By the end of 2024, more than 68% of brands are predicted to use some form of AI in their marketing. As businesses grapple with high ad costs and fierce competition, AI-generated content offers a promising solution, especially in the form of AI-generated user-generated content (UGC). But with Facebook’s ad policies and high standards for authentic engagement, many marketers wonder if AI-driven ads can genuinely perform.
We'll walk you through the ins and outs of AI-generated content to produce captivating, engaging, and compliant Facebook ads.
Can You Use AI-Generated Ads?
If you want to avoid any potential penalties, it's important to understand Meta's evolving policies regarding AI content. Recently, Meta announced significant updates to its “AI info” labels across its platforms, designed to enhance transparency and align with user expectations. This change aims to clarify the extent of AI involvement in content creation.
For instance, content that has been solely modified by AI will now display the “AI info” label in the post’s menu, while content generated entirely by AI will retain a more prominent label, indicating whether it was flagged through industry signals or self-disclosure. Additionally, Meta is expanding its labeling framework to cover a broader range of content, reflecting the increasing sophistication of AI-generated media, including audio and photorealistic images.
Importantly, any content that potentially misleads users, regardless of its origin, will be subject to review and may be removed if it violates Meta's Community Standards. As such, advertisers using AI-generated visuals or videos should prioritize authenticity and transparency, ensuring they disclose when content has been AI-generated. This approach not only complies with Meta’s policies but also fosters trust among audiences, enhancing the overall effectiveness of AI-driven campaigns.
Why AI-Generated UGC? The Power of Authenticity at Scale
User-generated content has become a go-to in social media marketing, with 92% of consumers saying they trust UGC more than traditional advertising. AI-generated UGC ads allows brands to replicate the feel of authentic content while maintaining control over messaging and aesthetic - ideal for meeting Facebook’s policies on quality, engagement, and relevance.
Whether you’re launching a campaign around product testimonials, customer reviews, or lifestyle endorsements, AI-generated UGC offers a way to maintain a continuous stream of engaging content without relying on costly photoshoots, actors, or inconsistent creator partnerships. But how do you get started, and what are the best practices for this type of AI-driven content?
Step 1: Plan Your AI UGC Content Strategy
To create impactful AI-generated user-generated content (UGC) ads with Arcads, the first step is developing a compelling script. Begin by defining your goal - consider whether you’re promoting a product, running a limited-time offer, or focusing on brand awareness. Understanding your audience is crucial - identify their pain points and illustrate how your product addresses these concerns directly. Highlight the specific benefits your offering provides, such as clearer skin or reduced wrinkles for a skincare product. Conclude your script with a strong call to action, motivating viewers to take the next step, whether that’s making a purchase, signing up, or learning more about your brand.
Step 2: Create Your AI-Generated Video or Image Content
With your strategy in place, use AI tools that excel in producing realistic UGC content.
For AI-generated video ads, start by choosing a realistic avatar that represents your audience demographic, such as age, gender, and ethnicity. Next, you'll need to create a concise, relatable script that addresses the pain points of your audience and provides the solution. For example, if you’re promoting a skincare product, you could script a 15-second review that highlights benefits like hydration or wrinkle reduction. AI tools can add realistic facial expressions and movements to mimic genuine user emotions, making the content more engaging and relatable.
Need lifestyle imagery of your products in action? AI-generated images can create lifestyle visuals that show your product in realistic, everyday settings. Filters that reflect popular social media trends (e.g., warm tones or natural lighting) will enhance the authenticity of your images. Tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion can generate images that look like real photography.
Short on time or got writers block? Use tools like ChatGPT or Jasper to craft captions, testimonials, and product highlights in your brand voice. Avoid overly polished language and cliches to ensure you sound authentic and relatable, and make sure the copy matches the tone of your brand. Studies show that Facebook posts with emojis see a higher engagement rate so be sure to incorporate these elements into your copy for a friendly, genuine tone.
Step 3: Ensure Compliance with Facebook’s Ad Policies
Using AI-generated content requires close attention to Facebook’s ad policies, which emphasize transparency, authenticity, and quality. AI-generated UGC should look and feel like actual user content. Avoid high-end production effects or overly sales-driven language that could make the ad feel inauthentic.
Always comply with Facebook’s transparency requirements. If AI-generated testimonials are used, they should either represent a genuine opinion (from a real review) or include disclaimers to maintain trust.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Facebook generally favors images with minimal text. If you’re adding overlays or captions, keep them short and to the point to avoid reducing your ad’s reach.
Step 4: Test and Optimize Your AI-Generated UGC Ads
Testing is crucial to see what resonates best with your audience. Try out various avatars, tones, and styles to see which connect best with your audience. Some audiences may respond better to a formal tone, while others prefer a friendly, casual approach.
You could also run some A/B tests with different copy styles to see if shorter, snappier text outperforms longer-form testimonials. In thesme breath you can A/B test different kinds of visuals as well to figure out which kinds perform best. AI tools can quickly generate variations for testing, saving time on manual rework. For example, Arcade has a library of over 300 avatars which makes it quick and easy to A/B test which actors resonate most with your audience.
Step 5: Use Retargeting with AI-Enhanced Custom Audiences
While the primary focus here is on AI-generated UGC, it’s worth noting that you can amplify its impact by using Facebook’s retargeting capabilities. Facebook allows you to target users who have already engaged with your AI-generated UGC, helping you create a funnel from casual interest to deeper engagement. AI-enhanced lookalike audiences allow you to reach similar profiles based on those who engaged with your initial UGC ads, amplifying the reach of content that has already proven successful.
Best Practices for Creating AI-Generated Ads
Before getting carried away with AI tools, best practices should be at the forefront of anything you create to ensure your ads are effective and authentic. For instance, using actual customer reviews or testimonials in your script can add a layer of credibility and relatability, mimicking the feel of genuine user-generated content. This approach not only showcases real experiences with your product or service but also builds trust with potential customers, making them more likely to engage.
Additionally, consider integrating relatable scenarios or frequently asked questions to foster a connection with viewers and encourage them to see themselves using your product. Maintaining a conversational tone throughout the ad helps to make the content feel approachable and engaging, enhancing viewer retention and response rates.
Finally, keep in mind the importance of regular testing; experimenting with different messages, visuals, and formats can provide valuable insights into what resonates best with your audience, allowing for continuous improvement of your campaigns.
The Future of AI-Generated Facebook Ads
As Facebook ads continue to evolve, AI-generated UGC is poised to become even more valuable. With an increasing emphasis on authenticity, privacy, and high-quality interactions, brands can use AI tools not just to keep up with trends but to lead them. AI-generated UGC offers a scalable way to produce content that feels personal and relatable, bridging the gap between brand-driven and user-centric advertising.
Emerging technologies in AI are also enhancing how UGC-style ads can be customized on the fly, meaning real-time adjustments to avatars, expressions, and copy to fit audience sentiment and interaction. This responsive AI-UGC can further boost engagement, helping brands stay dynamic in a competitive digital space.
Conclusion
AI-generated UGC offers a scalable solution to Facebook’s demand for genuine, engaging content. From customizing avatars to mimic real user testimonials, to optimizing videos and images for an authentic look and feel, AI allows brands to maintain a steady flow of relatable content that resonates with users. As you explore these tools and techniques, remember to stay true to your brand’s voice while leveraging AI to humanize your ads in a way that draws people in.
So, can you use AI-generated ads on Facebook? Absolutely - and by focusing on AI-driven UGC using tools like Arcads.AI , you can produce Facebook ads that combine the best of technology with the genuine connection that UGC brings.