UGC TikTok Ads: A Complete Guide for Brands in 2025
TikTok Ads are everywhere. But have you ever considered what makes the user stop scrolling?
The simple answer is authentic content from real people, or UGC.
TikTok is a creator-driven platform. Therefore, user-generated content performs the best on TikTok.
Instead of branded glossy ads on TikTok, it should feel like a video that a user will share with their friend.
There are millions of GRWM, product reviews, and other forms of UGC uploaded on. These raw, relatable clips don’t try to sell you something overtly – they show real users talking about a product naturally. Tagbox helps users to curate these TikTok UGC videos and turn them into ads without any hiccups.
If you have been wondering how to use TikTok UGC ads for your brand, we are here to help.
What Are TikTok UGC Ads?
TikTok Ads are the advertisements brands create to promote products or services. These ads leverage the authenticity and relatability of user-generated content to foster trust and engagement with their target audiences. In practice, TikTok UGC ads include :
- Spark Ads: Spark Ads is a native ad format that allows you to leverage organic TikTok posts and their features in your advertising. Spark Ads use posts from real TikTok accounts to ensure that all views, comments, shares, likes, and follows gained from boosting the video during the promotion are attributed to your organic posts. Each TikTok Ads Manager account can support a maximum of 10,000 Spark Ads.
- Duet and Stitch Ads: TikTok’s Duet and Stitch feature enables users to interact with other creators’ videos, but the two differ in how the content is presented. A Duet displays both videos side by side on a split screen, while a Stitch integrates a clip from another video into the beginning of the user’s video, playing them sequentially.
- In-Feed Ads: Just like Spark and Non-Spark, these ads have specifications that you can select when adding creatives to your TikTok ads.
Why Brands Should Use UGC in TikTok Ads
Here are some of the reasons why brands should use UGC in TikTok ads :
1. Native Look & Feel (Blends into TikTok Feed)
On TikTok, authenticity drives performance. Studies show that people overwhelmingly trust content from peers or creators over traditional ads. For example, 84% of consumers say they trust peer recommendations above all other advertising, and 79% say UGC strongly impacts their purchase decisions. 85% of people find UGC more trustworthy than brand-created media.
2. Higher Engagement & Watch Time
User-generated content on TikTok usually has a better engagement rate than that of a branded ad. This is because UGC often appears to be more authentic and relatable to the target audience. This leads to increased engagement and interaction on the platform.
3. Boosts Authenticity & Trust
One of the reasons brands should consider using UGC for TikTok ads is the authenticity and trust it provides. Featuring real people and real-life experiences helps to establish trust and transparency, especially among Gen Z and millennials.
4. TikTok Algorithm Rewards Organic-Looking Content
TikTok favors algorithms that feel native and align with the platform. It’s For You Page favors content that feels native to the platform. UGC fits that mold, increasing your chances of being shown to a broader audience without massive ad spend. This approach can be particularly effective for brands seeking to enhance their visibility without relying on paid advertising.
How to Source and Manage TikTok UGC for Ads
Here is how marketers can source and manage TikTok UGC for Ads:
Encourage TikTok Creators to Share Content
Here is how you can source UGC for your brand in the easiest way possible.
- Hashtag challenges: One of the best ways to source user-generated content for your brand is to launch a UGC campaign. Ask your followers to create content using the hashtags and upload it on TikTok. As a brand, you can fetch all of this content at once and use it as your TikTok UGC ads.
- Partner with micro- and nano-influencers: Brands can also partner with micro- and nano-influencers. These individuals have a small but targeted audience. Their smaller, more niche audience tends to view them as more relatable and trustworthy, which leads to genuine recommendations that resonate with their followers.
Discover & Curate UGC Using Tagbox
Once the content starts rolling in, it is essential to discover, curate, and manage it effectively. Platforms like Tagbox simplify this process by allowing brands to aggregate TikTok videos tagged with their branded hashtags or mentions. You can filter, moderate, and select the best-performing clips to repurpose as ads.
Tap Into UGC with Tagbox!
Manage UGC Rights Effortlessly
What’s equally crucial is managing UGC content rights. Always ensure that you are running ads on videos for which you have the necessary legal rights. This is also where Tagbox comes in handy. With Tagbox, you can send a content proper request to the creators to gain rights.
Introducing Tagbox TikTok Campaign Management (Coming Soon)
Tagbox is set to launch a remarkable new feature for all performance marketers and the marketing community. This feature is known as campaign management.
With this new feature, marketers will be able to do it all right within the tool, from sourcing content to publishing high-performing Spark Ads and In-Feed Ads.
This upcoming feature helps marketers to plan, launch, and manage TikTok ad campaigns seamlessly, using authentic, rights-cleared user-generated content that feels native to the platform.
Plan and execute TikTok ad campaigns within Tagbox
Performance markets no longer have to juggle spreadsheets and tools. With Tagbox, they can streamline and centralize the TikTok UGC Ads workflow.
Tagbox centralizes your TikTok campaign workflow. You can integrate the UGC you’ve already collected in Tagbox directly into TikTok ads, create and test multiple creative variations, and track performance metrics in real time.
Whether you are running an influencer-led campaign, customer testimonial ads, or relatable product demos, this new update helps you reduce turnaround time, increase engagement, and maximize ROI.
