User-generated content (UGC) isn’t just a trend, and it’s not just for the biggest brands with massive followings. In 2025, it’s a core growth lever, helping brands build trust, convert better, and scale creative across the funnel.
At brkfst.io, we know great UGC doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a strategy that connects the dots between content creation and paid media performance. Here’s what successful brands are doing and how you can apply it to your marketing strategy.
Why UGC Builds Engagement and Trust
Real voices drive real results. According to Salsify’s 2024 survey, 40% of shoppers rank user-generated content as “extremely” or “very” important for purchase decisions, surpassing product comparison charts (39%) and even product videos (37%).
That’s because UGC captures what polished branded content can’t: authenticity that reflects real customer experiences and builds trust. From candid reviews to relatable TikTok demos, content made by real people feels more genuine, drives engagement, and converts better.
Case Study: Timberland’s Winning UGC Strategy
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Timberland partnered with brkfst.io to create content that put real stories front and center for the “THIS IS NOT A BOOT” campaign. Rather than relying solely on traditional ads, Timberland highlighted real stories from a diverse group of creators.
Through working with brkfst.io, Timberland was able to:
- Empower authentic voices: brkfst.io matched Timberland with creators who genuinely used their boots in real life.
- Showcase real-life experiences: The campaign focused on personal stories and lifestyle moments, not just product features.
- Create measurable impact: Authentic UGC integrated into Timberland’s paid media yielded a 53% higher ROAS on Meta and a 43% lower cost per result on TikTok compared to BAU ads.
Timberland’s “THIS IS NOT A BOOT” campaign proves that when brands lead with real stories instead of traditional ads, the results are stronger and more cost-effective. Authentic storytelling isn’t just more relatable, it performs better.
Other Successful UGC Strategies From brkfst.io Partners
brkfst.io has collaborated with a wide range of brands to implement effective UGC strategies, including:
Purity Products: Used UGC to increase awareness and sales for its Flexuron supplements. brkfst.io delivered 334 Meta ads that reduced CPA by 41% and improved media efficiency by 39%.
Hard Rock Sportsbook: Ran TikTok UGC ads with brkfst.io and saw major cost savings—56% lower per install, 54% lower per registration, and 38% lower per purchase.
Kraft Heinz: Used everyday, family-focused UGC to elevate digital product pages for Jell-O and Capri Sun—boosting authenticity and conversion.
QVC+ and HSN+: Tapped brkfst.io’s creator network to reach younger audiences through YouTube UGC, cutting cost per lead by 28% and increasing revenue per minute streamed by 5.9x.
UGC works because it mirrors how people actually discover, evaluate, and share products today. Whether it’s short-form video, reviews, or creator spotlights, the format may shift—but the strategy stays the same: real content, built for performance. At brkfst.io, we help brands implement that high-performing strategy at scale.
Key Takeaways Marketers Can Apply Today To Help Them Create Powerful UGC
If you’re looking to get more out of UGC, start with these steps:
- Incentivize participation: Give your audience a reason to create through contests, features, or shoutouts.
- Make submissions easy: Use branded hashtags, forms, or platform integrations to collect content with minimal friction.
- Showcase your community: Feature top UGC across paid and organic channels.
- Stay on-brand: Provide clear brand guidelines without micromanaging. Authenticity still needs direction.
Building a Smarter, Scalable UGC Strategy in 2025
If you want to make UGC a sustainable growth engine, you need a system that scales. That means:
- Automating rights management and moderation with specialized UGC platforms.
- Using analytics to quickly identify top performers and optimize your strategy.
- Building clear workflows to source, review, and publish content.
- Keeping your community engaged to ensure a steady stream of fresh content.
- Balancing authenticity with brand consistency by setting flexible guidelines.
A smart UGC marketing strategy in 2025 prioritizes flexibility, compliance, and a steady feedback loop between the community and the brand.
For more on current trends and how to leverage them, check out our article on “Leveraging User-Generated Content to Stay “On Trend.”
How brkfst.io Helps Brands Build Scalable UGC Strategies
We make UGC work harder. At brkfst.io, we help performance marketers turn creator content into a repeatable growth system—built for platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
We offer:
- UGC buyouts for in-house, brand-owned use.
- Full-service creative and media execution, including briefing, creator sourcing, moderation, rights clearance, and delivery—plus paid media support.
Ready to make UGC work harder? Let’s build a high-performing, scalable strategy tailored to your brand. At brkfst.io, we turn UGC into a performance engine—from creative concepts to campaign-ready content.
Explore our case studies to see how we help brands scale faster, spend smarter, and drive real results.