“One of my favorite UGC campaigns I worked on was for a small natural skincare brand. We wanted authentic, relatable content instead of polished studio shots, so I reached out to a handful of micro-influencers and real customers who already loved the products. I guided them with a simple brief — focus on showing your morning routine, highlight your favorite product, and talk about one skin change you’ve noticed. Within two weeks, we had over 40 short videos and lifestyle photos. I edited some into TikTok/Reels compilations and used others as Instagram carousel posts. The results were amazing — engagement on those posts was 3x higher than our previous brand-created content, and one Reel featuring a customer’s ‘before and after’ hit 50K organic views. Even better, we saw a 20% spike in direct sales that month, and several of the UGC creators became long-term brand advocates. That campaign really reinforced for me how powerful real customer stories can be.”

1. Understand the Brand & Audience First Before creating anything, I’d dig into: Target customer profile: Age, skin type, values (e.g., eco-conscious, luxury feel, affordability, anti-aging focus). Brand positioning: Is Tiano Skincare clinical and science-backed, or natural and lifestyle-oriented? Pain points & desires: Are they more concerned with acne, aging, hydration, or glow? Example: If Tiano markets to women 25–45 who value clean beauty, content tone should be fresh, aspirational, and science-meets-natural. 3. Platform Strategy TikTok/Reels: Quick tips, trending sounds, GRWM (“Get Ready With Me”) skincare routines, satisfying product texture shots. Instagram Feed: Aesthetic product photography, carousel skincare guides, user-generated content. Stories: Polls, quizzes, flash promos, behind-the-scenes. Blog/Long-form: In-depth ingredient education, skincare trends, expert interviews. 4. Emotional Hooks To resonate, every piece should tie back to: Aspirations (“Feel confident without makeup”) Relief from problems (“Say goodbye to dry patches in 3 days”) Trust & credibility (dermatologist-tested, clinically proven results) Community & inclusion (featuring diverse skin tones and types) 5. Measurable Engagement Tactics Hashtag campaigns (#TianoGlow, #TianoSkinChallenge) Collaborations with micro-influencers in skincare and wellness Giveaways that require tagging friends and sharing routines Sampling programs tied to social sharing

It was a Tuesday morning, and I had every intention of starting my day with focus and efficiency. My coffee was ready, my workspace was tidy, and my to-do list was neatly written in bold black ink. I sat down at my desk, determined to tackle my first task — but then I decided the list would look better color-coded. Ten minutes later, I had created a complex system involving highlighters, sticky notes, and even custom symbols for “urgent” versus “important.” By the time I finished perfecting the list, nearly an hour had passed and not a single task was done. I stared at my masterpiece and thought, Why am I like this? It wasn’t the first time I had poured more energy into organizing the work than actually doing it, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. Moments like this remind me that sometimes my drive for order and creativity can sneakily disguise itself as productivity. It’s both a quirk and a challenge — something that makes me smile even as I work on finding a better balance. In the end, my “why am I like this” moments are just part of what makes me… well, me.