you want to offer your readers a story. Save detailed product specs for landing pages and post-purchase flows. Most of your content should be about experience – and don’t be shy to get cute!

Here is one of our all-time favorite pet store emails:

online pet supplies email

Make Your Mark with a Full-Service Marketing Agency That Truly Gets Your Niche

As a vibrant, global team of retention marketing experts (many of us with fur babies of our own), pet care eCommerce is one of our favorite verticals. We’re obsessive about helping our clients scale up their retention revenue through our fully managed email, SMS and UGC marketing services.

Hustler Marketing is ready to help you capture more attention and drive more sales through innovative multichannel marketing. Get in touch to talk with our team about your brand, your goals, and how Hustler Marketing can get you there.

 

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Creative AI Tools for Marketing: a Guide for eCommerce Brands https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/creative-ai-tools-for-marketing-a-guide-for-ecommerce-brands/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:46:11 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=16311 As a marketer, you’re always under pressure to do more with less. Before the generative AI revolution, that was a headache. But now, there is a whole world of AI tools for marketing to choose from. Email marketing AI, customer service chatbots, AI product photo generators – the list grows every day.

We asked our creative team leads at Hustler Marketing to give us the rundown on some of the best AI marketing tools available for email copywriting, email design and ad creatives.

Keep reading to learn more about:

  • How to use ChatGPT as a free AI copywriting assistant
  • Generating product photos instantly with FinalTouch
  • Adding natural AI voiceovers to ad creatives with Elevenlabs

ChatGPT: Multi-Use AI for Copywriting

No list of AI tools for marketing would be complete without a mention of ChatGPT copywriting. After all, around 44% of marketers are using ChatGPT to write emails and other copy.

Among its many uses, ChatGPT can:

  • Quickly condense complex product information
  • Generate large amounts of copy as a starting point for a human writer
  • Proofread and check emails for consistency

To get an idea of its potential as an email copy generator, we asked Carrie Linder, Hustler Marketing’s Head of Copy, to describe how this tool fits into her team’s workflow.

Crafting Peripheral Copy Elements

ChatGPT excels at generating small but important elements of copy: subject lines, calls to action (CTAs) and banner copy. Provide your main text, and ask for options that align with the style and tone. This ‘pick and choose’ approach can save a lot of time.

Evaluating Clarity and Message Delivery

ChatGPT is good at rating copy. It’s like having a second pair of eyes, ensuring our message hits the mark. In a busy email marketing agency like ours, it’s not always easy to get another pair of eyes, so ChatGPT has been a welcome help.

It’s also a great tool for finding repetition. It’s quicker and more efficient than manually searching for overused words. All in all, this makes editing smoother and more accurate.

Summarizing Information

A major strength of AI in email marketing is assimilating information on webpages. ChatGPT can quickly summarize info for writing product blocks in email campaigns. But outputs aren’t always 100% accurate, so you need to verify everything before you publish.

It’s a helpful tool, but not infallible.

Human in the Loop: the Limitations of ChatGPT as an Email Copy Generator

According to Carrie, capturing a brand’s tone of voice requires the oversight of a skilled, 10-fingered copywriter. ChatGPT struggles with replicating specific brand tones, especially those that are conversational, humorous, or cheeky. It’s an area where the human touch still reigns supreme.

Another consideration is time. Although ChatGPT is designed to save time, there’s a fair amount of effort involved in fine-tuning prompts, sifting through responses, and editing. Ironically, sometimes the traditional way of writing is quicker.

chatgpt copywriting quote

 

FinalTouch: an AI Marketing Tool for Designers 

FinalTouch is an exciting AI product photo generator from Cloudinary. There are many AI photo tools that help with certain aspects of a product image, like background removal or resizing. But FinalTouch takes it to the next level: you simply upload a product photo, select a setting/style, and the AI does the rest.

In the hands of an expert designer, this is a powerful tool that can:

  • Generate beautiful product scenes without any AI skills or text prompting
  • Automate product photo generation without expensive shoots
  • Instantly provide multiple options for A/B testing

Hustler Marketing’s Design Lead Daniela López gave us her opinion on this tool and why it made it onto this list.

Instant Variety Without AI Skills

FinalTouch can really level the playing field for brands who don’t have a large library of product photos or design assets. Instead of having to wait (and pay) for expensive, time-consuming shoots, you can digital product catalogs with ease. 

And best of all, you don’t need to become experts in AI to do this. You just upload a product photo, select the vibe you want, and you have multiple scenes to choose from.

The importance of AI lies in the speed it provides for some essential processes within a project, especially as in our field we’re no strangers to last minute requests and rushed projects which could be impossible to finalize on time if it weren’t for tools like this.

