How to Make Money with UGC (User-Generated Content)

You can make a full-time income creating content for brands without a single follower. That’s the entire idea behind User-Generated Content, and it’s one of the fastest-growing opportunities for creators today. This guide will walk you through exactly what UGC is, how to build a portfolio that gets you noticed, where to find paid brand deals, and how to price your services so you can turn your creative skills into a real, sustainable career.

What Exactly is UGC and Why are Brands Obsessed with It?

User-Generated Content (UGC) is any content - videos, photos, reviews, testimonials - created by real people rather than by brands themselves. Think of the last time you saw a TikTok video of someone raving about a new skincare product or an Instagram Story showing how they style a pair of sneakers. That’s UGC.

Unlike influencer marketing, where the focus is on a creator’s follower count and distribution, UGC is all about the content itself. Brands buy content from UGC creators and then post it on their own social media accounts, use it in ads, or feature it on their websites. Why? Because it works.

Today’s consumers are tired of overly polished, high-budget corporate advertisements. They crave authenticity and social proof. A video from a real person using a product in their actual home feels far more trustworthy and relatable than a staged photoshoot. For brands, UGC is a goldmine. It’s:

• Authentic: It feels like a recommendation from a friend, not an ad.
• High-Converting: It provides the social proof needed to convince potential customers to make a purchase.
• Cost-Effective: It’s significantly cheaper than funding a full-scale professional ad shoot.
• Versatile: A brand can get dozens of ad variations from different creators to test and see what resonates with their audience.

This massive demand has created a huge opportunity for creative individuals who are good at making engaging, native-style content but don’t necessarily want to build a massive personal following. Learn more about how to become a UGC creator.

Getting Started: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a UGC Creator

Ready to jump in? Landing your first paid UGC deal isn’t about luck - it’s about preparation. You need to treat this like a real business from day one. Here’s how to build your foundation for success.

Step 1: Choose Your Niche and Define Your Style

While you can be a generalist, specializing in a few distinct niches makes you far more attractive to brands. It shows you have genuine expertise and passion for a particular category. Think about what you naturally enjoy and are knowledgeable about. Popular UGC niches include:

• Skincare and Beauty
• Fashion and Apparel
• Health, Wellness, and Fitness
• Tech and Gadgets
• Home Goods and Decor
• Parenting and Baby Products
• Food and Beverage
• Apps and Digital Products

Once you’ve picked one or two niches, think about your personal content style. Are you energetic and funny? Calm and aesthetic? Informative and straightforward? Your on-camera personality is a huge part of your personal brand, and brands will hire you for the unique vibe you bring.

Step 2: Build a Killer Portfolio (This is Non-Negotiable)

Your portfolio is your resume. It’s the single most important asset you have as a UGC creator because it shows brands what you can do without them having to take a risk. A strong portfolio proves you have the skills to create content that looks native, feels authentic, and drives results.

But how do you build a portfolio with no clients? You create spec ads - speculative examples of work for brands you’d love to work with. Don’t wait for permission. Pick a few products you already own and love and create content for them as if they had hired you.

What to Include in Your Portfolio:

• High-Quality Examples: Even though UGC is meant to look "lo-fi," your technical quality must be solid. This means good lighting (natural window light is your best friend), clear audio (no buzzing or background noise), and stable, non-shaky footage.
• A Variety of Content Types: Showcase your range. Include examples of different popular formats:
  • Unboxing Videos: Show the excitement of opening and revealing a new product.
  • Product Demos: Clearly demonstrate how a product works and show it in action.
  • "GRWM" (Get Ready With Me) or Routine Videos: Integrate a product naturally into your daily routine.
  • Testimonials/Talking Head Reviews: Speak directly to a pain point and explain how the product solved it for you.
  • Aesthetic Videos: Showcase a product in a visually pleasing way, often with trending audio.
  • Static Photos: High-quality images of you using the product in a natural setting are also valuable.
• Clear Video Thumbnails and Titles: Organize your work so it’s easy for brands to browse. A thumbnail featuring the product and a title like "Skincare UGC Example: Unboxing" makes it simple for a brand manager to find exactly what they're looking for.

Step 3: House Your Portfolio Online

Your beautiful portfolio content is useless if brands can’t find it. You need a centralized, professional hub to showcase your work. Your options are:

• A Simple Canva or Carrd Site: These tools make it incredibly easy to build a clean, one-page website to embed your videos and list your services.
• A Dedicated Social Media Account: Create a public Instagram or TikTok account specifically for your UGC portfolio. Use the bio to state you’re a UGC creator and link to your rates.
• A Notion Page or Public Google Drive Folder: For a quick and free option, you can organize your videos and photos in a Google Drive folder and share a public link. Make sure it's neatly organized with sub-folders.

