How To Record High-Quality UGC Videos On Your Phone
Learn how to record and edit high-quality UGC videos and voiceovers – all from your phone. This guide shares handy tips and product recommendations to improve your content.
Whether you’re looking to become a UGC creator or simply improve your content, this handy guide will explain how to record high-quality UGC videos on your phone.
What is UGC?
User-generated content – often abbreviated to UGC – is a form of marketing that shows a creator using or talking about a product or service.
UGC can take any form, including images, text, and audio, although video is the most prevalent and it’s what most UGC creators focus on.
What makes UGC different (and more effective than) traditional marketing is that the content is created by the consumer, rather than the brand. This creates a sense of authenticity, increasing trust among viewers to increase sales.
According to Billo.app ‘UGC on TikTok is 22% more effective than brand-created videos, surpassing even engagement rates of Facebook ads by 32% and regular ads by 46%’.
Because UGC features everyday people using a brand’s products, it’s a great side hustle with a relatively low barrier to entry. And as more brands are realising the selling power of UGC, there’s never been a better time to become a creator!
What are the different types of UGC videos?
It helps to have a solid understanding of the different kinds of UGC videos so you can optimise your content.
Here are some of the most common types of UGC videos:
- Product reviews – sharing your experience with the product or service.
- Unboxing – recording yourself opening the package and showing what’s inside.
- Before and after – showcasing the results of the product with before and after shots side by side.
- Tutorials – step by step guides on how to properly use the product.
- Product usage tips – sharing advice or ‘hacks’ to get the most out of the product.
- Vlogs – a day-in-the-life style video of you going about your day. These are usually not salesy but do mention the product and how it improves your day.
Note that these categories are not always filmed as standalone forms of UGC, but creators may use a blend of these formats in their videos.
What do you need to become a UGC creator?
There’s a relatively low barrier to entry for new UGC creators, making it a great side hustle. Here’s what you’ll need to start creating UGC:
- A camera – most UGC creators use their smartphones.
- A microphone – again, most creators will use the built-in mic on their phones.
- An editing software (such as CapCut) and decent editing skills.
- A good lighting setup – ring lights are an affordable and popular option if you’re just getting started.
- A tripod with a phone mount.
- Confidence and willingness have your face shown to potentially millions of people!
If you’re already proficient at social media and are familiar with the likes of CapCut, you probably already have what it takes to become a UGC creator.
How to record high-quality UGC videos on your phone
UGC is so successful as a marketing tool because it feels authentic i.e. it shows real people showing the product in real life. With this in mind, videos that appear ‘too professional’ could actually be counterproductive – that’s why phones are perfect for recording UGC.
That said, there are a few things you can do to enhance the quality of your videos and make your job easier.
Use a tripod
A tripod is an essential piece of equipment for UGC creators, allowing you to record videos hands-free. We recommend using an adjustable tripod with good height for the most versatility.
Make good lighting a priority
Good lighting instantly enhances the quality of a video, especially when you’re filming with your phone. There are two ways to improve your lighting:
Get a ring light
The ring light is the UGC creator’s best friend. It allows you film at any hour and helps illuminate darker spaces in your home. There are ring lights to suit every budget, but we recommend using one with a built-in smartphone holder. This will allow you to place your phone directly in front of what you’re filming without casting shadows.
Use natural light where possible
Although artificial lights may be necessary in some cases, nothing beats natural light. In fact, brands will often request that you use natural light where possible. This gives the truest representation of the product and makes the video seem less like an ad.
Write out a script before recording
If your client doesn’t provide you with a script, there are a few good reasons to write one before recording your video:
- You can send the script to the brand for feedback and sign off before recording your video (this could save you a ton of revisions)
- You can edit the script down to make sure it’s as concise as possible – you want your script to be punchy and to the point so it holds people’s attention.
- You can practice your voiceover to make sure it fits into the proposed length of the video.
When writing and editing your script, you should keep it as punchy and succinct as possible. That’s because UGC videos have to be very fast paced to capture and hold the attention of social media users. You can use tools like ProWritingAid’s Free Redunant Words Checker to help get your message across without overdoing it.
Top tip: a good rate of speech is around 150-170 words per minute, so if you want your video to be under 60 seconds, your script shouldn’t exceed 200 words.
Write out a shot list to go with your script
A shot list describes what’s happening onscreen while the presenter is reading the script. The easiest way to write out your shot list is in line-by-line format as you write your script. Here’s what that may look like:
[Shots of me holding up cables and clearing my desk]
I can finally sort out all of this clutter on my desk
[Shots of me unboxing the product and the product on my desk]
Because I’ve found this amazing desk organiser
Writing a shot list will improve your videos by:
- Helping you save time when recording your b-roll footage, rather than brainstorming on the spot.
