How to Find UGC Work

Landing your first user-generated content deal can feel like a game-changer, turning your knack for creating authentic content into actual income. This guide provides a straightforward roadmap to building a compelling portfolio, finding brands that are actively looking for creators, pitching them effectively, and securing paid work.

First Things First: Building a Killer UGC Portfolio

Before you can land paid work, you need to show brands what you’re capable of. A strong portfolio is your most powerful tool, and the good news is you don’t need any prior client work to build one. Its entire purpose is to prove you can create high-performing, authentic video content.

Create "Spec" Ads for Brands You Love

A "spec" ad is a video you create on speculation - meaning, without being hired - to showcase your skills. This is the fastest way to build a professional portfolio from scratch. Think of it as a try-before-you-buy for potential clients.

Here’s how to do it:

• Choose Your Products: Pick 3-5 products you already own, use, and genuinely like. It could be skincare, a kitchen gadget, a piece of software, or an app. Authenticity is your superpower here, so starting with products you already know makes the content more believable.
• Do a Little Research: Spend 15 minutes looking at the brand’s existing social media, especially their TikTok and Instagram Reels. What kind of hooks are they using? Are their videos polished or more raw and conversational? Check the Meta Ad Library to see what their paid ads look like. Your goal is to create content that feels like it could fit right into their current marketing efforts.
• Start Creating: For each product, film 1-2 short videos (15-45 seconds). Don’t just show the product, tell a story. Here are a few proven UGC concepts to try:
  • Problem/Solution: Show a common frustration, then introduce the product as the solution. Example: A video showing messy kitchen drawers, followed by an organizer product that neatly fixes the chaos.
  • Unboxing/First Impressions: Capture the genuine excitement of opening and using a product for the first time. Keep it raw and honest.
  • A Day in the Life: Show how the product seamlessly fits into your daily routine. Example: Making your morning coffee with a specific brand of oat milk.
  • Hidden Gem/Hack: Reveal a clever way to use a product that others might not know about. Example: Using a specific cleaning spray to get tough stains out of sneakers.

Design a Simple, Professional Digital Portfolio

Now that you have your video examples, you need a central place to host them. You don't need a fancy, custom-coded website. Your portfolio just needs to be clean, professional, and easy to navigate.

Here are some great, low-cost options:

• Canva: Canva has incredible templates for one-page websites and interactive PDFs. You can embed your video links, add some text about yourself, include your contact info, and generate a shareable link. It’s free and looks incredibly professional.
• Google Drive/Dropbox: A well-organized folder can absolutely work. Create a main folder, and inside have subfolders for each product. Include your videos and a separate PDF with a short bio, your rates, and contact information. Simply share the link to the main folder.
• Carrd or Lnk.Bio: These tools are popular because they build simple, beautiful one-page "link-in-bio" sites that are perfect for a UGC portfolio.

What should your portfolio include?

• A friendly photo and a short bio: "Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a UGC creator specializing in content for wellness and lifestyle brands."
• Your Videos: This is the most important part! Either embed the videos directly or include clear thumbnails that link out to them.
• Your Contact Info: Make it easy for brands to reach you with your email address or a link to your preferred social media DM.
• (Optional) Your Rates: Some creators like putting their pricing upfront in packages (e.g., "1 UGC Video: $150," "3 UGC Videos: $400"). Others prefer to discuss it privately. For beginners, it can be helpful to discuss this on a case-by-case basis.

Once it's ready, put that portfolio link everywhere: your TikTok bio, your Instagram bio, and the signature of your outreach emails.

Where the UGC Jobs Are: Finding Brands That Need Content

With your portfolio ready, it's time to start finding work. There are three primary methods that successful UGC creators use to consistently land deals.

Method 1: The Direct Outreach (Pitching) Game

This is the most proactive - and often most successful - method. Instead of waiting for opportunities to find you, you go find them. Sending a thoughtful, personalized pitch to a brand is a direct way to get on their radar.

Finding the Right Brands to Pitch

Don't just spray and pray. A targeted approach will get you much better results.

• Target D2C Brands: Direct-to-consumer brands (especially subscription boxes, apparel companies, cruelty-free cosmetic lines) are constantly in need of fresh, engaging content for their social channels and ads.
• Look for Content Gaps: Scroll through a brand’s tagged photos on Instagram or check their mentions on TikTok. Are users tagging them in great content that they aren't using? Is their feed full of polished, studio-shot content without a human touch? These are signs they could benefit from authentic UGC.
• Find the Right Contact: Scour their website for "careers" or "contact" pages. Look for email addresses like marketing@brand.com, social@brand.com, or hello@brand.com. For smaller brands, you might have better luck sending a direct message on Instagram or finding a marketing manager on LinkedIn.

Crafting a Pitch That Gets a Reply

Your goal is to make it easy for the brand manager to say "yes." Keep your pitch short, valuable, and to the point.