Whatever you choose, your goal is to have one link you can send to potential clients that has everything they need: your best work, your contact information, and maybe even your starting rates.

How to Find and Land Paid UGC Deals

With your portfolio ready to go, it’s time to find paying clients. There are three primary methods for landing deals: direct pitching, using marketplaces, and leveraging social media.

1. Pitching Brands Directly

This is the most proactive method and often leads to the highest-paying and longest-term relationships. It involves reaching out to brands you want to work with directly via email.

• Find the Right Person: Don’t just email the generic `hello@brand.com`. Look for people with titles like "Social Media Manager," "Influencer Marketing Coordinator," "Brand Manager," or "Content Manager" on LinkedIn.
• Write a Personalized Pitch: Your email should be short, specific, and focused on them, not just you.
  • Start with a genuine compliment about a recent campaign or product they launched.
  • Introduce yourself briefly as a UGC creator specializing in their niche (e.g., "skincare").
  • State exactly why you think your style would resonate with their audience.
  • Provide 2-3 specific content ideas for their products. This shows you’ve done your research.
  • End with a clear call to action and a link to your portfolio: "I've attached a link to my portfolio with examples of my work. Are you currently looking for new creators to partner with?"

2. Using Creator Marketplaces

Platforms exist to connect brands with UGC creators. These can be a fantastic way to land your first few deals, build your confidence, and add client logos to your portfolio. The trade-off is often more competition and lower rates, but they eliminate the need to cold pitch.

Some popular platforms include:

• Upwork &, Fiverr: Freelance marketplaces where you can create a profile offering UGC services.
• Billo: A platform specifically designed for brands to order UGC videos.
• Insense: Connects creators with brands for paid partnerships and UGC campaigns.
• Tribe: An app where you submit content for a brand's campaign, and they purchase it if they like it.

3. Leveraging Your Social Media

Your own social media profiles are powerful tools for attracting inbound leads.

• Optimize Your Bios: Make it clear in your X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram bios that you are a "UGC Creator." Add keywords like "UGC for Beauty Brands" or "Video Creator for SaaS." Link directly to your portfolio.
• Engage with Brand Managers: Don't just sit and wait. Follow and interact with people who work at your dream brands. Leave thoughtful comments on their posts.
• Search for Opportunities: On Twitter and LinkedIn, regularly search for terms like "looking for UGC creators," "UGC needed," or "#ugccreators." You’ll often find brands posting calls for applications.

The Money Part: How to Price Your Services

Pricing can be intimidating, but don't sell yourself short. You are providing a valuable service that saves brands thousands of dollars. Here’s a breakdown of how to structure your rates.

Common Pricing Models

• Per-Video/Photo: The simplest model. You charge a flat fee for each piece of content.
• Bundles &, Packages: This is a great way to increase your order value. Offer a slight discount for more content (e.g., 3 TikTok-style videos, 10 photos).
• Monthly Retainer: For brands needing a consistent flow of content, you can offer a retainer for a set number of videos and photos each month. This provides stable, recurring income.

Example Starting Rates

Rates vary widely based on experience, but here is a sample starting point for a new creator with a solid portfolio:

• 1 UGC Video: $150 - $250
• 3 UGC Videos: $400 - $650
• 5 UGC Videos &, 10 Photos: $800 - $1,200+

Crucial note on Usage Rights: Your base rate should cover the brand's right to post the content on their organic social channels for a limited time (e.g., 3-6 months). If a brand wants to use your content in paid ads (running it as a Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok ad), you absolutely must charge extra. Paid usage rights significantly increase the value of your content. A common fee is an extra 50-100% of the base rate per month they intend to run the ad.

Always, always, always have a contract that clearly outlines deliverables, revisions, deadlines, payment details, and what usage rights the brand is licensing.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a successful User-Generated Content creator boils down to your ability to create authentic, compelling content and proactively show brands what you can do. It's a field where a strong portfolio and a professional approach matter far more than your follower count, making it one of the most accessible paths to monetizing your creativity today.

As you grow and start juggling multiple projects for different brands, keeping a clear overview of your deliverables and deadlines becomes a challenge. We built Postbase to solve that chaos. Our simple, visual calendar lets you plan and schedule all the awesome UGC you're creating across every one of your clients' platforms, so you can easily see what’s going live and when. It puts you in complete control, ensuring your content always publishes on time, every time, without you losing your mind in spreadsheets.