As technology evolves with each passing day, so do the strategies digital marketers implement into their paid ad campaigns. It wasn’t that long ago that if you didn’t have at least 5-6 figures to invest into a production, your business didn’t really stand a chance in the digital ad landscape.
Thankfully, the standard advertisement format has shifted due to platforms like TikTok. Spend some time on your favorite social app and wait for the next ad you’re targeted with. It’s likely content that was shot on a smartphone by a seemingly average and relatable person. This content strategy is known as UGC (user-generated content), and it can be more potent than 7-figure production when it comes to return on investment if executed correctly.
For years UGC went unnoticed by the average consumer, but as of spring of last year, UGC went viral on TikTok, becoming mainstream and attracting aspiring creators and brands looking to hire for this necessary marketing strategy. Since gaining massive attention online, creators and UGC mentors have grown a social presence online, educating their audiences on the role, responsibilities, and skill sets required to be a successful UGC creator. But where does one start when first hearing about UGC? Too much information about UGC online leaves new creators in analysis paralysis, not knowing who to listen to. We did our due diligence and have just the creator coach to recommend.
Kelly Rocklein started her journey in 2014 when UGC was still new and less prevalent than it is today. It was a new game, and Rocklein was willing to figure out the rules independently. Due to her humble background, Rocklein did not have access to a college education. However, she did not let this stop her. She started learning the necessary skills to excel in UGC and marketing, which included direct response video editing, creative strategy, content production, networking, and more.
Her fresh take on performance marketing has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue, making her a top pick for brands for full-time and contract work. A women’s dress pant brand is just one of many companies in which Rocklein directly impacted their revenue achievements. Dating back to 2020, she worked directly with the CEO as a creative strategist and direct response video editor, taking a leading position in paid media strategy. She pitched innovative concepts, conducted market research, wrote scripts, filmed UGC content, and edited all ad concepts. In fact, she was the one that introduced UGC to the company and showed the value this creative format can offer. Fast forward to 2021, and the top 18 out of 20 ads were Kelly’s, generating over fifty million dollars in revenue in less than twelve months.
Because of the ROI, she offers her clients, she’s earned over $100,000 in one calendar year, working less than part-time as a UGC creator. This income doesn’t include the mentorship she offers to UGC creators looking to grow their businesses. The ratio of income to hours worked puts her in the top three percent of the high-earning UGC creators currently available, further stamping her mark as a highly accomplished and skillful UGC creator. When asked what her highest deal to date was, she said it was a $2,000 deal that required only 15 minutes of her time, which equates to an $8,000 hourly rate before taxes.
It was precisely because of her experience, skills, and accomplishments that there became a growing demand for mentorship, leading her to create UGC Social in June 2022 and her StanStore shortly after with supplemental resources. In over a year, she has grown her online community to over 50,000 aspiring creators on TikTok and taught over 3,000 students with her digital products and live training sessions.
Her future endeavors revolve around her mission to make alternative education accessible to all while also helping creators work less and make more, the same way she’s been able to throughout her ten-year career.