Unlock Your Earning Potential: A Beginner's Guide to Becoming a UGC Creator
May 20, 2025
Are you looking for ways to make money online or build a side hustle using your creativity? The world of user-generated content (UGC) might be the perfect fit. Many UGC creators are earning significant income, even without a large social media following. This guide, based on expert insights, will walk you through what UGC is, why brands value it, and the steps you can take to get started and potentially get paid in the next 30 days.
What Exactly is UGC (User-Generated Content)?
UGC stands for user-generated content. It encompasses any content – including photos, videos, text, or reviews – that is authentically created by an everyday user of a specific product or brand.
Why Brands Love Working with UGC Creators
Brands have alternative options to create content, such as hiring a professional video production team or working with influencers. However, UGC creators offer a compelling middle ground.
Here’s why brands are increasingly turning to UGC:
Authenticity: They can partner with everyday people who genuinely love their brand.
Cost-Effective: Unlike hiring an entire production team or paying for professional video, working with UGC creators can save brands a significant amount of money.
Content Ownership: Brands pay UGC creators to make content that the brand will then post on their own social media channels. The creator is paid for the content itself, not for posting it to their own audience.
UGC Creator vs. Influencer: What's the Difference?
While both involve creating content, the primary difference lies in the purpose and where the content is posted.
Influencers are typically paid to create content and promote it to their own audience, aiming to reach a new audience or drive traffic and sales for the brand.
UGC Creators are paid to make content that the brand will post on their own channels. You don't need an audience; your role is simply to create the content. This makes being a UGC creator a great starting point if you have little to no photography or videography experience.
Important Note: While some UGC creators produce high-quality, polished content, UGC doesn't have to be high quality. Brands often prefer it to look like it was created by an everyday person because this casual style can come across as more authentic and less like a typical overly produced ad.
How to Get Started as a UGC Creator: Your 5-Step Roadmap
Becoming a UGC creator requires effort and practice; it's not an "easy peasy" way to make money. You'll need to work on your skills, pitch to brands, and organize deals. Here are the five steps to begin your journey:
Step 1: Study UGC Content & Pick Your Niche/Industry
Before you start creating, familiarize yourself with existing UGC content to see what performs well. A great resource for this is the TikTok Ads website (ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter/inspiration/topads/pc/en) where you can see currently running ads, many of which are UGC. You can even organize by industry on this site to see content examples in specific niches.
Choosing an industry is crucial. Just like niching down as an influencer helps brands see you as an expert, focusing your UGC portfolio on a specific industry (e.g., travel, skincare, fitness) builds trust with brands in that niche. While it's normal to test different industries when starting, finding what feels natural and focusing there is beneficial.
For deeper insights, you can use Vizzy, which offers advanced keyword analysis and industry ad tracking. It includes both organic and ad video content.
Step 2: Build Your UGC Portfolio
Once you have an idea of what UGC looks like, it's time to create your own. Don't wait for brands; start by finding products you already love and use daily around your house. This could be anything from skincare and clothes to coffee or books. The goal is to practice creating content for products you genuinely like.
You can create various types of content, even simple ones. If you're comfortable on camera, talk about why you love a product. If not, create aesthetic videos showing the product in use with text overlay. Use the successful UGC examples you studied in Step 1 as inspiration.
After creating some content, organize it into a portfolio. You can use a website or a Media Kit. If you don't have a website, Canva offers free UGC portfolio templates. Ensure your content is well-lit, ideally with natural light, and that your portfolio looks clean and professional, especially if focused on a specific industry. You can include both photos and hyperlinked videos in your Media Kit.
Step 3: Prepare Your Pitch
With your portfolio ready, you need a compelling pitch to send to brands. While you can DM brands, finding a direct email contact is often better.
Here's a template for your email pitch:
Start by referencing a video you created (hyperlinked) that shows your enthusiasm for their product.
Mention your name and identify yourself as a UGC creative for brands.
Link to your portfolio.
Express your willingness to create similar content for their social channels or ads.
Inquire if they have a marketing budget allocated for UGC creation.
