If you follow me at all, you know that I’m crazy about AI and all the things it has to offer. I use it all the time for my YouTube videos, blog posts, ideas, headlines, etc. But one thing I haven’t used it much for until recently is for my UGC ads.
While in theory it sounds great, the problem was that until VEO3 and Sora2 came along, AI UGC video just kind of sucked. It didn’t look right, it didn’t perform right, and it was expensive for what it had to offer. Lucky for us, the tech has gotten crazy now!
As you know, I have been in the business for decades now. I’m not saying that just to flex, I am saying that because it gives me a unique tool that no guru really explains.. Pattern recognition!
This helps me think of my campaigns and audiences a bit differently. With every campaign, I try to focus on what makes that campaign work or fail, and slowly, I made my own best practices that work flawlessly for me. Today is your lucky day as I am going to share what I found out about audiences and how to target each age group properly with AI UGC ads!
Men Under 30
Men under 30 are honestly one of the easiest demographics to target if you understand one thing:
They live in doubt! They aren’t sceptical, they doubt everything, including their own judgement.
Just think of a Zoomer and him saying to himself, “No way this works…but what if it does? Am I missing out?”
This is their process pretty much every time, and this makes them easy targets. You don’t need to go agro and convince them, just make them uncertain that they are making a good decision. Show them proof that something might work, and they will believe it sooner or later.
What works best here:
- Social proof (especially other men “winning”)
- Bold claims (yes, really)
- Lifestyle signals: money, freedom, luxury
- A nonchalant, almost careless tone
The vibe should be:
“I’m showing you this. If you get it, cool. If not, that’s on you.”
This works incredibly well, especially if you pair it with footage of flexing, like expensive cars, clothes, locations, watches, etc. Ofc if you mention girls, they all go crazy as well!
Keep in mind, don’t try to sell the product, just act as one of the cool homies who found out something first and is sharing it with you. That’s the key to success here!
Men 30-50
This is where things start to shift slowly. Men in this age care about results, they don’t want to feel like they are falling for some trick and taken advantage of. They don’t want hype, they want competence.
This means your ads should be calm, show confidence, and show clear cause and effect. Show proof without being flashy, no flexing here.
These audiences have had experience with bad products, so they won’t fall for any trick that easily. They know what to look for. They want someone to show them how something works that looks like them. So, your models should be average Joes.
The vibe should be:
“This is useful, do with that info what you want!”
Subtle authority also works well on this audience, but it’s hard in any case. These men don’t just want to become someone, they are already someone. They want to improve and make better choices.
Men 50+
Men over 50 can be brutal if you want to sell to them. They respond to almost nothing. They don’t care about your products, your crazy results, or tricks. They have enough experience to smell these things from a mile away.
But you know what works? Being subtle.
Your ads should be more like recommendations. Some things that you found, and you are sharing them without any expectations to interact. They need to try to find out more about the product themselves.
- They don’t want to be sold
- They don’t trust ads
- They don’t want to feel manipulated
Your models also need to adjust. Instead of some flashy kid or gym bro, you need to get a normal but manly man in their age bracket. Dress him up in a regular shirt, a hat, and a beard. Think about what Joe Rogan would like to see and aim for that.
Never tell this audience what they need. They need nothing. I mean, we all have a dad who is the same. You need to pique their curiosity and let them find out more on their own accord. It’s super hard, but once you figure it out, you can really target them effectively.
Women Under 30
Women under 30 are really averse to ads. Once they realize something is as obvious as, they scroll right past it. But the trick is, if they see it more as influencer marketing and not an ad, they are happy to stay. This works because they seek tips and approval from similar-looking girls, and they tend to familiarize themselves with them.
What works best on them? Simple:
- Stories and relatable scenarios
- Raw fractions and genuine emotion
- Products that feel accessible and affordable
They usually respond poorly to expensive offers unless it’s an incredible deal. They respond well to hype and aesthetics. Even if a product isn’t useful, if it looks great, it has a chance!
The creators should always be other women. They should be attractive but not intimidating. Think girl next door, not an OF model in full gear. They don’t want competition, but they also don’t care what the “ugly” girls think. It might sound shallow, but it works like that.
Women 30-50
This audience is somewhere in the middle.
These women are not impulsive, they value aesthetics and function. They dislike hype as it’s “childish,” and they care about the feel of a product.
I have the least experience with this demographic, but in general, what works with them is:
- Real-life cases
- “Here is how this fits into my routine” style of videos
- Emotional benefits with practical outcomes
Women 50+
This demographic is one of the better ones for ads once you figure it out.
These women are experienced, educated, they are probably mothers, they had jobs, they have lived life. They know what marketing looks like, or at least they think they do!
These women want:
- Respect (don’t talk down to them)
- Clear benefits, not exaggerated claims
- Being simple and clear
They dismiss crazy claims, they don’t care about flashy things, they prefer natural things (products, routines, materials), they love it when someone explains how something benefited them and what it did for them, and then make their own choices. You should aim for things that can make her feel and look more like her younger self.
Similar to older men, you shouldn’t try to persuade, but guide them to your offer.
Think: “Here’s something worth knowing.”
Not: “Here’s something you must buy.”
They respond well to other middle-aged men or women and older women. Older men and younger men or women aren’t that interesting to them. If you can’t find the right models, you can always use AI to add some blemishes and imperfections to the avatars to make them a bit more believable.
Why I’m Using AI for All of This
You might ask, “Why not just hire 20 creators?” Well, until recently I did!
Meta introduced their Andromeda Algorithm (the modern social algorithm), and it rewards volume and speed.
- With AI, I can tweak a script in seconds to make the viewer feel like they discovered the product rather than being forced to see it.
- I can create 15 versions of an ad in an hour. If I used human creators, I’d be waiting weeks for one reshoot.
So take these tips and make some killer campaigns, you will see that this is all accurate once you start testing it! I know because I test it out daily, and I wouldn’t be where I am without it!