- Ensuring you have all the footage you need before editing.
- Making sure the script is the right length for the amount of footage you have.
Use a teleprompter app
You don’t actually need to learn your script off by heart when writing a UGC video. Quick cuts are very common on social media, so it’s no issue if you prefer to record it line by line.
You can also use a free teleprompter app to record your entire script in one go. Teleprompter Pro has a built-in recording function so you can import your script and read it while looking at the camera. It even allows you to adjust the scroll speed and font size, so you can read it at a pace that feels natural.
Check your background
Good UGC backgrounds should be simple, well-lit, and without any distractions that might take viewers’ eyes away from you or the product.
Taking a test shot of your background before you record is the easiest way to prevent you from getting caught out by unwanted clutter or something like a stain. You can also take a quick test video of your face to see if you’re happy with how you look (and that there’s nothing stuck in your teeth!).
Top tip: just like your background, you should also pay attention to your clothes. Many brands will want you to wear neutral clothing (brandless and without loud patterns) so as not to distract from the product or what you’re saying. You should also wear seasonally-neutral clothing for products that will be advertised year-round.
Get lots of footage of different scenes from different angles
UGC videos tend to be very fast-paced, with clips usually lasting around 2 seconds or less to hold viewers’ attention as they scroll on social media. That means each piece of footage won’t go very far, especially if your video needs to be 30-60 seconds.
To make sure you have enough footage when it comes to editing, you should record in a variety of different scenes and angles. This will give you plenty of clips to work with to make the video dynamic and engaging.
Not all footage needs to be of the product
Because UGC is becoming so popular, brands now want creators to take a more subtle approach when filming their videos.
Incorporating more footage of you going about your daily life makes the content seem more authentic and less salesy than showing the product the whole time.
Top tip: even if you don’t use all your ‘daily life’ footage, you should keep hold of it in case you need to make any revisions. It may even come in handy for a future video!
Allow some wiggle room with your framing
Brands will often request to have UGC videos delivered in various aspect ratios i.e. square or vertical. This allows them to advertise the video on different platforms (such as Instagram and TikTok) without distorting the content.
With this in mind, you should film every clip in a way that can be cropped to square without cutting anything important out of the frame.
Create an inspo collection
You don’t need to come up with a completely unique idea to make a successful UGC video. Taking inspiration from viral videos is one of the easiest and most effective ways to ensure your video will be a hit.
Find inspiration by checking the TikTok Creative Center and see which ads are performing best. You can also look for trending sounds and templates on your regular feed, saving them to a dedicated inspiration folder within the app. Apps like Notion, Google Drive and Pinterest are also useful for saving and storing high-performing videos for easier access.
Use soft furnishings to improve your sound
You don’t need to invest in a high-end microphone for your UGC videos. Most creators use the built-in mics on their smartphones or earphones. That said, you should still keep an ear out for your sound quality, which might sound tinny or echoey depending on the room you record in.
We recommend recording your voiceovers in a carpeted room, or one with enough soft furnishings to dampen the sound. Cushions, curtains, and rugs are excellent at reducing harsh sounds. You could even record in your wardrobe if you’re really stuck!
Editing tips for your UGC videos
Use royalty-free music and sound effects
The addition of music and sound effects can instantly bring your video to life and help create the vibe you’re going for. Websites like Pixabay and Freesound have thousands of royalty-free music and sound effects options to choose from.
Use CapCut for quick and easy editing
CapCut is the go-to editing app for most UGC creators. It’s easy to use and offers all the functionality you need to create engaging videos.
Aside from all the basic editing tools like, trimming, cropping, and adjusting speed, CapCut offers a ton of other cool features like:
- Caption templates
- Generate auto-captions from voiceover or video
- Green screen templates and background remover
- Animations, transitions, and effects
- Image and video overlays
- Change aspect ratio
- Voice changer
CapCut also has a vast library of trending templates, with hundreds being uploaded every day. These are particularly useful for hopping on new viral video trends quickly – most of the time, all you need to do is import your image/video and change the text!
Create versions of your videos with and without captions
Adding captions (or subtitles) to your UGC videos is important for accessibility. It also allows viewers to understand what’s going on in the video without having to turn the sound up.
Many brands will ask you to send versions of the completed video with and without captions, so keep this in mind when editing.
Top tip: when creating separate versions of your video (such as different aspect videos or with/without captions) use CapCut to duplicate the original completed video. This allows you to make the changes quickly without having to edit the same video file over and over again.
Practice, practice, practice!
Like anything, you’ll naturally improve your UGC skills with practice. If you’ve never filmed a UGC video before, find some products around your home that you can use to create a few starter videos for your portfolio.