🔥 Hot Take: High-production ads are back on the scene. 99% of advertisers are hyper-focused on UGC, but we're seeing a shift moving into 2025. UGC has been a hot topic over the past few years, and brands have been focusing the majority of their efforts down this avenue, leaving high-production videos on the back burner. But we're seeing a shift moving into 2025. UGC still works; however, it’s becoming saturated and less effective. Variety within campaigns is what’s working for us right now, as ultimately both styles resonate with different types of viewers. Some audiences are more likely to take action when showcasing the quality of the product in high definition, and some are simply more likely to take action from a video in a more authentic form. Using both within campaigns unlocks more reach for your ad spend (lower CPMs), as Meta can distribute both videos accordingly to viewers who have shown interest in either style. Using one style limits Meta’s ability to do this. So if you're spending silly amounts each month refreshing UGC, looking for that perfect video and not having any luck, you're better off balancing out this investment by bringing back high production. Remember, we want to appeal to as many people as possible. Don’t limit yourself to one content avenue.
It’s all about giving your audience options and keeping your campaigns fresh.
Completely agree—variety is key. UGC is great for authenticity, but high-production ads can showcase quality and build trust in ways UGC can’t. Mixing both gives Meta more flexibility to find the right audience. Are you seeing better ROAS with the blend?
High-production ads offer a level of brand credibility that UGC sometimes can’t, while a balanced strategy ensures you’re not overlooking any key segments of your audience.
Great idea to run/test both in parallel. Not a lot of agencies/brands have the capabilities for high production though. UGC on the other hand.. well if you’ve not tested any UGC I don’t know what you’re doing.
UGC is great, but it's becoming the norm. High-production ads cut through that noise and showcase that premium quality. Variety is the spice of life, and it's the key to unlocking those wider audiences and lower CPMs.
I agree that UGC saturation is becoming a real issue. Bringing back high-production value can help brands stand out and cut through the noise
It makes sense. Just recently, I saw a bunch of AI UGC videos on Facebook, and they are unprofessional. The quality of the creatives will be essential in the upcoming years.
Makes total sense, UGC may dominate now, but high-quality ads add a level of trust and credibility that’s hard to ignore
high-production ads are definitely making a comeback... excited to see how this evolves
It underscores the importance of understanding diverse audience triggers - authenticity for some, precision for others - and leveraging both for maximum impact.