Getting UGC-style content made: how does it work and what does it deliver?
11 September 2026 · Kas Benneker, founder of Setless Productions
UGC-style content, footage that feels like it's from a real customer rather than a polished brand photo, increases conversion on product pages by up to 74 percent and drives click-through rates in ads up to four times higher. The problem is that only 16 percent of brands have a consistent approach to this. The rest wait for customers to send content on their own, and that rarely happens often enough to guarantee a steady stream.
Why UGC-style content works so well
Buyers trust other buyers more than they trust a brand itself. 92 percent of consumers trust content from peers over what a brand says about itself. That translates directly into numbers: posts with a UGC style get around 70 percent more engagement, and short videos in this style score up to 71 percent higher on engagement than standard product content.
| Effect | Figure |
|---|---|
| Conversion on product page | Up to 74 percent higher |
| Revenue per visitor | Up to 154 percent higher |
| Click-through rate in ads | Up to 4 times higher |
| Engagement on social posts | About 70 percent higher |
Why it's hard to set up yourself
Waiting for organic UGC from customers doesn't work as a strategy. You have no control over the quality, the pace, or whether the product even looks good in it. An active approach, with paid creators making content for you, takes time to brief, review and repeat once the content ages. Expect to pay around 200 dollars per piece with an external creator, with discounts only kicking in at larger bundles.
On top of that, the content is often only usable for one product or one campaign. New products, new seasons or new angles call for another round of creators, briefings and waiting.
What brands do about it
| Approach | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting for organic UGC | Free | Unpredictable, low volume |
| Paid UGC creators | Authentic feel | Cost per piece, wait times, no scale |
| Content in the same style without creators | Fast, consistent, scalable | Requires a partner who can nail the style |
How Setless solves this
Setless builds content with the same recognisable, unpolished feel that belongs to this style, without needing a customer, a creator or a filming day. You decide the angle, the setting and the number of variants yourself, and the result fits the same ad structures that are already proven to work. No waiting for the right creator, no renegotiating per piece.
Frequently asked questions
Is UGC-style content the same as a testimonial? No. A testimonial is a statement from a customer. UGC-style content is footage that feels spontaneous and unpolished, regardless of whether a genuine quote is attached.
Does this work for every type of product? It works best for products where use or feel plays a role: supplements, beauty, fashion, drinks. For purely functional products, the emphasis lies more on clarity than on atmosphere.
Does this replace real customer reviews? No, and it shouldn't. Real reviews remain important for trust. UGC-style content is additional material for your ads and product pages.
How many variants do I need to test this properly? Plan on at least three to five variants per product to see which angle lands best, before scaling up further.
Want to see what UGC-style content would look like for your product? Let me know and I'll send over the rates and options.
Figures in this article come from published research on UGC conversion and consumer trust, as of September 2026.