/Advertising
Question
Are UGC-style ads really better than polished product videos for beginners?
Posted by •11/6/2025
Everywhere I look, people are screaming “UGC is king”.
But I'm not sure what to actually do as a beginner.
Options I'm seeing:
- Record “selfie” style talking videos myself (but I'm not a woman and my product is for women lol)
- Pay UGC creators (but I'm on a budget)
- Use supplier footage and try to make it feel more real with text, sound, etc.
My product:
- Skincare-related (pore vacuum device)
- Selling to women 18–35
Questions:
1. Is UGC really **that** important in 2025 or can you still make supplier footage work if the editing is good?
2. If you were me with low budget, what would be your first ad type?
3. Any simple formula for a UGC script that doesn't feel fake and cringe?
I don't want to overpay for UGC if basic, well-edited videos would be enough to test first.
But I'm not sure what to actually do as a beginner.
Options I'm seeing:
- Record “selfie” style talking videos myself (but I'm not a woman and my product is for women lol)
- Pay UGC creators (but I'm on a budget)
- Use supplier footage and try to make it feel more real with text, sound, etc.
My product:
- Skincare-related (pore vacuum device)
- Selling to women 18–35
Questions:
1. Is UGC really **that** important in 2025 or can you still make supplier footage work if the editing is good?
2. If you were me with low budget, what would be your first ad type?
3. Any simple formula for a UGC script that doesn't feel fake and cringe?
I don't want to overpay for UGC if basic, well-edited videos would be enough to test first.
2 Replies
•11/6/2025
I wasted $300 on “UGC creators” that delivered boring videos where they just read my script like robots.
Then I took the same supplier clips, added strong hooks + subtitles + better pacing and those ads outperformed the paid UGC.
So yes, UGC **can** work better, but execution > buzzword.
Then I took the same supplier clips, added strong hooks + subtitles + better pacing and those ads outperformed the paid UGC.
So yes, UGC **can** work better, but execution > buzzword.
•11/6/2025
UGC isn't magic, it's just **more native** to the feed people are scrolling.
You can still make supplier footage work, but:
- For skincare/beauty, people want to see **real faces + real skin**, not just product spinning on a white background.
If I were you, low budget, here’s what I’d do:
**Step 1 – Make a “fake UGC” from what you have**
- Use the best supplier clips of the product being used
- Add:
- Hook text at the top (“I can’t believe this actually worked on my pores”)
- Subtitles as if someone is speaking
- Voiceover (you or AI) telling a short story:
- “I’ve tried everything for blackheads… then I found this”
This already feels more UGC than “cinematic product video”.
**Step 2 – Simple UGC script template**
Give this to a creator later or use it yourself with a model:
- Hook (2–3 seconds):
- “If your nose looks like this, listen up.”
- Problem (3–5 seconds):
- “Blackheads, clogged pores, makeup sitting weird… I had all of it.”
- Discovery (3–5 seconds):
- “I saw this pore vacuum all over TikTok and finally decided to try it.”
- Demo (5–8 seconds):
- Show the product on skin + satisfying results on filter cup
- Outcome (3–5 seconds):
- “My pores actually look smaller and my makeup sits smoother now.”
- Call to action (2–3 seconds):
- “If your pores are crazy too, this is your sign to try it.”
**Step 3 – Don’t overthink “perfect UGC” at the start**
Bad UGC (boring, low energy, zero story) doesn't convert just because it's “UGC”.
Good supplier edit > bad UGC any day.
Your first goal: **show real usage + real outcome** in 15–25 seconds. Label it however you want.
You can still make supplier footage work, but:
- For skincare/beauty, people want to see **real faces + real skin**, not just product spinning on a white background.
If I were you, low budget, here’s what I’d do:
**Step 1 – Make a “fake UGC” from what you have**
- Use the best supplier clips of the product being used
- Add:
- Hook text at the top (“I can’t believe this actually worked on my pores”)
- Subtitles as if someone is speaking
- Voiceover (you or AI) telling a short story:
- “I’ve tried everything for blackheads… then I found this”
This already feels more UGC than “cinematic product video”.
**Step 2 – Simple UGC script template**
Give this to a creator later or use it yourself with a model:
- Hook (2–3 seconds):
- “If your nose looks like this, listen up.”
- Problem (3–5 seconds):
- “Blackheads, clogged pores, makeup sitting weird… I had all of it.”
- Discovery (3–5 seconds):
- “I saw this pore vacuum all over TikTok and finally decided to try it.”
- Demo (5–8 seconds):
- Show the product on skin + satisfying results on filter cup
- Outcome (3–5 seconds):
- “My pores actually look smaller and my makeup sits smoother now.”
- Call to action (2–3 seconds):
- “If your pores are crazy too, this is your sign to try it.”
**Step 3 – Don’t overthink “perfect UGC” at the start**
Bad UGC (boring, low energy, zero story) doesn't convert just because it's “UGC”.
Good supplier edit > bad UGC any day.
Your first goal: **show real usage + real outcome** in 15–25 seconds. Label it however you want.