9 Crucial UGC Trends For Business Owners in 2025

Did you know that 80% of people trust UGC marketing over ads?

In other words, social proof beats polished campaigns by a mile.

And if you’re not using UGC trends, you’re leaving money on the table.

You’re about to learn how to:

1. Use short-form videos to grab attention in seconds.
2. Leverage AI to find, curate, and amplify the best UGC.
3. Explore live-streaming UGC and the booming metaverse.
4. Make social commerce seamless with shoppable UGC posts.
5. Find the industries where UGC thrives – and how yours fits in.
6. Bring AR into the mix for unforgettable interactive experiences.
7. Supercharge email marketing with customer stories and photos.
8. Build trust and engagement with informative, relatable user content.
9. Partner with micro-influencers for authentic connections and better ROI.

2025 is the year to ride the UGC wave and turn authenticity into profits.

It’s not just a trend – it’s the future of marketing.

Ready to find out how to make it work for your brand?

Why Do UGC Trends Matter?

80% of consumers trust UGC over traditional ads. UGC for brand trust gives your brand 2.4 times more credibility with potential customers.

Think UGC trends like testimonials, unboxing videos, and product demos by actual users. UGC marketing can become the next best thing for your brand.

Big claims!

But here’s why it’s worth your attention:

• Better brand trust means better sales.
• It’s authentic, relatable, and what your audience craves.
• The benefits of user-generated content for brands are huge.
• People trust social proof way more than polished ad campaigns.
• UGC for social media marketing gets you engaged on autopilot.

UGC marketing has the power to deliver all that while upping your consumer engagement. It’s cost-effective, scalable, and insanely impactful.

9 UGC Trends in 2025

User-generated content is the holy grail of engagement. UGC is your ticket to authentic connections and up to 24% higher engagement.

We've broken down how to integrate UGC into digital marketing. Here are the top UGC trends with the most successful UGC trend 2025 examples.

Prepare to take notes.

1. UGC in Video Ads

Viewers retain 95% of the message shown in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text. That’s why you should add some UGC video ads to the mix.

Or to put it differently:

Real people + real experiences = real results.

Here’s why this magic formula works:

• UGC video ads get 4x higher click-through rates.
• They outperform polished ads that feel stuffy and plain salesy by 29%.
• Authenticity in marketing is the basis of all great video marketing trends.
• UGC trend 2024 examples show video ads reduce the cost-per-click by up to 50%.

Because let’s be real – which of these would you trust more:

A flashy, shiny ad or a real customer sharing their personal experience?

The answer’s obvious, right?

With Influee you can source high-quality UGC video ads from creators worldwide. Our platform helps you create authentic, on-brand, and ready-to-convert videos–fast. Everything from testimonials to product demos to unboxing videos is streamlined.

2. Using AI for UGC Curation

In 2025, AI in user-generated content will streamline and categorise everything. 56% of marketers believe AI-generated content outperforms human content.

AI helps break down some UGC examples and trends you need to know.

Here’s how AI-driven content curation can help:

• User-generated content strategies in AI can help you find best-selling items and social media trends.
• AI-driven content curation lets you surpass the limitations of manual content creation and automate the mundane.
• Automation lets you cut content creation time in half. So you focus on strategy, not grunt work.

Want a UGC platform just as compatible?

Influee’s platform leverages AI to analyze trends and optimize content curation. One of the most popular UGC trends 2024 examples are shopping and clothing hauls. And with Influee, you can use AI to handle all the details.

It can help select top-performing posts, categorize content, and narrow down trends.

You get to focus exclusively on what works.

3. UGC Email Marketing

You can use UGC for boosting brand credibility and make content more relatable.

Here’s why customer stories, product photos, and video snippets work:

• Content personalization makes every email just that–personalized.
• 70% of consumers trust UGC recommendations from real users over corporate jargon.
• User-generated content in emails makes them 31% more memorable.

Want to see those open rates in a constant upward trajectory?

Why not include a testimonial about your product in your next newsletter? Influee makes integrating user-generated photos and videos into email campaigns effortless.

4. Short-Form Videos

Love TikTok? So does your audience. Short, snappy, and scroll-stopping – short-form video trends are not slowing down.

Here’s why adding a UGC trend 2024 TikTok strategy should be a no-brainer:

• 57% of GenZ prefer short videos over long ones.
• They’re perfect for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
• User-generated content shines in quick, authentic moments.

Influee connects you with creators who specialize in short-form videos. We handle everything – from creator recruitment to video editing – so you can deliver TikTok-ready UGC that really captivates your audience.

5. Informative User-Generated Content

Practical content keeps your audience coming back for more. But educational content doesn’t have to remind the audience of middle school.

Want to build consumer engagement? Teach them something useful.

User-generated content strategies can turn complicated topics into digestible bites. Apple’s "Shot on iPhone" campaign did just that. It encouraged users to capture and share high-quality photos taken with their iPhones.

They showcased real-life applications while demonstrating the device's advanced camera capabilities. All through authentic user experiences.

That’s how Apple turned technical specifications into understandable content for a broad audience.

So here are some best practices for user-generated content:

• Make FAQs fun with real-world examples from users.
• Share user reviews that highlight unique product benefits.
• Post tutorials made by real customers using your product.

The creators we have at Influee excel at turning complex topics into engaging, educational UGC. That could be a video showing five clever ways to use your gadget. Or maybe some bloopers and misfires of what not to do?

