User-generated content (UGC) has become one of the most powerful formats in digital marketing. People trust real user experiences over polished advertisements, making UGC highly effective for driving engagement and conversions.
However, creating UGC can be time-consuming and expensive—until now. With AI technology, you can generate UGC ads quickly, at scale, and at a fraction of the traditional cost.
This is where platforms like Arcads come into play, making AI-generated UGC ads easier than ever.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to create viral UGC ads using AI and dive into the steps, best practices, and tools that can help your brand stand out.
Why UGC is Important for Marketing
UGC builds trust. People relate to real customers sharing their experiences, and that relatability often drives purchasing decisions.
According to studies, 70% of consumers are influenced by UGC reviews or ratings before making a purchase, and 41% will read multiple reviews to gain insights into a product.
UGC, when combined with AI, offers a perfect balance of authenticity and efficiency, making it a powerful tool for marketers.
Let’s explore how AI has made UGC more accessible and scalable, and how you can create these viral ads step-by-step.
Step 1: Script Creation for UGC Ads
The foundation of any successful UGC ad is a high-converting script. Before creating an AI-generated video, you need a compelling script that resonates with your audience. There are two main approaches to writing a script for UGC ads using AI:
1.1 Finding a High-Converting Hook
The "hook" is the first 1-3 seconds of your video, designed to grab attention and stop people from scrolling. Start by finding video ads that have performed well for other brands, especially those with high engagement (likes, comments, shares).
Platforms like Mana, an ad spy tool, can help you filter out top-performing ads based on likes and comments. Look for hooks that are already driving results, and use them as a model for your script.
1.2 Generating a Script Using ChatGPT
Once you've identified a good-performing hook, you can generate a full script using ChatGPT. Simply input the hook into ChatGPT, and let the AI build out a script for you.
Arcads and ChatGPT work hand-in-hand to help you create a script that fits the tone, product, and audience you're targeting.
To give ChatGPT the best prompts, be sure to:
- Define the product's problem and the solution it offers.
- Use a condensed product name (e.g., "neck massager" instead of "Deep Tissue Shiatsu Neck Massager").
- Incorporate the AIDA framework: Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. This ensures your script is structured to guide viewers through the customer journey and end with a strong call-to-action (CTA).
Step 2: Selecting AI Actors for Your UGC Ad
Once you’ve finalized your script, it’s time to bring it to life with AI avatars. Arcads offers a wide variety of actors that you can customize based on your target audience.
Here’s how to select the perfect avatar:
2.1 Wide Selection of AI Actors
Arcads provides over 300+ AI avatars with different characteristics to help you personalize your ads:
- Gender: Male or female.
- Age: Young adults, middle-aged, seniors.
- Ethnicity and Skin Tone: Choose avatars that match the demographics of your target audience.
- Backgrounds: Customize the avatar’s environment (casual, professional, etc.).
This range of selection allows you to experiment with different personas and messages that might resonate more with specific segments of your audience.
2.2 Previewing and Customizing AI Actors
Before finalizing your AI-generated video, Arcads lets you preview how your selected actors will look and sound when delivering your script.
This step is critical because:
- You can ensure voice-appearance compatibility (e.g., a lively voice for a youthful actor, calm voice for an older demographic).
- Adjust the speed and tone of the voice to match the mood of your ad.
This level of customization ensures that your AI avatars feel natural and relatable, helping your UGC ad connect with viewers.
Step 3: Generating AI UGC Videos
After selecting your actors, it's time to generate the actual video. Here’s how you do it on Arcads:
- Paste the Script: Input your finalized script into Arcads.
- Select Multiple Actors: You can use multiple avatars in a single video to create variety and authority. For example, use both male and female avatars or mix younger and older actors.
- Preview and Adjust: Play a preview to ensure everything—from pronunciation to tone—is spot on.
- Generate Video: Once you’re satisfied, click "Generate." Depending on the length of your script, it can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes for your video to be ready.
Arcads allows you to generate multiple video variations in minutes, a process that would traditionally take days or weeks if done manually with human actors.
Step 4: Editing and Adding Visual Elements
Once the video is generated, it’s time to add finishing touches.
Tools like CapCut can help you seamlessly edit the footage and enhance the visuals for maximum impact.
4.1 Adding Captions
Since many viewers watch ads with the sound off, it’s important to add captions to your videos. Platforms like CapCut have an auto-caption feature that generates captions for you. Style them in a way that’s readable and visually appealing, and place them high enough to avoid being cropped out on mobile devices.
4.2 Incorporating Product Footage
To increase the credibility of your UGC ad, mix footage of the AI actor with actual footage of your product. For example, while the avatar talks about the benefits, you can overlay clips showing the product in action. This makes the video feel more immersive and real.
Step 5: Testing and Optimizing Your AI UGC Ads
After creating your AI UGC ad, the next step is to test it across different platforms.
UGC ads perform particularly well on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, but optimization is key.
5.1 A/B Testing
Test different hooks, scripts, and actors to see what resonates best with your audience. AI allows you to quickly generate multiple versions of your ad, making it easy to test and optimize for performance.
5.2 Analyze Performance Metrics
Monitor metrics such as engagement rates, click-through rates (CTR), and conversion rates. Based on the results, you can further tweak your ads by adjusting the script, actor selection, or adding new product visuals.
The Final Result...
I followed this exact process. After identifying an angle I would like to run for a unique product, I went to ChatGPT to generate a unique script. Once I was happy with it, I pasted it into Arcads and selected an AI Avatar I was happy with.
10 Minutes later, I received an email saying that my video was complete. Here is the final result:
The fact that this took just 10 minutes is MIND-BLOWING. Creating UGC prior was a total headache. Back and fourth with creators. Spending $100's for videos that may not perform.
The Benefits of Using AI for UGC Ads
AI has transformed how UGC ads are created, offering several key benefits:
- Cost Efficiency: Traditional UGC campaigns can cost thousands, especially when hiring influencers or creators. With AI, you can generate multiple UGC videos at a fraction of the cost.
- Time Savings: What used to take weeks now takes minutes. Arcads lets you create high-quality, AI-generated UGC videos quickly, allowing you to scale your campaigns without the wait.
- Scalability: With AI, you can generate content for multiple products or target demographics in parallel, something that would be logistically difficult with human actors.
Wrapping It Up
AI has made UGC more accessible and affordable than ever. With tools like Arcads, you can create high-converting, authentic UGC ads at scale, optimizing both time and resources. Ready to make your own viral AI UGC ad?
Start experimenting with Arcads and see how you can create engaging, relatable content that drives real results.