For every piece of UGC that you make (or every UGC video project that you manage), there’s one big risk straight ahead: have you recruited the right video filmers?

Without great UGC video filmers doing what you want, nothing’s going to get produced. But there are so many traps just waiting around the corner. The influencers with egos so big they can’t take any form of direction. The employees too busy with other work to listen to your requests. The fans and volunteers with a life that doesn’t revolve around your project schedule. Or just anyone who doesn’t know the basics of capturing rock-solid content.

But, these are simple hurdles to overcome. By taking some time to invest in a stellar onboarding process, you can de-risk your entire production & inspire your UGC filmers to not only capture great video content, but also have fun doing it. 

Here are the five simple steps that will get you to success:

1. Keep it simple

Don’t overcomplicate your requests. Whatever you want your participants to film, express it in simple, easy-to-understand language. And don’t overburden them. Keep it to 6-8 filming requests, max. Any more & it starts to feel like work (gross!)

2. Make it exciting

Don’t drown people in detail. Build a buzz instead and lean into the right side of your filmers’ brains. The more fun they can capture, the more authentic the footage will be. So even if you’re just staging simple interviews, throw in a random question that’s guaranteed to bring out a smile.

3. Be transparent

Being upfront is the quickest way to build trust. Don’t sugarcoat the commitment you need, whether it’s 15 minutes or several hours. And be clear about where the content will be used. That knowledge gives your filmers the chance to develop extra perspective, get more excited, and bring their best to the production.

4. Allow for flexibility

Wherever possible, make sure your production schedule has some flex. You definitely need a timeline (one to two weeks is the perfect sweet spot, in our experience), but be prepared that something unexpected might come up for your video filmers. Build that extra contingency into your plans.

5. Check in often

Remote video production isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it exercise. Keep the lines of communication open with regular check-ins. This lets you see that your filmer is keeping up with your project schedule. It helps you get an early heads-up on the quality they’re producing. It lets your filmer feel supported throughout the process. And it gives you enough time to request any re-filming of shots if necessary. 

Inspiring your UGC video filmers to capture great content is critical to getting the material that you need. With these five tips, you’ve got an easy onboarding roadmap that will build the confidence of everyone involved. Get them built into your next campaign and see how things fly.