🔥 8 UGC Trends You Can't Ignore in 2025 (With Real Brand Examples)

User-Generated Content (UGC) is no longer just a trend- it’s a necessity. As we step into 2025, brands are doubling down on authentic content that builds trust, drives conversions, and stops the scroll. If you're not adapting to the latest UGC trends, you're leaving money (and attention) on the table.

At What The Buzz, we’ve worked with 50+ D2C brands, producing scroll-stopping, high-performing UGC videos. Based on what’s working right now, here are the 9 biggest UGC trends we’re seeing in 2025—with real-world examples and actionable tips you can use.

1. 🎬 Make shorter, fast paced videos

Short-form videos (15–30 seconds) continue to dominate—especially on Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Combine this with fast moving visuals & interesting transitions to keep the viewers hooked.

What’s working:

• Creator-led testimonials with a hook in the first 3 seconds

• Product demos shot in casual, everyday settings

• Real reactions and micro-vlogs

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Brand Example:Brands like Plum, mCaffeine, and Fabletics are using short-form UGC to show benefits, routines, and user experiences in authentic ways.

2. 🤖 AI + UGC = Content at Scale

AI isn’t replacing creators—but it's helping them work smarter. From AI scriptwriting tools to video editors, brands and creators are scaling their content production with ease.

What’s working:

• Using AI to generate multiple video scripts from one testimonial

• Auto-translating UGC into regional languages

• Generating relavant B Rolls using AI to keep the video engaging

Brand Example:Skincare brand like Epique is using AI to generated UGC videos for their products.

3. 🧩 Faceless UGC Videos

Rather than relying on traditional influencer or creator-led content, faceless UGC focuses on emotions, experiences, and storytelling through visuals and audio.

What’s working:

• Storytelling through product use: Showcase how a product makes someone's life easier, rather than who is using it.

• Narrative-driven visuals: Instead of showcasing the influencer, show close-ups of hands, objects, or environments.

• Voiceovers & text: Use voiceovers or background music to set the tone, creating a mood for the viewer.

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Brand Example: Teabox has created multiple UGC videos purely made using great storytelling & voiceover without showing any face

4. 🎥 Lo-Fi UGC Is Outperforming High-Production Ads

Unfiltered is in. People are done with over-polished, hyper-edited content. What works now? Lo-fi, handheld, shot-on-a-phone vibes. Content that feels real.

What’s working:

• “POV” and “Day in My Life” formats

• Imperfect lighting, casual setups

• Honest reviews, not over-rehearsed pitches

  
  

Brand Example: Highly organic, raw videos by 'Country Delight' is the primary reason for its massive growth since the last few years.

5. 🎤 Employee-Generated Content (EGC) Is Booming

Founders, CXOs, interns, and customer support execs—they’re all your brand storytellers. EGC helps build trust, show your team culture, and boost internal morale.

What’s working:

• “Behind the scenes at [brand]”

• Founders sharing product journeys

• Team reviews and usage moments

Brand Example: Brands like Wakefit and Droom are empowering employees to become brand evangelists through short-form videos.

6. 🌈 AR Filters + UGC = Interactive Fun

AR filters are a Gen Z favorite. They increase time spent with your brand and encourage creative expression from users.

What’s working:

• “Which [brand] product are you?” filters

• Story challenges using AR

• UGC contests using branded filters

Brand Example:Beauty brands like Nykaa have used AR try-ons + UGC to drive trial and engagement.

7. 🎯 UGC Funnels: Top, Middle & Bottom Strategy

Most brands shoot UGC like it's one-size-fits-all. But high-performing brands create UGC for each stage of the buyer journey.

What’s working:

• TOFU (Top of Funnel): Entertaining Reels, creator skits, POVs

• MOFU (Middle): FAQs, problem-solving testimonials

• BOFU (Bottom): Before/after results, feature breakdowns, social proof

Brand Example:A D2C organic food brand we worked with used this funnel approach—and their conversion rate improved by 37% across performance ads.

8. 🌍 Regional Language UGC = Better Conversions

India isn’t one audience—it’s many. UGC in vernacular languages like Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, and Gujarati drives higher relatability and trust.

What’s working:

• Region-specific creator collabs

• Localized product use cases and benefits

• Native language testimonials

  
  

Brand Example:We created UGC ads in Marathi for a leading skincare brand—and the conversions doubled in Maharashtra.

🚀 Final Words: Let’s Create UGC That Actually Sells

UGC isn’t just a trend—it’s the backbone of modern D2C marketing. From grabbing attention to driving action, it’s the most cost-effective, scalable, and authentic way to grow your brand in 2025.

At What The Buzz, we don’t just shoot pretty videos. We craft content that makes people stop, watch, and buy. From creator sourcing to scriptwriting to post-production, we handle everything—so you can focus on growth.

👉 Want to ride these trends before your competitors do? Let’s talk.