Passionate about creating content but no followers? No problem. Learn how to become a UGC creator and get paid for your content with this step-by-step guide.
If you’re a TikTok user, you’ve probably seen countless videos about a new breed of creators making money from their social media content. They mention creating UGC. UGC creators can get paid to use and promote products from their favorite brands.
Don’t you think it’s a wonderful live show? And yes! However, there is a lot of confusion about what UGC is and how to get started as a beginner. But don’t worry. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about how to make money as a successful UGC creator.

What is UGC and why is it better than brand-generated content?
UGC stands for User-Generated Content, and as the name suggests, it’s everyday product users who create videos showcasing a brand’s products.
Brands have realized that social proof is everything when it comes to selling. And what better proof of a great product than organic posts from real people who actually use and love it?
This is the whole concept of user-generated content. This is a new way to reach your target audience by promoting your products with genuine authenticity.
This is very similar to influencer marketing, but with one big difference. The thing is, you don’t need a ton of followers on social media. This is because brands will grab your content and use it for their own social channels and advertising. All you need to do is create a video.
UGC creators can create videos for a variety of platforms, but the most popular ones are YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Examples of UGC include:
- Detailed review of YouTube
- unboxing video
- A short video showing the product in action
- Integrate popular TikTok trends to showcase your products
- Product recommendations and testimonials
How to become a UGC creator: Getting started
Now that you know what a UGC creator does, how do you break into this fast-growing industry with no experience? The good news is, it’s easier than you might think.
Follow these steps and you’ll be scoring brand deals in no time.
Step 1: Set up your UGC business
Before you can start landing UGC gigs, you need to launch your business and build basic content creation skills. In particular, there are a few things you need to do to prepare.
Decide on the type of content you want to create
From TikTok videos to Instagram Reels, there are many different types of UGC. Think about the types of content you’re good at creating and the types of businesses you’d like to work with. For example, do you want to create short video clips for a fitness brand or write detailed product reviews for a technology company?
Knowing what niche you want to specialize in will help you attract the right brands and opportunities. It’s important to choose a niche that shows your passion and expertise. Both your brand and your audience will value your knowledge.
This will also help you establish the best platform for your content. For example, if you want to do a quick video review of a fitness product, focusing on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Reels on Instagram or Facebook, or Idea Pins on Pinterest could be the best platforms.
Start a social media account dedicated to UGC
Start a social media account dedicated to your UGC business. This is where you share your UGC portfolio with potential customers. You should also use this account to share any UGC content you create for your company. This allows companies to see the type of work you do and decide whether they want to work with you.
To attract brands to your profile, use lots of relevant terms in your profile. “Branded content,” “UGC,” “user-generated content,” and “content creation” are all great terms to use, as well as niche terms like “beauty products” or “cooking.”
obtain basic equipment
Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to create great content. The essentials are a tripod with a cell phone holder, a lamp or ring light, and a smartphone. No professional camera required.
However, clear, professional audio quality is important, so it’s also worth investing in a high-quality microphone. Although you may want to invest in editing software, many people edit their videos with TikTok’s editing tools or use a free video editor like CapCut.
Depending on your setting, you may also need props or a simple fabric background if you want to be authentic to your content creation.
Create a portfolio sample
A portfolio is an essential step in becoming a UGC creator.
Record two or three sample videos that demonstrate your video creation skills. The best way to do this is to use certain products that you already have and love. For example, if you want to appeal to a beauty brand, you could create a video of yourself using your favorite moisturizer and record a voiceover explaining why you love it and how to use it.
This is also a great opportunity to practice getting comfortable in front of the camera. Avoid scripts so the tone feels natural, do multiple takes until you’re happy with the final product, and don’t be afraid to edit to your heart’s content.
Determine the price of the service
The amount you can charge for your UGC project will depend on your niche, the platform you publish on, and the brands you partner with.
There is no right or wrong answer, but you need to make sure you are not underestimating yourself. Consider the time it takes to create a video from start to finish and price accordingly.
Other factors to consider are:
- Content type (video or photo)
- Video length (long or short video)
- exclusivity
- License terms
- Time required
- Number of revisions
Many UGC creators will require you to pay some or all of their fees upfront before they begin work.
Create a UGC creator portfolio
Your social media accounts act as a portfolio in a sense, but you’ll also need an official portfolio with stats, ratings, and contact information. Luckily, Canva makes it easy to create an online portfolio for free.
Simply create a free Canva account and search for “website portfolio.” Choose from dozens of free website templates.
Once you’ve selected a Canva template, you can customize it to your needs by changing the text, dragging and dropping elements, and uploading photos and videos.
Your portfolio should be clear, easy to scroll through, and include the following information:
- your name and short bio
- An overview of what you do and why it benefits your brand.
- Upload sample video
- your pricing
- your service
- your contact information
Once you’ve finished creating your website, you can publish it directly from Canva by clicking the Publish Website button in the top right.
If you don’t want to buy a domain, you can host it for free with Canva Domains. Once published, you’ll have a unique URL that you can link to your social media profiles or pitch to brands.
Step 2: Find UGC jobs
Now that you know the basics of becoming a UGC creator, it’s time to start looking for contracts. There are many ways to secure your first UGC gig with a brand.
Here are some of the most common methods:
Specific brands you would like to work with Cold Pitch
One of the best ways to find UGC work is to reach out to the brands you want to work with and pitch your idea. While some creators have had success sending DMs to brands on their social media accounts, it’s more professional to send them via email.
To maximize your chances of emailing the right people, you can search for your brand on LinkedIn and look for contacts with job titles like “marketing director” or “social media manager.” You can also use tools like Hunter.io to find email contacts for brands that interest you.
