What is User Generated Content (UGC)? - Cult Creative

When was the last time you scrolled on TikTok? Or heard your Gen Z intern reference something from the platform?

If we know our social culture well enough, we'd say pretty recently, right?

There is no denying the ubiquity of TikTok. Following the pandemic, the social platform has quickly evolved itself into a cultural asset, becoming part of our day-to-day lives and shaping the way we interact with media.

Especially how we buy and sell online. With these mini billboards glued to our hands, now is the perfect time to explore just what the platform can do for your brand!

Dive into our breakdown of TikTok’s 2024 trend report to learn how you could start building your brand on the platform 🏊

You have to be brave if you want to be great

Contrary to popular belief, you actually don’t have to be Gen Z to do well on the app – you just have to be brave.

While it may seem intimidating at first, you must find the courage to experiment with your content by piquing global curiosities, flipping traditional story arcs, and deepening the trust between your brand and your audience.

Being vulnerable and taking risks have never been cooler.

What you should do: 🧪 Lean into micro insights and showcase your quirks. 🧪 Don’t be afraid to play around with different video formats. 🧪 Challenge the status quo, embrace the unpolished and chaotic nature of the platform.

People don’t want ads, they want answers

And on TikTok, users are spoiled with a platitude of answers from a variety of perspectives, giving them the opportunity to discover something new at every scroll.

As a result, users are increasingly treating TikTok like you would Google: a search engine. Whether you’re in F&B, fashion, beauty, or tech, you can leverage this exciting development by creating content that specifically addresses your communities’ interests and curiosities.

Check out the video this creator did for Suisen.

What you should do: 🔎 Brush up on your SEOs. 🔎 Feature fresh faces in your social media marketing campaigns. 🔎 Spotlight the unique nuances and USPs of your business in your content.

Good storytelling can be anything you want it to be

Forget about what they teach you in school. On TikTok, traditional rules of storytelling are constantly being bent as users begin to find interest in unorthodox story arcs and disruptive narrative formats.

Users will watch a video 1.4x longer if the narrative structure is intriguing and “unhinged”. So, don’t be afraid to get creative with your storytelling – you can even go as far as inviting your audience to build upon your story for a more engaging experience!

Check out the video this creator did for Nonico.

What you should do: ✍️ Explore experimental story arcs. ✍️ Start your videos with a fresh creative hook. ✍️ Encourage your audience to participate in the storytelling session by incorporating their suggestions and comments.

Be human

Often described as carefree and chaotic, TikTok gives brands the opportunity to get real and connect with their audiences on a more personal level. Indeed, 41% of viewers trust a brand more after seeing it on TikTok.

The secret sauce really is just authenticity and transparency.

What you should do: 🫂 Keep updated on the latest trends. 🫂 Learn the lingo and don’t be afraid to use it. Leverage creators🫂 to build relatability and influence within their community.