As creatives we believe human touch remains essential to deliver high quality, innovative and original work for our clients and the implementation of AI into the marketing world has made the designer’s duties change into something more interesting, making AI play the role of a “creative assistant” and not a replacement for human work.

finaltouch ai product photo design

Quicker Than Legacy Photo Editing Tools

As email designers we often have to edit product photos to get the perspective and lighting right (among many other factors). FinalTouch is a welcome addition to your toolkit, because it can handle this for you. Of course, it’s crucial for a designer to perform quality assurance on any AI-generated image. But FinalTouch can save time on each task.

AI Voiceover for Ad Creatives: Elevenlabs Gets the Last Word

Hustler Marketing’s dedicated Ad Creatives Team is obsessive about exploring cutting-edge AI tools for marketing. One tool that has made a huge impact on their workflow is Elevenlabs. Using ElevenLabs, eCommerce brands can:

  • Easily produce and test more ads easily
  • Avoid audio quality issues with regular voiceovers
  • Effortlessly convert, cut and edit voice scripts

We asked designer and video editor Jessica Contreras to share her insights on exactly what makes this tool such a game changer for busy teams like hers.

Diverse Voice Options

Elevenlabs boasts an impressive library of voices that actually sound realistic. All we do is select the ones that match our customer avatar and demographics, to ensure the ads resonate with the target audience. 

Customizability and Easy Filtering

Even better, Elevenlabs lets you customize the voices. You can decide how exaggerated you want the accent or tone to be. Maybe you want a little bit of Valley Girl, but not too much. Simply tweak the settings and listen to the output until you have what you need. 

The filter function and voice samples with descriptions make the decision process much easier. It’s like having a sneak peek at how the voice will perform in our ads.

elevenlabs ai voiceover

Realism in Longer Scripts

Longer voice overs are where most AI voiceover tools break down. They may start strong, but become more robotic later on. That’s a problem, because some ads need slightly longer scripts. But Elevenlabs really shines here. Their voices maintain a natural flow, so the audience stays engaged for longer.

Efficiency and Scalability

For a busy team like ours at Hustler Marketing, efficiency is key. We test large volumes of ads across multiple platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Elevenlabs lets us produce more ads without increasing our headcount. The interface also shows the character count for each voiceover, helping us manage our budget. It’s perfect for scaling up our ad creative output, with a range of pricing options to suit any team’s needs.

Leveraging AI Marketing Tools for eCommerce Success 

As a global team of marketers, creatives and innovators, Hustlers Marketing is committed to finding new ways to help our clients win. By getting to grips with the latest AI tools for marketing, we continually improve the services we offer in email copywriting, email design and ad creatives.

Book a chat with our team to find out how Hustler Marketing could future proof your eCommerce brand and help you to reach a whole new world of customers. 

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The A-Z of UGC Ads & Ad Creatives: a Glossary for eCommerce Brands https://www.hustlermarketing.com/blog/the-a-z-of-ugc-ads-ad-creatives-a-glossary-for-ecommerce-brands/ Sat, 28 Oct 2023 06:53:33 +0000 https://www.hustlermarketing.com/?p=16170 Research shows that UGC ads bring up to 4x higher click rates, 10% more conversions, and a long list of powerful benefits for brand awareness. But building an effective UGC marketing and ad creatives strategy is a complex, long-term commitment.

To help eCommerce brands and marketing teams succeed with UGC, we’ve prepared a glossary of essential terms and concepts you need to know.

A

A/B Testing (Split Testing)

A method to and compare two versions of a webpage, email, or other content. These tests help to determine which one performs better in terms of converting visitors into customers or taking an action. You can use A/B tests to compare different concepts, or even the same concept with different creators.  

Ad Concept

The underlying idea or theme that drives the narrative and visual elements of an advertising campaign. An ad concept aims to creatively convey the unique selling proposition of a product or brand to consumers.

Ad Copy

This is the written text that appears in your ad. This copy should contain persuasive and compelling messaging. It should also be simple and straightforward. Its purpose is to convince potential customers to take some action, such as making a purchase or requesting more information. 

Ad Creative

A collective term for the visual elements, design, and copy used in an ad. Effective ad creatives capture attention, convey a message, and prompt responses from the audience. In the context of UGC marketing, ad creatives can replicate the feel and vibe of actual user-generated content. To do this, eCommerce brands work with creators (more on them later).

C

Call to Action (CTA) 

A prompt or instruction within an advertisement that encourages viewers to take a specific action, such as clicking a link, filling out a form, or making a purchase. If you are using UGC in your marketing, it’s crucial that all of your calls to action are clear and easy to understand. Each ad should have a single CTA for viewers to take.

