UGC videos have become a brand’s go-to method for establishing trust and authenticity. Why? Because it is not a hot-shot celebrity promoting that video. Quite contradictingly, it is promoted by a person who is one of us. This makes their inputs valuable and relatable to us, making us trust the product better. But how long should such a video be to create the most impact?
It shouldn’t be too short to not be able to convey the story, and it should not be so long that the user is bored to tears. So, what is the sweet spot to aim for? That is exactly what we are going to be dissecting in this blog, so follow along!
What are UGC Videos?
UGC videos need no introduction, yet let us see what it is about to help you get started.
UGC videos are videos that are created by individuals who have used the product and record their genuine feelings regarding the product, and share it with the world. Brands found the appeal behind these kinds of videos and are now encouraging UGC creators to create videos with their product to improve the appeal.
Benefits of UGC Videos
So, a bunch of people create videos about the product. How is this even beneficial to the brand, you may ask. But it is quite effective, because:
- The audience is hearing real-life user experience, which is not possible in traditional ads
- When someone other than the brand says good things about the product, people are bound to believe it better.
- The brands will be celebrated for being authentic because they are willing to showcase their audience’s opinion of them
It overall improves the buyability factor of the product, if you know what I mean!
What Is the Optimum Length of UGC Videos?
There is no one-line answer for this question, because it all depends on the type of video you are creating, which may be a tutorial or a trend video. And it can also depend on the platform that you are going to be posting it on. For example, on YouTube, a longer video can be a great idea, but on TikTok, shorter is better.
So, how do you decide what length you should be aspiring for? Let’s figure that out!
1. Instagram
Instagram is an amazing platform to place your UGC video in, because they are a visually motivated platform and it offers multiple formats for the video to be displayed in – it can be a Story, a Reel, or even an In-feed post.
Stories: Each Instagram story is 15 seconds long. Even though there is an option to create a series of stories, making it longer, we would not suggest you do that. One story panel can help stop the engagement from waning.
Reels: Instagram Reels really do go up to letting you upload 90 seconds of video content. But with 30 – 45 seconds, you should be able to wrap it up, because this is where the attention drops.
2. TikTok
It is no secret that TikTok favours shorter videos over longer ones, although the platform allows you to publish content for up to 10 minutes.
But based on the type of UGC video you post, there could be a slight difference in the duration. For example, if you are doing a tutorial kind of UGC video, then a 60-90 second video can still prove to be engaging because of the sheer amount of value you are conveying.
But if you are leaning more towards a trend kind of UGC video, then 15 – 30 seconds can be more than enough.
3. YouTube
Now, let us check out the longer video platform, such as YouTube. In YouTube unboxing videos and how-to videos are kind of the norm. Both of which can span anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes.
If the creator is capable of keeping the audience engaged throughout the video, then these lengths are perfectly acceptable.
There is no definitive length that will determine the success of a video. It takes a little bit of storytelling, some interesting transitions, and a quirky script to bring together a UGC video and actually make it sing!
What Are The Aspects That Influence The Length of the Video?
As we mentioned earlier, a lot of factors come into play when determining the length of the video. Let us look at what factors have the most impact on it:
1. Platform of Choice
In the previous section, we saw how each platform’s ideal video length differed so drastically. But why is this happening?
It is because of that particular platform’s algorithm. Instagram and TikTok particularly reward short-form video content over the longer ones, because their audience prefers that kind of content. As a result, they boost such short, sweet, and interesting ones to more and more people.
Because of this, brands and creators alike see better performance on their short-form posts rather than long ones.
So, when deciding on your video length, always weigh in the platform’s preference and make videos according to that.
2. Attention span
The attention span of the audience is waning. This is no secret at all. But how much has it shrunk? The human attention span is now around 8 seconds, which is shorter than that of a Goldfish, all thanks to the uprising of social media channels.
In other words, you have a 7 to 8 second window to make your video grab the attention of your audience. Doesn’t sound optimistic, right? But don’t worry, it is doable.
And one of the ways in which you can do that is by getting straight to the point within a few seconds and wrapping up the videos as soon as possible.