As for the actual pitch, keep it short and polite. Introduce yourself as a UGC creator who is a fan of the brand, and let them know that you would love the opportunity to work with them.
Sign up as a UGC influencer
One of the easiest ways to get started is to sign up with a UGC agency. These agencies act as liaisons between brands and influencers.
When you go this route, you often pay less than if you work directly with the brand. However, this is a great way to build relationships and make money. You can sign up for Pixlee TurnTo, NeoReach, and Billo.
social media platform
Another great way to find UGC opportunities is to look for opportunities on social media. They often post about open positions.
For example, many brands regularly tweet “casting calls” on Twitter for UGC creators. Also, keep an eye out for opportunities on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Clubhouse.
upwork
Upwork is a website where freelancers can post and view their portfolios, case studies, and bios of brands and companies. You can also submit project proposals that interest you.
Just search for “UGC” or “content creator” and you’ll find plenty of opportunities. Upwork takes a portion of your income, but it’s a great place to find both one-off jobs and long-term projects.
fiber
Fiverr is similar to Upwork in that it is a freelancer marketplace. However, Fiverr is aimed at creatives and digital marketers. You can create “gigs”, which are UGC services you offer, and brands can contact you if they are interested in your services.
Bringing the brand to you
Another good option is to engage your brand by posting regularly to your UGC account. One way to do this is to use branded hashtags and tag relevant brands in your posts. This method is usually more effective if you have a large following on social media.
In some cases, if you create content about a brand for free and tag it, the brand will contact you, ask for permission to use it, and then give you a chance to sell to them.
Step 3: Establish details
Once you have your feet wet with your brand, start hashing out the details of your UGC project. Here’s the process that many UGC creators follow:
Discovery calls with Calendly
The first step is to set up a discovery call with your brand via Zoom or Google Hangouts. This is your opportunity to learn more about the project vision and ask any questions you may have. It’s also an opportunity for them to get to know you and your work better.
Use a program like Calendly to schedule your call so you don’t forget the date and time.
Submit a suggestion
After the discovery call, you should have enough information about what they are looking for to put together a proposal. This is a simple one or two page document that outlines the following details:
- Your statement of work (an overview of what you are creating for your brand)
- Expected timeline for the project
- Fees and payment schedule
Submit the contract
If the brand agrees to your proposal, it’s important that both you and the brand sign a contract before work begins. This document should include all details regarding deliverables, deadlines, number of revisions allowed, usage rights, and payment details.
We strongly recommend that you hire a lawyer to draw up a contract to ensure legal protection. However, contract templates can also be found online. (For example, Honeybook has some great contract templates).

Step 4: Create and distribute your content
Once most of the groundwork is done, it’s time for the fun part of becoming a UGC creator: creating content for your brand.
Brands typically send products free of charge as part of their agreements. If not, be sure to ask. Once you have your product, create your video content as outlined in your contract.
Once you have created your video, you need to send it to your brand for review. The best program for this is Frame, a video collaboration tool. Brands will be able to see what users come up with and provide feedback through frame-specific comments and virtual annotations.
Once your video is approved, distribute it via pCloud or Google Drive to maintain the integrity of your video.
Your first paid UGC project is now complete.
Step 5: Promote your UGC content
UGC creators are often not compensated for promoting their content. Therefore, this step is optional. However, there are benefits to promoting UGC content beyond the upfront rewards.
This shows your brand your investment in content, increases engagement, and helps you maintain business relationships with your clients. This may lead to future projects.
cross promotion
Cross-promoting UGC content is easy. Some options are:
- Links to content on social media stories
- Embed a video on your website
- Post content to niche community-focused Facebook groups
Remember to always tag your brand, use relevant hashtags, and link instead of reposting so your original content gets noticed.
FAQ – How to become a UGC creator
Since this remote job is still relatively new (in terms of public awareness), people tend to have a lot of questions.
How many followers do I need to become a UBC creator?
One of the best things about being a UBC creator is that you don’t need a significant following. In fact, you don’t need to follow it at all.
Brands value consistent, high-quality content from trusted sources. An engagement soon follows.
How much do UGC creators earn?
Earning potential varies based on brand partnerships, experience level, video quality, performance, past performance, and other factors such as niche, cross-promotion, and exclusivity.
Newer UGC creators will likely work with smaller brands (with smaller budgets). Expect to range from about $100 to $500 per video.
As your campaign grows and larger campaigns are run, this can increase to the range of $500 to $2,000 per video.
Finally, professional UGC creators can charge thousands of dollars per video. With the right contract, you can earn a salary of $10,000 for in-depth tutorials and reviews. Of course, this won’t happen overnight. Before you can close a multi-thousand dollar brand deal, you need to lay the groundwork.
Is it difficult to become a UGC content creator?
Becoming a UGC creator may seem easy, but it takes a lot of effort to create quality content.
As a new creator, marketing yourself and your content can feel like a defeat. Additionally, you should seek favorable metrics in line with media trends, new industry practices, and audience preferences. And it can take time to gain the insight to make these switches.
That said, it’s a very creative and rewarding career, and the time you put in can pay big dividends.
How to become a UGC creator: Overview
It’s no wonder UGC is becoming one of the hottest business trends on the internet. It’s a fun way to discover new products, as other content creation businesses can’t make money without a lot of followers.
It may seem daunting to get started, but once you get your first client, the process becomes much easier. Get started now. That way, you can get UGC deals and make a lot of money faster than you think. It could even become your full-time job.
First published November 14, 2022, content updated November 2024.