APOC Co., Ltd. announces that its PR project matching service for influencers, UZU Ads, has introduced a new reward rank system for influencers.

Until now, rewards for each project on UZU Ads were generally set at the same amount for each influencer. With this update, UZU Ads will assign ranks to influencers based on factors such as influence, posting performance, and participation history on the platform. Rewards will then vary according to each influencer’s rank.

This update is not intended to reduce compensation. Rather, it is designed to create a system in which influencers who contribute more significantly to brand awareness, customer acquisition, and ongoing PR results — as well as influencers who continuously use UZU Ads — are evaluated more fairly and can earn more than before.

In addition, while UZU Ads has primarily focused on projects requiring vertical video posts, the platform will now also support PR projects using image posts. These projects will be expanded gradually, providing more opportunities not only for influencers who specialize in video production, but also for those who excel at photography, feed posts, still-image content, and visual storytelling.

About UZU Ads

UZU Ads is a PR project matching service that connects screened influencers with restaurants, tourism facilities, experience providers, and companies across Japan.

The service provides influencers looking for PR projects in Japan with opportunities to share the appeal of Japan, while offering Japanese businesses a new way to conduct advertising and PR through influencer marketing.

UZU Ads aims to solve common challenges between businesses and influencers, including language barriers, pricing, payment, and scheduling, while building a simple and reliable matching environment for both sides.

Background Behind the Introduction of the Reward Rank System

Until now, UZU Ads has prioritized a system that is easy for influencers to understand and simple to participate in. For this reason, reward amounts for each project were designed to be as straightforward as possible.

At the same time, through operating the service, UZU Ads has received many requests from influencers, including:

・A system where effort is reflected more directly in rewards
・Evaluation based on views and post performance
・A structure where influencers who continuously participate are valued more highly
・More opportunities to participate in projects using image posts, not only videos

For businesses, the purpose of influencer marketing is not simply to secure a certain number of posts. It is to generate actual marketing results, such as expanding awareness, encouraging store visits, increasing reservations, and improving brand understanding.

For this reason, UZU Ads has introduced the reward rank system as a way to comprehensively evaluate each influencer’s influence, track record, and continued participation, allowing influencers with higher contribution levels to receive higher rewards.

Main Evaluation Factors for the Reward Rank System

Under the newly introduced reward rank system, each influencer’s rank will mainly be determined based on factors such as:

・Number of followers
・Views on regular posts that do not use paid advertising
・Number of UZU Ads projects participated in over the past 30 days
・Other indicators related to posting performance and service usage

The specific calculation formula and details of the algorithm will not be disclosed.

UZU Ads will continue improving the accuracy of the algorithm based on actual post results, business feedback, influencer usage data, and other relevant factors.

Support for Image-Based PR Projects

Until now, many projects on UZU Ads have centered on vertical video content, such as Instagram Reels and TikTok posts.

However, many influencers have also expressed interest in joining projects through image posts or feed posts. At the same time, depending on the product, store, or experience being promoted, image-based PR may be more suitable than video-based content.

Based on this background, UZU Ads will begin supporting PR projects using image posts and will gradually increase the number of such projects.

This will create more PR opportunities not only for influencers who specialize in video production, but also for influencers who are skilled in photography, composition, and creating a strong visual world view.

Toward a Platform Where Influencers Can Earn More

The UZU Ads team has always operated the service with influencer satisfaction as one of its highest priorities.

The platform has developed features that allow influencers to participate in projects more smoothly and with greater peace of mind, including reward reflection after store visits, bank transfers as early as the following day, and the Instant Visit feature, which allows influencers to participate in projects without chat-based scheduling.

Ease of use and a smooth project experience are important. At the same time, UZU Ads believes that the ability to earn properly is one of the most important factors for influencers who continue using a platform.

The new reward rank system is designed to help influencers aim for higher compensation. At the same time, it also helps businesses connect more easily with influencers who are likely to deliver stronger results.

UZU Ads will continue aiming to build a platform where value circulates between influencers and businesses, rather than favoring only one side.

Future Outlook

UZU Ads will continue improving its platform so that influencers can participate in PR projects with greater confidence, enjoyment, and earning potential.

At the same time, the service will continue developing an environment where businesses can use influencer marketing more transparently and continuously to expand awareness and attract customers.

The introduction of the reward rank system is only the first step.

UZU Ads will continue listening sincerely to feedback from influencers while improving its reward structure, project participation flow, dashboard usability, performance measurement features, and overall service experience.

By increasing PR projects using image posts in addition to vertical video projects, UZU Ads also aims to create an environment where a wider range of influencers can participate by making use of their own strengths and preferred creative styles.

Comment from Shunsuke Saito, CEO of APOC Co., Ltd.

“Since its launch, UZU Ads has focused on being a service that is easy to use and safe for influencers to participate in.

At the same time, as we continued receiving feedback from many influencers, we felt that we needed to take more seriously the voices saying, ‘I want a system where I can earn more,’ and ‘I want my results and continued participation to be evaluated properly.’

The new reward rank system is not a change designed to lower rewards. Rather, it is an update intended to ensure that influencers who have influence, create strong content, and continue using UZU Ads are evaluated more fairly and can receive higher compensation than before.

For businesses, the purpose of influencer marketing is to expand awareness and attract customers. I believe it is healthy for businesses, influencers, and the market as a whole when influencers who contribute more strongly to those goals are properly evaluated.

Until now, many UZU Ads projects have focused on vertical video. Going forward, we will also increase projects using image posts. We want to expand opportunities for influencers to succeed by using the creative formats they are best at.

Of course, we do not believe this system is the final version. We will continue listening to influencers and improving the algorithm, reward design, and overall service experience.

To everyone who continues using UZU Ads, thank you very much.

We look forward to receiving your honest feedback as we continue improving the platform.”