When I first started posting TikTok videos for my Shopify store, I thought I had to make everything myself: perfectly lit product shots, scripted demos, and polished captions.I spent hours filming, editing, and uploading — and honestly, almost no one engaged. I was getting views, but clicks and sales? Barely any.Then I stumbled across a small TikTok video by a happy customer using my product. It was completely unplanned — shaky phone footage, casual lighting, a little background noise — and it went viral. People were commenting, sharing, and clicking my Shopify link like crazy.That was the moment I realized: UGC — user-generated content — was far more powerful than anything I could produce alone.

Why UGC Works for Shopify TikTok Marketing

From my experience and watching other Shopify sellers:

  • Authenticity beats polish. TikTok users love real people showing real experiences.
  • Relatability drives engagement. A person solving their own problem resonates more than a scripted demo.
  • Social proof increases trust. Seeing someone else enjoy the product makes potential buyers more confident.

In short: UGC doesn’t just grab attention — it builds trust and drives conversions.

How I Started Using UGC for My Shopify Store

Here’s what worked for me:

  1. Encourage Customers to Post Videos
    1. I started offering small incentives: discounts on the next purchase or free gifts for posting a video.
    2. I created a simple hashtag to track these posts, e.g., #MyProductInAction.
  2. Feature UGC in Ads
    1. I took top-performing UGC clips and used them as in-feed TikTok ads.
    2. These clips often performed better than anything I filmed myself.
  3. Repurpose for Organic Content
    1. I reposted UGC (with permission) on my TikTok account.
    2. Engagement soared because it felt real and relatable.
  4. Analyze What Works
    1. I noticed short clips (10–15 seconds) showing the product solving a problem quickly performed best.
    2. Videos showing a relatable situation plus a small emotional moment (fun, surprise, satisfaction) got the most clicks to Shopify.

Lessons I Learned

  • UGC doesn’t have to be perfect. Slightly shaky or casual videos often outperform studio-shot demos.
  • Encourage multiple clips. The more UGC you collect, the more options you have for testing.
  • Leverage for ads carefully. Boosting a high-performing UGC clip can give better ROI than professional ads.
  • Highlight real stories. People connect with real experiences, not just features or specs.

Example From My Store

I sell a small kitchen gadget. One customer posted a 12-second video showing her messy drawer, using my gadget, then her tidy drawer. She added a quick caption: “Life-changing gadget for small spaces!”I boosted that video as an ad. Result: 4× more conversions than my scripted demo video. The authenticity made the difference — people trusted a real user more than me talking about the product.

Takeaways for Shopify Sellers Using TikTok

  1. Collect UGC consistently — incentivize and track posts.
  2. Use UGC for both organic TikTok content and paid ads.
  3. Test multiple clips to see which story or angle converts best.
  4. Focus on authenticity and relatability rather than production quality.

UGC changed the way I approach TikTok for Shopify. Instead of struggling to create the perfect video, I let my customers do it for me — and the results speak for themselves.