6. Social Commerce Integration

24% of consumers shop on social media and shoppable UGC content makes it even better. Cutting down on the time users have to spend to look for reviews means they spend more time buying from you.

Here’s why UGC for e-commerce is an all-rounder for leveraging social media trends:

• UGC links directly to the items in your posts.
• Customers see real people using your product.
• It bridges the gap between inspiration and purchase.

UGC statistics don’t show any sign of this trend slowing down.

Ready to make this work for your brand?

Influee integrates seamlessly with social commerce strategies. This means creating shoppable UGC that converts just got simpler. Our AI tools even match your content with your audience’s preferences.

Higher purchase intent = more sales!

7. UGC in Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality (AR) and UGC together create really interactive content.

Here’s how AR and UGC give users a taste of what your brand offers:

• Users can “try before they buy” with virtual AR tools.
• It’s immersive and makes your product unforgettable.
• UGC layers real-world authenticity in marketing, especially high-tech experiences.

Get customers to try your product virtually, then share their experience.

With Influee, AR, and UGC work together to create interactive content. You can use UGC for AR campaigns by sourcing creators who can produce engaging and interactive content.

8. UGC Campaigns with Micro-Influencers

UGC vs influencers – what's better?

Relatable content that resonates, wins every time.

Big influencers are great, but micro-influencers and UGC are where it’s at. Smaller audiences mean more trust and better connections.

Here’s how UGC beats Influencer-generated content for peer-to-peer marketing:

• Micro-influencers cost less but deliver higher engagement.
• Their content feels genuine and hits the right audience.
• Pairing micro-influencers and UGC together amplifies authenticity even further.

Micro-influencers are basically real-time brand ambassadors!

You can leverage influencer collaborations with Influee. We connect brands with micro-influencers who align perfectly with their target audience. That way, every collaboration delivers authentic and high-performing UGC.

9. UGC in Metaverse and Live Streaming

UGC in Metaverse is set to explode.

That’s where live-streaming UGC comes in – it’s the ultimate interactive content tool to get high-quality user engagement.

Here’s what makes these trends exciting:

• Virtual worlds create new ways to showcase your products. Think Gucci's virtual sneaker launch in Fortnite.
• Live streaming puts your brand in real-time conversations.
• Both trends thrive on raw and authentic user-generated content.

With Influee, your brand doesn't have to be as big as Gucci to collaborate with creators in the metaverse. You’ll have direct access to UGC creators experienced in live streaming and interactive content.

Ready to try these UGC trends and make your brand part of these cutting-edge conversations?

Best Industries and Niches for UGC

Not sure if these UGC trends will work for your industry?

They do.

User-generated content grabs attention in industries you’d never expect.

In fact, user-generated content makes everything shine – from beauty to tools to fashion.

A good platform (like Influee) gives you access to UGC analytics tools and countless UGC examples for inspiration and strategy

You don’t need a flashy product to see results.

Here’s how a UGC-driven content marketing strategy can be made to fit different niches:

• Clothing and fashion companies thrive on UGC.
• Beauty products get a boost from tutorial-style social proof.
• Tech companies can showcase gadgets with customer testimonials.

Enhancing customer experience through UGC isn't just about aesthetics but connection. Even industries often labeled as "boring" are finding their spark through social media platforms for UGC.

Most importantly, UGC builds brand trust.

As long as your consumers want human connection (read: forever), driving social engagement with user-generated content will work – regardless of the niche.

People trust other people, not polished, pitch-perfect corporate ads.

Using UGC Trends in 2025: How a UGC Platform Can Help Your Brand Get Ahead

Riding UGC trends doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a UGC platform like Influee, it’s easier than ever. You save time, cut costs, and get results with user-generated content.

Here’s why:

• It makes effective UGC campaigns in 2025 possible by connecting brands with vetted creators worldwide
• Flexible subscription plans, starting as low as €20 per video! You can start small or scale up.
• With its AI-powered video editor, personalized subtitles, brand colors, and call-to-actions, leveraging UGC for customer retention is easy.
• Your brand becomes relatable, thanks to its authentic user-generated content process.

Connect with creators, source content, and build trust – all in one place. Influee is built to help your brand stay ahead of all UGC trends.

From UGC video ads to leveraging UGC for customer retention, the possibilities are endless. And with the right UGC platform, you can simplify the process and maximize impact.

Not ready to commit to the best UGC platform yet?

You can try many UGC trends 2025 free options into your marketing plan without cost too. So get into user-generated content and watch your growth–and brand– reach new heights.

FAQ Section

What is User-Generated Content in 2025?

User-generated content is content created by your customers, not you.

It includes visual content marketing elements–videos, reviews, photos—and real-life endorsements for your brand.

Why is it important, especially in 2025?

• UGC statistics for 2024 show it builds trust and increases conversions.
• The benefits of user-generated content for brands are undeniable.
• UGC platforms for small businesses are making marketing more sustainable by 154%.

What is the Future of UGC?

Building trust with UGC is all about authenticity and connection.

Here’s what’s next:

• AI tools will make curating user-generated content even easier.
• Expect more immersive content like AR and VR integrations.
• You'll see more brands using UGC to build a brand community.

The future of user-generated content looks bright, bold, and unstoppable.

Is UGC Still Popular?

Absolutely! If anything, it’s more relevant than ever.

• UGC vs traditional advertising proves trust beats polish – every time.
• Brand loyalty through UGC grows with every customer story shared.
• Increasing conversion rates with UGC is 5 times more likely than traditional marketing avenues.

People love authenticity, and that’s exactly what UGC delivers.