The internet has changed many things. It has revolutionized how people and brands connect with their target audience. It isn’t one-way communication anymore; people very much have the voice and tools to share their opinions. It can go both ways but brands have leveraged the power of changed dynamics cleverly. User-generated content (UGC) has emerged as the hero of this paradigm shift, changing the way content creators and consumers used to engage with content. 

Choosing the platform is the most important decision for any creator. People have carved out a name for themselves by choosing the right platforms. The right platform helps content creators to house all their content on a platform that hosts their target audience. 

The importance of selecting the right platform for individual needs cannot be overstated, as it lays the foundation for visibility, audience engagement, and overall content effectiveness.

The importance of choosing the right platform can’t be overemphasized. It lays the foundation for visibility, audience engagement, and overall content performance. 

If you’re looking for the right social media platforms to choose from, here’s the list of platforms that work best with UGC content.

The major platforms are TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. All of these platforms have their unique advantages and disadvantages for creators.

TikTok

TikTok became the OG content for UGC because it changed people’s interaction with the platform. From a social-based model to a discovery-based model, the audience appreciates content that better aligns with their interests rather than simply connecting with friends and family. TikTok’s algorithm is really designed around it, and it favors content that is original and that people like to watch.

Gen Z played a big role in its success. They like to engage with brands who show up as their authentic self using UGC content and not just corporate brands. If you remember the phenomenon around Gen Z using TikTok as a search engine, you will remember how that changed people’s perceptions and sparked a debate. 

TikTok thrives on UGC content. When a brand posts UGC on TikTok, it performs 22% better than branded content. Due to its customization, short duration, entertainment value and overall authenticity delivered, it comes out to be the perfect platform to host and share UGC content.

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Instagram

Social media platforms drive user engagement. If people’s consumption of content changes, platforms have to change, too, and this happens with established platforms like Instagram. 

The audience has changed their content consumption. Once, people were interested in just looking at pictures, but now they consume video content more. The trends have changed to short, entertaining/informative, and less salesy content. UGC content is a big hit on Instagram as well because most brands have a formal presence on Instagram. They had to include UGC in their brand strategy to stay on trend and relevant. 

Influencers and now regular users have started making content reviewing brands products on Instagram and that content has a huge market. We all have bought something off of Instagram by seeing such video content from someone who looked more human than a brand advertising its products. 

The major shift is people buying from people. Brands can leverage the power of inbuilt Instagram tools when a user mentions them in their stories, they can simply repost it. This is just one example of how UGC is working and has created a new world for content creators and brands alike. 

There are other platforms to create and share UGC content, such as YouTube. In short, any platform that hosts your target audience and can help you influence people’s buying decisions is a platform for your brand's marketing.

It depends on three factors:

• Your Product/service
• Your target audience 
• Ideal social media platform

Comparison of the two: TikTok vs Instagram

TikTok’s algorithm is insanely good at understanding user preferences, and that’s how it curates each user’s individual “For You” page. The platform really works well with short-form videos and gives way to new content thus encouraging a diversity of content. It helps users bring forward their true personalities and interests. It’s just very easy to find new creators on the platform which confirms that the platform rewards new content and creators. 

Instagram is different from TikTok in the sense that factors like user engagement, post relevance, and frequency influence its algorithmic reach. The platform has changed with time. There was a time when it used to give reach to images, but now it’s videos and reels. The platform picks up different types of content, so creators who want to do a mix of content can perform better on Instagram than on TikTok. 

Both Instagram and TikTok offer very different experiences in terms of user interface, content discoverability, and engagement. The choice of platforms depends on your content interests, target audience, and content objectives. 

Instagram used to have IGTV, and when TikTok came with short-form content, Instagram was pushed to introduce something that is short and crisp and grasps the attention of audiences like TikTok. Instagram reels were introduced to give competition to TikTok, and YouTube shorts are again aimed at cutting the competition.

Monetization Opportunities

Since UGC content is all the hype at the moment, monetization and earning potential are very promising. Brands collaborate with content creators who are making content relevant to their brand language. 

Some of the famous UGC creator's success stories:

Angela Wells, also known as UGCang, is a UGC creator and TikTok specialist based in Los Angeles. She offers brand testimonials, demonstrations, and storytelling for different brands. 

Ryan Santoyo is a UGC creator who loves connections. He believes in the power of digital content creators and believes there’s huge potential for success. 

Nicole Marks-Martinez, also known as Koli Marks, is a digital and UGC creator. She enjoys creating content and mentors content creators to help them. This top 10 UGC creator was even featured in Business Insider for paying off $25,000 of her student debt using TikTok!

These creator success stories have one thing in common - the huge monetization potential that these platforms have. These are the careers that people have made for them. It doesn’t just give them financial freedom but lifestyle freedom, too. You don’t need to sit behind a desk five days a week if that’s not for you. 

Social media platforms will favor UGC content creators in 2024 as people now connect more with content that feels humanistic and authentic. It is going to influence the buyer's decisions, which means it gives you a huge opportunity to explore. 

Brands will be dependent on independent content creators to promote their products, and we will see more of this unfolding in the coming year. If you’re looking to step into the creator's world, research well and start with your interests. People on TikTok have found their careers by simply talking about their hobbies and interests. 

Experiment with different platforms, and once you have a clear-cut winner for your content, double down on it. Content is always about experimenting and implementing your observations. People have found success sooner or later. Also, in this ever-changing digital space, you’re never sure of what’s going to stick, but there’s one thing you can always be sure of - putting forward your real self will get you to someplace. 

If you like to create content, you can apply to get featured on Scrolling Media, and we will pitch your services to potential clients.