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

This it a measure of the amount of people who are clicking through after watching your ad. You can calculate it by diving the number of individuals who click by the total number of people who view the ad.  

Conversion Rate

The percentage of users who take an action that you want them to take after interacting with an ad or landing page. This could include making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. If your click rate is high, but your conversion rate is low, this could suggest that there is some technical or UX issue on your pages.

Cost Terms

Cost Per Action (CPA)

This metric helps marketing teams to stay on top of their expenses. For every action that a customer takes, you need to know how much it costs to get them to that point. Each a sale, click, or form submission has a CPA. It’s vital to know what it is, and whether it is optimal given your budget and goals.

Cost Per Click (CPC)

The average cost that advertisers pay for each click that an online ad generates. It’s a common metric used in digital advertising to assess the cost-effectiveness of campaigns.

Cost Per Mille (CPM)

A pricing model where advertisers are charged for every 1,000 impressions (views) their advertisement receives.

Creators

These are content producers who are not necessarily traditional influencers but have the skills and ability to create engaging UGC ads.

Important: creators are different from influencers.  That’s because they don’t typically focus on building a large following or personal brand. Instead, they use their skills to create content that resonates with a specific audience or demographic. Creators may have expertise in content creation, such as video production, photography, or graphic design. You can source them on social media or freelance marketplaces like Fiverr & Upwork.

Creator Brief

A document that you provide to content creators, influencers, or advertisers outlining the objectives, guidelines, and expectations for a specific piece of content or campaign. This should be comprehensive enough to ensure brand alignment, while still giving creators the freedom to experiment.

E

Engagement

The level of interaction and involvement that users have with a piece of content or advertisement, typically measured through actions like clicks, likes, shares, comments, and time spent viewing.

H

Hook

The first few seconds of an ad, designed to catch the audience’s attention quickly and effectively. For video ad creatives, the hook is the most critical part of the ad. 

Hook Rate 

A measurement of how well your content captures and retains the audience’s attention during the initial moments of an ad. To calculate your hook rate, divide the number of people who viewed your ad beyond the hook by the total number of views. Most creators would consider a score above 25% to be a good hook rate. 

I

Impressions

The total number of times an advertisement is displayed to users, regardless of clicks or engagement. This figure gives you an idea of the overall reach of your ads. 

Influencer Marketing

A strategy where individuals with influence and reach on social media or other platforms promote or endorse products and services to their followers. This form of marketing is generally much more expensive than working with creators. In addition, it may not actually deliver a satisfactory ROI if your goal is to create authentic UGC that don’t look and feel like regular ads.

K

Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

A measurable value that demonstrates the effectiveness of a campaign or strategy in achieving its objectives. In the context of UGC advertising, ROAS, CPM, CTR and CPA are some of the most critical KPIs.

N

Native Advertising

This term refers to ads that  mimic the appearance and style of the content surrounding them. These ads provide a seamless and non-disruptive experience for viewers. The goal of using ads like this is to be more relatable, and avoid giving viewers the feeling that they are being targeted by advertisers.  Unlike most ads, native ads aren’t marked as “promoted”. 

R

Reach

The total number of unique individuals who are exposed to an advertisement or campaign during a specified time frame.

Retargeting/Remarketing

This is a strategy where advertisers serve ads to individuals who have previously engaged with their content or visited their website. The goal of this strategy is to encourage first-time buyers to make their first order, or generate repeat purchases. 

Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)

A metric used to measure the revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising. It helps advertisers understand the effectiveness of their ad spend.

For example, if your UGC ad campaign cost $2,000 and generated $10,000 in revenue, your ROAS is 5, indicating that for every $1 spent, you earned $5 in revenue. A ROAS above 1 is profitable, while below 1 is not. Use ROAS to optimize ad performance and set benchmarks based on your goals. Accurate tracking and attribution are essential for calculating ROAS correctly.

Return on Investment (ROI)

This is the ratio of net profit to cost of investment in a campaign or strategy. You can use this ratio to evaluate the financial return of total advertising efforts. This calculation includes a broad range of factors including ad spend, salaries and any relevant tech.

U

User-Generated Content (UGC)

Strictly speaking, UGC is any content, such as images, videos, reviews, or social media posts, that unpaid people create. This usually means customers or fans of a brand. Effective ad creatives and UGC ads are sponsored ads that mimic the authenticity of pure UGC.

UGC Ads

These are ads that feature real users of your product. It can also describe ads that feature creators using a product in a way that looks and feels organic.

W

Whitelisting

This is a mutual arrangement between creators and brands. The creator grants a brand advertising permissions to their social media account so that the brand can run paid ads through the creator’s profile. In exchange, the brand benefits from the creator’s reach, and the creator benefits from paid exposure to the brand’s target audience.

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