3. Type of UGC video
Many types of UGC videos are commonly used, such as:
- Problem solver: Positioning the product as a problem-solver for a particular issue
- Features: Showcasing the features and benefits of a product that the users want to see.
- Listicles: Stacking up benefits in a list format to better encourage the user to try the product
- Tutorials: How to use a product will be described in detail
- Results: A side-by-side comparison of how you were before and after the product
- Mashup: Multiple creators giving excellent reviews about your products? Wrap them up into a single UGc video mashup.
- Trend: leveraging an existing trend
As we already saw in the TikTok example, a trend video can be short and sweet. Whereas a Tutorial video could span a bit longer and still stay engaging because of the value it provides.
Best Practices For User-Generated Content
There are some things you can keep in mind when creating UGC videos, which can be a game-changer in making your videos stick with your audience. Here are those tips:
- Set clear guidelines: When working with a UGC creator, it is essential to communicate what you expect out of the video. By setting clear expectations, you will be able to nail the video quality in a couple of reviews.
- Moderate, Review and Repeat: Have a dedicated guideline and resource to review the videos and get them created in alignment with your brand image.
- Transparent collaboration: Make sure the creators know what they will receive in exchange for creating UGC content for your brand. Give them credit where it is due to keep them encouraged and have a smooth collaboration.
- Promote diversity and inclusion: UGC is a great way to exhibit that your brand is for everyone. By collaborating with creators from diverse ethnicities, you get to showcase this without fail.
How To Create UGC Content With Predis AI?
Or, you can forgo all this hassle of screening for a creator, explaining guidelines, reviewing the content, and maintaining a solid UGC management process in place. Even without all of this, you can still manage to make UGC content that achieves the right impact. How, you ask? With AI, of course!
AI video creation has grown so tremendously that it can now create UGC videos with human avatars in a few seconds. It looks so realistic that you will love the output, and you get to make n number of tweaks until you achieve the perfect version, making it a win-win situation!
Step-by-Step Process of UGC Video Creation
Let us see step-by-step how you can create UGC videos for your business through Predis AI:
- Sign up for Predis AI and get a free trial if you are a new user
- Click on the “Create New” option in the left side column menu
- Choose the “Avatar video” option at the top to start creating your UGC style video. There are many other types of videos that you can make by selecting other options, such as social media posts, e-commerce videos, ads, and so on.
- Now, the first step to creating the avatar video is to write a script that you want the avatar to speak.
- Pick the aspect ratio you want the video to follow. For example, an Instagram reel can have an aspect ratio of 9:16 and so on
- The next step is to choose the avatar you want. You can hover over it briefly to get a feel of their body language, based on which you can choose the right one.
- After which, you have to choose the template for the video. Do you want them to be lounging on a sofa while talking? Done, because these templates are ready for you to click and use.
- Once you have chosen as per your requirement, click on “Generate”, and your video is now ready for you to use.
All that – without having to get the right equipment, hire the right creator, or anything else. Imagine the amount of time and resources it can save you, not to mention the hassle of managing the UGC creation process, which could be simplified multifold.
Final Thoughts
Making UGC videos is an important part of a marketing strategy that many businesses cannot forego. The benefits are massive in this field, but it is not so easy for small businesses to partake in, because of the time and resources it takes.
But thanks to AI, this issue is finally sorted out. Because with tools like Predis AI, you can create UGC style videos with AI avatars using a few simple clicks – without any equipment or creators. This reduces the entry barrier for many businesses, making UGC accessible for everyone.
So, sign up today for Predis AI and start creating your own UGC style content!
FAQ:
Shorter UGC videos tend to keep the attention of the audience better and are generally more engaging. In the era of waning attention spans, the shorter the video, the better the message delivery.
Yes, platform choice is an important deciding factor in the length of the video. For example, an Instagram story video can last up to 15 seconds, but a series of stories is not generally encouraged.
Use your social media analytics tool to figure out if many of your audience are dropping off before the main message. If the swipe and bounce rate is high, then your video might come off as too long, and you should consider shortening it.
