Brands Looking for UGC Creators? Find Top Tips & Tricks
Sep 19, 2025
For brands trying to connect with UGC creators, the game has completely changed. The secret isn't transactional partnerships anymore; it's about building real relationships. Instead of just paying for content, smart brands are leading with product gifting. This simple shift inspires relatable, high-trust content that actually converts, and it's cutting through the noise in a market tired of polished, impersonal ads.
Why Authenticity Is Your New Marketing Superpower
Today, audiences crave relatability, not perfection, and this massive shift in consumer trust proves it. This is where user-generated content (UGC) stops being just another marketing tactic and becomes a core part of your business strategy.
Genuine UGC turns passive buyers into a powerful community of brand advocates. When a real person shares their experience with a product, it lands with an impact that no branded ad ever could. It’s the digital version of a friend’s recommendation, and that has always been the most powerful marketing on the planet.
The Power of Peer-to-Peer Content
Campaigns that weave in UGC see way higher engagement simply because the content feels real and trustworthy.
This is exactly why influencer gifting is the best way to spark these authentic relationships. It sidesteps the clunky, "all-in-one" platforms that try to be a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. Those platforms try to be a creator marketplace, a payment processor, and a campaign manager all at once, but end up doing none of it particularly well.
You often end up with creators who are more interested in a paycheck than your product, and the content shows it.
Building Loyalty Beyond the Transaction
Focusing on gifting allows you to do it exceptionally well and build genuine connections. Sending products to creators who are truly excited about your brand means you’re not just buying a post, you’re investing in a relationship. This filters out mercenaries and highlights true advocates.
UGC is more than campaign assets, it’s the key to building lasting loyalty in a skeptical market. Authentic connections create powerful content and a foundation for long-term growth. To take this a step further, you can explore our guide on how to turn shoppable UGC into always-on conversions.
How to Discover Authentic UGC Creators
Finding the right UGC creators can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but your goal is actually pretty simple: connect with people who genuinely love what you do. The discovery process is where it all begins, setting the stage for partnerships that feel real.
There are tons of ways to find creators, from endless scrolling on social media to signing up for sprawling creator marketplaces. But they are definitely not all created equal.
Check out our database of Travel Influencers and Fitness Influencers. We have a wide variety that will definitely suit your needs.
The Problem With "All-in-One" Marketplaces
Many brands get pulled into big "end-to-end" platforms that promise to do everything, creator database, contracts, payments, but don’t excel at any of them.
The result? You’re shown the same overbooked creators whose feeds are filled with sponsored posts. Their endorsements feel like ads, not genuine recommendations. These platforms focus on transactions, not relationships, and prioritize volume over true brand affinity.
This approach usually leads to a few predictable problems:
Creator Burnout: Creators juggle too many brands to form a real connection with yours.
Inauthentic Content: Posts feel forced or generic, motivated by paychecks rather than passion.
Sky-High Costs: Platforms charge hefty fees before you’ve even sent out a single product.
A Better Approach: Start With the Gift
Ready To Reshape Your Gifting Program?
A much more effective way to find the right people is to use a tool that does one thing exceptionally well: influencer gifting. When you use a platform built specifically for gifting, you naturally filter for creators who are genuinely excited about your products. Because that's the only thing the platform does, it does it better than anyone else. Try Influencer Gift Form, as a easy way to begin your gifting campaign.
Their motivation isn't a contract or a paycheck, it's the chance to experience your brand for themselves.
If you want to go deeper on this, our guide on how to find micro-influencers is packed with actionable strategies for identifying these high-impact partners.
This focused method allows you to build a foundation of authenticity right from the very first interaction. You're not just hiring contractors; you're building a community of genuine advocates.
UGC Creator Discovery Channel Comparison
Discovery Method | Authenticity Level | Scalability | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Manual Social Search | Very High | Low | Time-intensive, no direct cost |
All-in-One Marketplaces | Low | High | $500 - $5,000+ /month subscription |
Dedicated Gifting Platforms | High | High | $50 - $300 /month + product costs |
Competitor Analysis | High | Medium | Time-intensive, no direct cost |
Customer/Fan Outreach | Very High | Low | Low cost, high brand loyalty |
Crafting Outreach That Creators Actually Want to Read
Good Outreach (The Gifting Approach):
"Hey Alex! I just watched your video on sustainable morning routines and loved how you featured brands that actually care. We're huge fans of your authentic style."
"Because you value quality ingredients, we’d be thrilled to send you our new organic skincare set as a gift—no strings attached. We think you’ll love it. Let me know if you’re open to it!"
See the difference? The second example is specific, complimentary, and leads with value. It’s a low-pressure invitation to experience the product, which is way more appealing than a vague "partnership" offer. This simple shift is what separates ignored DMs from enthusiastic replies.
