In UGC videos, you should avoid any medical, legal, or financial claims that sound like professional advice or a guarantee, plus any results claims you cannot back up with proof.
UGC often gets reused as paid ads, so it is treated like advertising, not casual “opinions.” That means two big rules apply fast: (1) if the creator was paid, gifted a product, given a discount, or has any other relationship, that connection needs to be obvious in the video and caption (for example “Paid partnership” or “#ad”), and (2) any objective claim you say out loud must be truthful and supportable, even if it is delivered in a fun, personal tone.
Claims to avoid in UGC and safer alternatives
| Claim area | Avoid saying in the video | Why it causes trouble | Safer ways to script it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and health | “This cures acne,” “treats eczema,” “lowers blood pressure,” “clinically proven” without evidence, “FDA approved” when it is not | These can turn a cosmetic or wellness product into a drug claim, and they can mislead viewers if you cannot substantiate outcomes | Focus on appearance and use: “hydrates my skin,” “feels soothing,” “helps reduce the look of redness,” “here’s how I use it,” and include a simple prompt like “Talk with your clinician if you have a condition or are pregnant.” |
| Legal services | “We guarantee you win,” “Your case will be dismissed,” “You will get $50,000,” “No risk, no fee,” or giving step-by-step legal advice in the script | Promises and advice can be misleading, and bar rules for advertising and testimonials can add extra limits, especially for Florida firms | Talk about process and scope: “We explain your options,” “we help you file correctly,” “we guide you through the next steps,” and direct viewers to a consult for their specific situation. |
| Financial and investing | “Guaranteed returns,” “Beat the market,” “Double your money,” “Risk-free,” “This will fix your credit,” or any specific performance claim with no support | Financial claims are heavily regulated, and unrealistic promises are a fast path to platform takedowns or complaints | Stick to factual features: “No minimum balance,” “lets you set spending alerts,” “shows your budget categories,” “here’s what the app screen looks like,” and add plain-language risk notes when relevant. |
| Guaranteed results and “typical” outcomes | “You will lose 10 pounds in a week,” “You will rank #1,” “Works for everyone,” “Permanent results,” or cherry-picking extreme before-and-after outcomes | Viewers interpret specific results as what they can generally expect, and a tiny “results may vary” line rarely fixes a misleading overall message | Use ranges, context, and conditions you can support: “Many people notice improvements over time,” “results depend on skin type and routine,” “we can share typical timelines during a consult,” and show realistic examples. |
If you want to use testimonials, transformations, or before-and-after clips, keep the “net impression” honest. A quick disclaimer cannot rescue an exaggerated promise. The safer play is to show what most customers can expect, or present a range, and avoid hard numbers unless you have clean documentation to support them.
- Do not diagnose, treat, or claim disease outcomes in a product video.
- Do not promise a legal outcome, a settlement amount, or a “guaranteed win.”
- Do not promise investment returns, debt results, or “risk-free” outcomes.
- Do disclose paid or gifted relationships clearly in the video and caption.
- Do script to verifiable facts, product use, and the customer experience, not miracles.
For Orlando and Central Florida brands, this matters extra in regulated categories we see every week, like dentists, med spas, attorneys, and financial professionals. Florida licensing boards and the Florida Bar can have ad rules beyond general consumer advertising, so it is smart to run UGC scripts through your compliance or legal reviewer before anything goes live.
If you want us to build creator briefs that stay compliant while still feeling natural, our UGC video production process starts with claim-safe scripting and a simple approval flow.
When UGC is part of your paid campaigns and posting calendar, our social media management team can keep disclosures, captions, and ad variations consistent across platforms.
If you are also using UGC on landing pages or service pages, pairing it with trust signals helps conversions without risky promises, and our guide on E-E-A-T in SEO explains what “trust” looks like online in plain English.