Offer to hop on a call to discuss a potential partnership.
End with a professional signature. A free signature generator tool, like the one from HubSpot, can make your sign-off look clean and professional.
Step 4: Find Brands to Pitch To
A great way to find brands actively looking for content is by checking the TikTok Ads website (ads.tiktok.com/business/creative-center/inspiration/topads/pc/en) again. This site shows brands that are currently running ads, indicating they have a marketing budget and are likely familiar with working with UGC creators.
Find a brand you genuinely like or already use one of their products. Create a video using that specific product – talk about it, use it, hype the brand – just like typical UGC content. Then, use the pitch template from Step 3, hyperlinking the video you just created to show them your style and enthusiasm upfront.
Step 5: Explore UGC Platforms & Job Listings
Pitching directly isn't the only way; you can also apply for existing UGC jobs.
Social Media: Search platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn for phrases like "ugc creators needed". On LinkedIn, remember to filter your search to "posts".
UGC Platforms: Several platforms specialize in connecting brands with UGC creators, such as Trend.io, Tribe, B-Roll Creators, jobs.colescreators.club, Billow, and Insense.
Influencer Platforms: Some influencer platforms like AspireIQ, #paid, and OCT might also list UGC job opportunities.
Freelance Marketplaces: Websites like Fiverr and Upwork are also places where brands post listings for UGC content as they explore different avenues.
Following these five steps increases your likelihood of securing your first UGC work.
Different Types of UGC Videos You Can Create
For just one product, you can potentially create multiple types of videos. Here are five common types:
Aesthetic/Product Focused Video: This highlights the product itself, often using b-roll footage, music, or text overlay. You don't need to show your face. Incorporating elements related to the product (like showing blueberries for blueberry protein powder) can enhance the video.
Unboxing Video: A simple video showing you opening and revealing the product.
Voiceover Video: Use a voiceover to tell a story, explain how to use the product, provide hooks, or talk about anything related to the product.
Review or Demonstration: This is often a talking-head style video where you share your personal review, explain why you love the product, or demonstrate how to use it in a how-to format.
Problem and Solution Video: Start by highlighting a common problem the viewer might have. Then, present the product as the solution to that problem. The problem acts as the hook.
How Much Should You Charge as a UGC Creator?
Pricing varies based on factors like your skills, experience, the number of videos, and usage rights. Here are some starting rates:
Organic Videos: For content used organically on a brand's social channels, a starting rate for beginners is around $150 per video.
Ads Videos: For content the brand intends to run paid ad spend behind, a starting rate is around $275. These often require more research to ensure performance and involve you acting as the production team for the brand's ad creative.
It's recommended to push package deals. For example, you could offer one organic video for $200, three organic videos for $500, or five organic videos for $700. This offers the brand a better deal per video while increasing your total payout. Additional factors that can increase your rate include providing raw footage, having others appear in the video, creating multiple hook options, or exporting in multiple dimensions. Resources like @ugcsocial on TikTok and other creators mentioned in the source can provide deeper insights into pricing.
Essential Equipment for UGC Creation
You can start creating UGC content with just your phone. If you plan to pursue this full-time, consider investing in:
A tripod: Helps you film yourself without needing someone else.
Good lighting: Essential for any content. Natural light by a window works well, but lighting equipment can be helpful if natural light is scarce.
A microphone: Ensures crisp audio, especially for voiceovers. Simple phone-compatible microphones are available.
The Must-Know Editing Tip: The 4x5 Crop
When editing your videos, especially those intended for ads, an important tip is to ensure they can fit within a 4x5 crop. While 9x16 is common for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, ads sometimes appear in a 4x5 format. To prevent content or text from being cut off, make sure all essential elements – faces, products, and text overlays – are centered and fit within that 4x5 area while editing in the standard 9x16 dimension.
Start Your UGC Journey Today!
Becoming a UGC creator offers a flexible way to leverage your creativity and earn money online by partnering with brands you love. By studying existing content, building a portfolio, crafting effective pitches, finding opportunities, and understanding pricing, you can build a thriving career in this exciting field.
