We’ve all created a video at some point on our social media channels but what makes one video creator more effective than another? High quality UGC videos are important when sourcing in the advertising space most of the time, so it’s important that content creators make high quality videos. So, let’s dive a little deeper into what makes a video great. First, let’s discuss authenticity. This is the most important aspect of one’s social media presence. If you’re unsure of how to narrow down your online personality, start by asking yourself these questions to help you figure it out. What five personality traits/words do you have that would use to describe yourself? Examples would be capable, direct, etc. (Angela Chang, blogger/social media marketer). Also, take a few minutes to write down topics that are important to you. What are they? Unless you’re into politics, may we suggest staying away from heated political topics? Anything else is fair game. After you do this, what are some things that you absolutely do not want to discuss on your platform? Even choosing particular aesthetics for your page, such as a color pallet to stick with, is important. If you had to pick only two what would they be? Now that you have taken the time to answer all of these questions, let’s chat about making good content videos. Three things of high importance that first come to mind are quality, authenticity, which I touched on a bit already, and consistency. Always ensure that the video quality is the best that it can be. Without quality, you will lose engagement from viewers who have come to expect high-quality content (Forbes). Also, a recent study, “revealed that, content and technical quality of UGC have significant effects on UGC’s functional and emotional values” (Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, VOL 21, NO1, 2020). Filming horizontal is always good practice. Vertical is alright from time to time but it’s most important to make sure that the video is not blurry and does not contain any logos. Aside from being logo free, be sure to wear clothing without any striking patterns. This will make it more appealing to the agencies who source user generated content for advertisements. Secondly, be yourself. Organic content is always more alluring than something that looks overly produced or scripted. Have slight control over the narrative and try filming a lot of raw videos. Then, you can choose what you like from these and edit it together later. Authenticity is what will build trust between you and your audience. Finally, be consistent. As with anything, consistency is key. Being consistent will keep your followers with you long-term. Posting 3-5 times weekly is always a good place to start. Think about TikTok star Khaby Lame. He has a very specific style. His sarcastic style is shown through overly exaggerated facial expressions in each and every single one of his videos. He has his own online voice (which for him is actually no voice at all), he is consistent with the type of content he posts and it is always authentic to his particular style. Overall, creating great user generated content isn’t rocket science but that doesn’t mean it’s not difficult. Using these simple tips will help you improve on your filming technique and assist you in finding your unique online voice. Happy filming creators!
