How I Created High-Converting UGC Vertical Ads for AliExpress (and How You Can Do It for Your Brand)

As an actor and filmmaker, I’ve worked with major brands like Clear, appeared in Netflix films, and collaborated on global campaigns. When the agency representing AliExpress reached out to create UGC-style vertical contetn -ads using my personal brand, Frank Rod, I knew exactly what to do.

We analyzed the product, the audience and the platform, designed simple comedic scenarios, built strong hooks for the first seconds, and delivered natural, direct content made to perform — not to look polished, but to convert.

What Is UGC — and Why Most Brands Get It Wrong in 2026 📉

User-Generated Content (UGC) isn’t just a trend — it’s how modern audiences decide what feels real.
People trust faces, voices and stories that feel human, not polished ads that scream “marketing”.

That’s why UGC-style content works so well:
📱 It feels native
👀 It stops the scroll
🤝 It builds trust fast

When I speak directly to the camera as Frank Rod — not playing a character, not hiding behind a script — it creates a direct bridge between the brand and the person watching on their phone.

But here’s the part most brands miss 👇

Random UGC ≠ Effective Vertical Content ⚠️

Most “UGC” today is:

• Random creators

• No brand context

• No long-term vision

• One-off clips with no follow-up

It might work once.
It almost never works consistently.

That’s not strategy — that’s gambling 🎲

What Actually Works in 2026 🚀

High-performing brands today don’t choose between UGC or production.

They combine both.

The winning formula looks like this:

• UGC-style in format → natural, direct, human

• Professional structure underneath → message, rhythm, brand voice

• Hybrid execution → selfie moments + hooks, transitions, framing

• Consistent output → not one video, but monthly presence

For example:

• A simple selfie intro grabs attention

• A quick hook or transition resets the brain

• The content evolves into something more intentional

• Comedy, storytelling or cinematic moments reinforce the brand

That’s when people think:

“This doesn’t feel like an ad… but I remember this brand.”

✨ That’s the magic.

Vertical Content Is Still King — But Only If It’s Consistent 👑

Vertical video is still the most powerful format across:

• Social media feeds

• Paid ads

• YouTube Shorts

• Brand websites

But in 2026, one vertical video means nothing.

What matters is:

• Showing up every week

• Repeating visual language

• Building recognizable characters

• Testing different angles (comedy, cinematic, storytelling)

• Turning content into A/B testing fuel

• Creating community, not just clicks

Everything counts.
Everything compounds.

This Is Why Monthly Systems Win 💡

The brands growing today don’t ask:

“Can we make one video?”

They ask:

“How do we stay visible every month?”

That’s why content today is:

• Creative

• Hybrid

• Performance-driven

• Brand-focused

• Always-on

Some pieces are funny.
Some are cinematic.
Some are raw.
Some are direct-response.

All of them matter.

Because all of them feed:
👉 branding
👉 engagement
👉 paid media
👉 revenue

The Big Mistake Brands Keep Making 🔁

For years, the go-to tactic was simple:
👉 find new faces
👉 rotate creators
👉 test, discard, repeat

That approach used to work.
In 2026, it doesn’t.

Audiences are smarter now.
They recognize the trick.

When brands constantly switch faces, tones and styles, people don’t feel authenticity — they feel inconsistency.

And inconsistency kills trust.

What People Actually Want Today 🤝

People don’t want to see a different face every week pretending to “discover” the same product.

What they respond to is:

• Familiarity

• Visual continuity

• Recognizable personalities

• A brand that feels present, not opportunistic

They want to:

• recognize the brand

• understand its tone

• follow the story

• feel part of something

That’s how platforms are designed today.

Branding, Consistency and Community Win the Algorithm 👑

Social platforms don’t reward randomness anymore.
They reward coherence.

Brands that win are the ones that:

• show up consistently

• play the long game

• build a recognizable content universe

• repeat formats, characters and angles

• let audiences “get in on the joke”

That’s how community is built.
That’s how engagement compounds.

This Is Why Rotating Faces No Longer Works 🚫

Swapping creators nonstop sends the wrong signal:

• no brand identity

• no continuity

• no emotional attachment

Instead of thinking:

“Oh, this brand again — I like them.”

People think:

“Another ad.”

And they scroll.

The Shift Brands Must Make in 2026 🚀

The real move now is not more creators.
It’s stronger brand presence.

• Fewer faces

• Clear identity

• Consistent tone

• Long-term storytelling

UGC-style content still matters —
but only when it’s part of a coherent monthly system that builds recognition, not confusion.

Why This Can’t Be Done Randomly (or Alone) 🧠

To do this right — and fast — you need:

• Creative direction

• Strategic messaging

• Controlled production

• Editing optimized for performance

• A team that understands branding and paid media

That level of consistency cannot come from random UGC creators or last-minute shoots.

Only a professional team with a structured workflow can deliver high-quality vertical content at speed — month after month.

Why 6 Months Is the Real Minimum for Branding 📆

In 2026, brands don’t grow from one viral clip.

They grow from:

• Repetition

• Familiarity

• Visual consistency

• Story evolution

That’s why the real minimum is 6 months of continuous vertical content.

Not because it “looks nice” — but because:

• Audiences need time to recognize you

• Platforms reward consistency

• Messaging evolves through testing

• Trust compounds over time

Branding today is not a campaign.
It’s an always-on presence.The Power of Vertical Ads

All content for AliExpress was designed in vertical 9:16 format, optimized for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. These are not just formats—they’re high-conversion environments. Vertical ads demand attention, fill the screen, and feel native to the user’s experience.

One Strategy Is Not Enough

Here’s the truth: brands shouldn’t rely on just one type of video.

• High-impact commercials build your image.

• UGC builds trust and relatability.

• Vertical ads drive fast conversions.

Each one is a different gear in your marketing engine. When combined, they create a complete, powerful strategy that grows your brand from all angles.

✦Ready to Level Up Your Content?

At Video Content Shop, we don’t just make videos—we build marketing engines. Whether you need cinematic commercials, authentic UGC, or scroll-stopping vertical ads, my team and I are here to deliver results.

👉 Build a monthly UGC & Vertical content campaign that actually converts.