Here’s a simple structure that works:

Subject Line: UGC Video Idea for [Brand Name] or Content for your [Product Name]

Body:

Hi [Team/Person Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I'm a huge fan of your [Product Name]. I've been using it for months and particularly love [mention a specific, genuine detail].

I create authentic video content for brands and had an idea for a short Reel or TikTok showing how [Product] can solve [specific customer problem]. For example, a "3 Ways to Style Your Classic Tee" concept or a "GRWM showing off the long-lasting foundation's finish."

You can see some of my work in my portfolio here: [Link to Your Portfolio]

Would you be open to discussing a collaboration? I’m happy to share my packages and rates for creating a few videos for your organic channels or paid ads.

Method 2: Using Creator and UGC Marketplaces

Creator marketplaces are websites designed to connect brands with creators. They are an excellent way to get experience, build your client list, and find a steady stream of opportunities, especially when you're starting out.

Popular platforms to create a profile on include:

• General Freelance Sites (Upwork, Fiverr): These aren’t UGC-specific, but they're goldmines. Search for terms like "UGC creator," "TikTok video," "Instagram Reel," or "video ad content." On Fiverr, you can create a specific service, such as "I will create an authentic UGC video for your brand." These platforms allow you to set your own rates and attract brands looking for your specific skills.
• Dedicated UGC Platforms (Insense, Billo, Trend.io): These platforms are built specifically for product-for-content exchanges and paid UGC campaigns. Brands post a brief ("We need videos for our new moisturizer"), and creators apply. They handle the payments and contracts, which makes the whole process very streamlined for beginners.

The main downside of marketplaces is that competition can be high and the platforms often take a portion of your earnings. However, the exposure and ease of getting started often make it well worth it.

Method 3: Let the Work Come to You (Optimizing Your Social Profiles)

Your social media profiles are powerful inbound marketing tools. Brands and marketing agencies are always looking for new creators, and you need to make it easy for them to find YOU.

Spruce Up Your Social Media Bios

Your bio should clearly and instantly communicate what you do.

• Explicitly state you are a "UGC Creator" or "Content Creator for D2C Brands". This simple addition to your TikTok and Instagram bios is a golden nugget for attracting offers.
• Include your portfolio link and a professional email address in your Instagram "link in bio" or on a link hub like Linktree or Lnk.Bio.
• Mention your niche if you have one, such as "Skincare UGC | NYC" or "UGC for Tech Brands." Even if you don't specialize, being specific can help the right brands find you.

Brands often search for creators using specific keywords like "#ugcforfashion" or "ugc skincare." Including these relevant terms directly in your bio increases your visibility and helps brands or their agents discover you faster when they search for creators in your niche.

Setting Your Rates and Getting Paid

Pricing your work can feel like the most challenging part of becoming a UGC creator, but it doesn't need to be complicated. Don't overthink it. If creating content is your passion, view this as an opportunity to get paid for something you love. However, also remember that your time and talent have value, and it's important to be compensated fairly for your work.

Pricing and Packaging Your Services

• Set Your Base Video Rate: A common starting point for new creators is between $150 and $300 for a single video. This rate can fluctuate based on the client, the complexity of the work, and the usage rights they require.
• Create Bundled Packages: When pitching, it can be effective to offer packages. For example, you might create a "Bestseller Package" that provides more value, such as three videos for a discounted price, to incentivize a larger purchase. This information can be included in your portfolio or a separate pricing sheet.

Contracts and Invoices 101

Before you accept any UGC deal, a simple contract is essential to protect both you and the brand. You can find free templates online to get started.

Your contract should always include:

• Scope of Work: Clearly define the deliverables, such as "1 TikTok video for March campaign."
• Payment Terms: Specify the payment amount and schedule. It's standard practice to require a partial upfront payment (e.g., 40%) before you begin filming.
• Usage Rights: Detail how and for how long the brand can use your content (e.g., "6 months, for paid ads on Meta platforms").

Use tools like HoneyBook or similar invoicing software to draft professional proposals and send invoices to clients.

Final Thoughts

Finding steady UGC work is a straightforward process that rewards skill and consistency. Focus on building and showcasing a strong portfolio, and proactively pitch your creative video ideas to brands you admire. Whether you're reaching out directly or optimizing your social media profiles to attract inbound offers, the key is to stay consistent and not give up. The opportunities are out there, and success comes from the effort you put into creating them.

Once you begin managing multiple projects, keeping track of your own social media schedule on top of client deliverables can get cluttered. We built Postbase to streamline exactly that. Our visual planning calendar allows you to organize and schedule everything - your personal content, posts for clients, everything - in one unified view. Instead of fighting with spreadsheets and jumping between apps, you can schedule your TikToks, Reels, and more with total reliability, freeing up your time to land your next big client.