If you’ve ever hit record on a UGC video and immediately felt like you sound fake, forced, or way too “salesy” — you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: it’s not that you’re bad at UGC. You’re just approaching it the wrong way.
Most creators think they need to sound like every other ad they scroll past on social media. They script themselves like they’re auditioning for a commercial, throw in phrases like “run don’t walk,” and wonder why it feels so uncomfortable.
Let me show you the mindset shift that changes everything when it comes to figuring out what to say in your UGC videos.
Stop Writing Ads. Start Documenting Decisions.
Here’s where most people go wrong: they script their UGC like they’re writing a Facebook ad they just saw while scrolling.
But really good UGC? It doesn’t sound like an ad at all.
It sounds like you’re talking through a decision you already made.
Think about it—when you tell a friend about a product you love, you don’t say “run don’t walk” or use that overly enthusiastic “influencer voice” (IYKYK). You just… talk. You explain what was going on, why you tried it, and what happened after.
That’s what brands actually want. Not performance. Communication.
The Simple Framework That Makes UGC Feel Natural
Really good UGC comes from three simple things. Master these, and you’ll stop sounding like every other ad on social media.
A Real Problem You Were Dealing With
This is where you hook people. Not with clickbait or drama—with relatability.
What was actually going on in your life that made you need this product? Be specific. Don’t just say “I needed better skincare.” Say “I was dealing with dry patches that made my makeup look terrible, and I was tired of layering three different products just to feel normal.”
The more specific and relatable the problem, the better the content. Your viewer should be nodding along thinking, “Wait, that’s literally me.”
Examples of real problems:
- “I was waking up exhausted every morning even after 8 hours of sleep”
- “My toddler’s diaper bag was a chaotic mess and I could never find what I needed”
- “I kept buying workout clothes that looked cute but felt terrible the second I started moving”
Notice how none of these sound like ad copy? That’s the point.
A Real Reason You Decided to Try It
This is the trust-building moment. Why this product? Why not something else?
Don’t just say “I heard good things.” Tell the real story. Maybe a friend recommended it. Maybe you were scrolling late at night and the ingredient list actually made sense. Maybe you were desperate and willing to try anything.
This is where you show your thought process — the moment you decided to give it a shot. Brands want to see how real people make purchasing decisions, not how influencers perform.
Examples of real reasons:
- “My sister kept raving about it, and she has the same skin type as me, so I figured it was worth trying”
- “I saw it had magnesium, which I’d been reading helps with sleep, and the price was actually reasonable”
- “Honestly, I was at Target, saw it on the shelf, and thought ‘why not. If it doesn’t work, I’m only out $12′”
See how natural that sounds? That’s what converts. Not hype—relatability.
A Real Outcome the Brand Wants You to Recognize
Here’s where you connect the dots. What actually changed after you used the product?
Brands aren’t looking for you to say “it’s amazing!” with zero context. They want you to circle back to the original problem and show how the product solved it. Be specific about the outcome.
Don’t oversell it. Don’t make wild claims. Just tell the truth about what happened.
Examples of real outcomes:
- “Within three days, those dry patches were completely gone, and my makeup actually stayed smooth all day”
- “I’m sleeping through the night now—like, actually waking up feeling rested instead of groggy”
- “Everything has a place now, and I can grab what I need with one hand while holding the baby with the other”
Notice how each outcome ties directly back to the original problem? That’s the framework.
Problem → Reason → Outcome. That’s it. No gimmicks. No over-the-top energy. Just real, honest storytelling that actually converts.
If you wouldn’t say it out loud to a friend, don’t say it on camera in these videos.
What Good UGC Actually Looks Like
From what I’m seeing brands ask for, UGC that converts isn’t flashy. It’s honest, simple, and specific.
You don’t need to sound like everyone else. You don’t need catchphrases or trends or an “influencer voice.”
You just need to sound like you—explaining something real.
The creators who master this? They’re the ones getting hired again and again. Because brands aren’t looking for actors. They’re looking for authentic communicators who can make their product feel relatable.
The Real Reason Brands Hire You (It’s Not Your Following)
Let me clear something up right now: brands are not hiring your Instagram feed. I know so many creators who think they have to post UGC content nonstop to get hired, and it’s just not true. When brands look you up, they’re not counting your posts or checking how many times you’ve shared UGC publicly. They’re looking at who you are as a person, how you show up on camera, and whether you can actually communicate.
Here’s what’s really happening when a brand considers working with you. They’re asking themselves three very specific questions, and none of them have anything to do with your follower count.
Can you follow a brief? They need to know you can take direction and deliver what they’re asking for—not just create whatever you think looks good.
Can you create content that actually converts? Because pretty content is nice, but content that makes people want to buy is what gets you rehired.
And can you deliver on time, professionally? This is huge. Brands want to work with people who communicate clearly, meet deadlines, and don’t create extra drama or work for them.
Your Instagram feed is optional. Your following is irrelevant. Your ability to produce quality content and deliver it professionally is what gets you paid. That’s it.
Stop Looking Busy. Start Building the Right Assets.
Here’s something I want you to hear: posting UGC publicly is a marketing choice, not a requirement. Most of the projects I work on, I never post to my own pages. The brands don’t care. They got what they needed, I got paid, and we both moved on. So if you’re spending all your time trying to look busy on Instagram, posting constantly to prove you’re “active” in UGC—you’re working backwards.
What actually gets you hired isn’t visibility. It’s capability. Instead of performing for your followers, start building the right assets behind the scenes. Build a portfolio that shows you can adapt to different brand voices and styles—not just showcase your own aesthetic, but prove you can deliver theirs. Work on your communication skills so brands feel like you’re easy to work with, professional, and reliable. Create quality samples that demonstrate you understand how to make content that converts, not just content that looks good in your feed.
That’s where the real money is. Not in performing for an audience that isn’t paying you—but in delivering results for brands that are.
What UGC Actually Gave Me (The Real Benefit)
I didn’t stop wanting time freedom. I stopped chasing it in systems that required constant pressure. That’s the shift that changed everything for me.
UGC gave me flexible work that actually fits around my life instead of demanding I rearrange everything to fit around it. It gave me a way to get paid for my creativity without burning out trying to keep up with algorithms or quotas. My income isn’t tied to recruiting people, building a team, or hitting arbitrary sales targets. And I can batch my work when it makes sense, then be fully present with my family without guilt or pressure to be “on” all the time.
I still work. I’m not telling you this is passive income or some magic solution. But my work fits around my life now—not the other way around. That’s the difference. That’s what made it worth it.
Action Steps: What to Do Right Now
Ready to shift how you approach UGC? Here’s where to start:
- Rewrite one of your old scripts using the framework above. Pick a product and walk through: the problem, the reason you tried it, and the real outcome. No fluff, no “influencer voice.”
- Record it like you’re talking to a friend. If it sounds weird or forced when you say it out loud, rewrite it. Keep going until it sounds like you.
- Build one solid portfolio piece this week. Pick a brand you love, create a sample UGC video using this approach, and add it to your portfolio. Show brands you can communicate, not just perform.
Time to take action. Clarity comes from doing—not overthinking.
Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Getting Hired?
If you’re tired of winging it and want a clear, step-by-step system for landing consistent UGC work—I’ve built exactly that.
The UGC Blueprint walks you through everything: how to position yourself, create a portfolio that actually gets responses, pitch brands the right way, and build the kind of reputation that keeps you booked. No guesswork. No overwhelm. Just a proven system that works.
This is for you if you’re ready to move past the “maybe I’ll get hired” stage and start building real momentum as a UGC creator.
