UGC
UGC (user-generated content) is content made by customers, fans, or hired UGC creators rather than the brand itself — reviews, unboxings, photos, and videos featuring a product. Brands license or repost it because audiences trust a real person's take more than an ad.
Why it matters for creators
UGC is a working income line for creators: brands pay for usable content even when they never post it to your audience, which means follower count matters less than craft. Comment sections on UGC-style posts fill with "what camera?" and "how do I start?" questions — each one is a person a keyword automation can answer with your gear list, portfolio, or rate card.
If you make UGC, treat your own Instagram as the storefront: every post demonstrating the skill is a place brands and aspiring creators will raise a hand.