Manage Campaign Performance & Creative Variations
With TikTok’s algorithm rewarding organic-feeling, UGC-style content, and users showing higher retention on video ads that feel real, this feature positions your brand for better visibility and conversions. Perfect for performance marketers, eCommerce brands, and social media teams, Tagbox’s TikTok Campaign Manager will help you scale smarter, faster, and more effectively.
Rights-cleared content, ready to publish
Tagbox helps marketers gain UGC rights on TikTok videos to run ads on the platform. All of this is done within just one click. Users can send a pre-written text to the creators through the tool and immediately gain UGC rights.
Examples of TikTok UGC Ads That Worked
Here are some examples of successful TikTok UGC ads.
1. Gymshark
Gymshark tapped its community with the #gymshark66 challenge. Every day, users and fitness creators posted their personal workout routines and transformation updates over a period of 66 days. The campaign generated millions of views and thousands of uplifting comments.
These fitness journey videos, made by real customers, feel like genuine diary entries rather than ads. TikTokers resonated with seeing authentic before-and-after stories. This helps Gymshark stand out in the wellness space.
2. Fenty Beauty
Fenty Beauty’s TikTok strategy involves using influencer marketing for their brand, particularly with content creators who produce engaging, short-form videos showcasing Fenty products. They also create high-quality video tutorials and demos to educate consumers and promote their products and services. Fenty Beauty employs a cross-platform approach, expanding its video content to Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. This strategy, combined with a focus on trending hashtags and user-generated content, has helped Fenty Beauty reach younger audiences and drive sales.
3. Moncler
Moclear brought luxury into TikTok culture with its #MonclearBubbleUp challenge. The brand enlisted influencers like Charlie D’Amello and asked users to wrap themselves in something resembling a Moncler Bubbly coat, then transform it into a genuine Moncler jacket.TikTokers used bubble wrap, sleeping bags, and creative edits, tagging their posts with #MonclerBubbleUp. The result? The hashtag went viral, with 2 billion views in four days. By turning its puffy jackets into a playful trend, Moncler made its high-end brand feel fun and accessible.
4. Crocs
Crocs has also used the TikTok UGC campaign. One of the prominent campaigns was #MyCrocsEra. This campaign helped them boost engagement and sales.
By encouraging users to share their unique Crocs styles, Crocs transformed everyday customers into brand advocates, expanding their reach. This helps them in creating a strong community.
Best Practices for TikTok UGC Ads
Here are some of the best practices of TikTok UGC ads.
1. Follow TikTok’s creative Guidelines
One of the best practices for TikTok UGC ads is to stick to authenticity. Polished ads rarely perform as well as the organic content on TikTok. UGC that reflects real people and has established emotional resonance resonates with viewers deeply.
Additionally, users must adhere to using trending sounds and hashtags, keeping content concise and engaging, and encouraging user participation. Other guidelines also include sticking to the vertical orientation, which is a 9:16 ratio.
2. Always Get Creator’s Permission for Ad Usage
Before turning organic UGC into ads, ensure you have the full rights and consent to repurpose it, especially for Spark Ads or paid promotions.
3. Refresh Creatives Regularly to Avoid Scroll Fatigue
TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes novelty, and so do its users. With endless content at their fingertips, viewers get bored easily and scroll past the stale ads. That is why one of the golden rules of TikTok UGC advertising is to refresh your creatives. Instead of running the same ad for weeks, marketers can rotate UGC assets on a weekly or monthly basis. Try different styles, such as testimonials, voiceovers, trends, or before-and-after clips.
A/B test these variations to see which formats, tones, or creators drive better results. This doesn’t just help you maintain viewer attention, but also improves your chances of being favored by the algorithm, which tends to prioritize fresh and engaging content.
Why Tagbox Is Your Go-To Platform for TikTok UGC Ads
Tagbox is a strong choice for TikTok UGC ads since it offers robust features to its users.
1. Discover trending UGC from TikTok & beyond
Tagbox helps users to curate content from platforms beyond TikTok. With Tagbox, users can collect content from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube through various sources, including hashtags, channels, and more, all in one place.
2. Manage creator rights with ease
Tagbox helps users manage creator rights through its UGC rights management feature. It allows users to request and acquire UGC rights legally. It also helps to streamline the approval process and repurpose content across various platforms. This helps avoid legal issues and simplifies the process of using content created by others for brand marketing.
3. Curate & export UGC for Spark Ads & In-Feed Ads
You can easily export the chosen UGC directly into TikTok Spark ads or In-Feed ads. No need to manually download, edit, or re-upload videos. Tagbox will help you streamline it.
4. Plan & manage complete TikTok ad campaigns
With the upcoming campaign management feature, Tagbox will enable you to plan and analyze complete TikTok ad campaigns from start to finish. In short, Tagbox turns the complex task of TikTok UGC advertising into a smooth, efficient workflow.
Tap Into UGC with Tagbox!
The Final Note
As discussed, we have sourcing user-generated content does not have to be a daunting task. With the right tools, such as Tagbox, brands can curate impactful content and ensure they maintain the necessary rights for advertising. This enhances the brand’s image, allowing for a more relatable and trustworthy presence.
