How to Become a UGC Creator in 2025: Easy 6-Step Guide to Reach Brands

Nearly 90% of consumers no longer trust traditional influencers. Therefore, UGC (user-generated content) creators are the centerpiece of digital marketing. 

UGC content creators build that trust by sharing genuine and relatable experiences regarding products they actually use. Best of all, brands compensate UGC creators for that authenticity, with UGC creators making an average of $325 for one piece of content. 

Whether you want to start UGC on Instagram, TikTok, or just without showing your face, this complete guide will cover everything you need to know about how to become a UGC creator. Are you ready to make a living from?

6 Steps to Become a UGC Creator

To become a successful UGC creator, you need to follow a structured road map. Here are the six important steps of taking the trip with ease:

Step 1: Choose Your Content Type & Niche

Identifying your specific niche is important to distinguish yourself as a UGC creator. Think about an area that you are authentically familiar with because it adds credibility and authority from the brand perspective.

While this will limit potential clients in the beginning, being an expert is much more credible when reviewing a product in

Consider these potential niches:

• Fitness & wellness
• Growth & career
• Cooking
• Books
• Beauty & skincare
• Fashion

Research what’s trending yet underserved to identify gaps you can fill with your unique perspective.

Step 2: Learn How to Create Authentic Content

Authenticity drives successful UGC. Brands are interested in content that feels real and unscripted – like recommendations from a trusted friend.

Identify successful UGC in your niche to first examine what resonates. To create authentic content:

• Utilize natural lighting (the “golden hour” is best at sunrise or sunset)
• Maintain clean backgrounds and detail orientation
• Always focus on real experiences and genuine reactions
• Generate content solving a problem/pain point your audience encounters
• If you’re shooting a video, keep it short with a strong hook and call to action

Practice using products that you already own at home before reaching out to brands.

Step 3: Build a Portfolio with Sample Videos

For UGC creators, your portfolio is your digital resume. Since brands usually only send products to creators with portfolios, you should create content for products you own first.

A good UGC portfolio should include:

• A well-designed cover page displaying  your name and profile picture
• A brief description of what you do
• Content samples that represent your range of services (reviews, tutorials, unboxings)
• Content grouped into niche categories
• Different forms of content (distinguished video styles or photography) 

Concise Portfolio to show high-quality work instead of quantity, while also showing your freshest work.

Step 4: Optimize Your Social Media Profiles

Establishing a captivating online presence has a profound effect on acquiring potential clients. Your online profiles should show that you’re a UGC creator who can get results the moment clients see them. For your profiles to be optimized:

• Use a professional profile picture
• Have a bio that states “you are a UGC creator”
• Emphasize your niche and your strengths in content creation
• Maintain consistent branding across all platforms
• Show off your best UGC work first
• Add your email for inquiries

Instagram and TikTok are really great ways

Step 5: Join UGC Platforms & Communities

UGC platforms have the ability to directly connect creators with brands looking for content.

They are an ideal option for beginners who are still building a portfolio and need valuable content to share with brands! Common UGC platforms are: 

• Social Cat and Insense (best for beginners with gifted products) 
• Trend and Influee (specialized UGC marketplaces) 
• Billo and UGC Shop (more specific about the type of content)

You can also join creator communities and Facebook groups to connect with other creators who have a similar knowledge base and share ideas.

Step 6: Start Pitching & Selling Your Content

Cold outreach is critical to getting UGC opportunities. Despite being intimidating to begin with, there’s no doubt that it pays off to pitch specifically and thoughtfully.

When targeting brands to pitch:

1. Understand the brand fully (products, audience, current marketing)
2. Tailor your pitch to address how your content will
3. Showcase your expertise in the related niche and your strength in the content
4. Creation
5. Include links to samples of your best related content if possible! 
6. Use a compelling subject line that makes them want to open the email

Follow up if you don’t hear anything within a week, but avoid more than a couple.

As you grow your portfolio, it is reasonable to continue to raise your

How to Become a UGC Creator on TikTok

TikTok has emerged as a powerhouse for UGC creators in 2025. Data shows TikTok UGC is 22% more effective than brand-created videos, with creator-based Spark Ads achieving 30% higher completion rates and 142% more engagement. To start your journey:

1. Before you do anything else, figure out your niche – is it beauty, tech, fitness, or cooking? Specializing and knowing the most popular TikTok tags will give you traction with a dedicated audience.
2. Invest in basic equipment – while authenticity is what matters most, you’ll surely stand out just by putting a little effort into lighting and audio quality. A ring light and a decent microphone can elevate your content.
3. Create personality-based content – TikTok thrives on authentic voices. Be yourself! Letting your personality show on video can build an engaged audience and allow brands to recognize your individual voice.
4. Develop branded hashtags – Create some unique hashtags and promote them. This will help brands find your content and utilize your hashtags.

The best part about how to be a UGC creator is that you don’t need to have a huge following – brands care less about your followers and more about your content quality! 

How to Become a UGC Creator on Instagram

Instagram offers a visual, polished platform for UGC creators primarily focused on aesthetic content. To establish yourself:

1. Optimize Your Profile: Your bio clearly says “I create UGC” and lists either a contact email or a link to your portfolio. 
2. Pin your content: Pin your best UGC content to the top of your profile so whoever views your profile can get to your best content right away. 
3. Post consistently: You want potential brand partners to see you as a reliable source that creates UGC content regularly. 
4. Engage: Talk to, share, and create content for brands that you would potentially like to work with. 
5. Use the features of the platform: Use Stories and Reels with the most popular Instagram hashtags to highlight and showcase your UGC content in several versatile ways.

What is a UGC Creator & Why Brands Want Them

User-generated content (UGC) creators are playing an increasingly important role for brands looking to forge authentic connections. Let’s take a deeper dive into what makes these creators special.

UGC Creator Meaning & How it’s Unlike from Influencers

A UGC creator is a content creator who creates branded content and does not always need to have a large following to be a UGC creator.

This distinguishes them from traditional influencers, who are exerting their audience as a primary method of monetization.

UGC creators prioritize producing content with quality, not audience reach. They provide authentic and relatable content to brands that can use the content on their digital marketing channels.

Most importantly, as you learn how to become a UGC creator, you will come to learn that when you create content for a brand, it lives on the brand’s channels—not your own.

Why Brands Prefer UGC Over Traditional Ads

More brands are coming to terms with UGC, with the trust factor surpassing traditional advertising.

We also know that 90% of consumers say authenticity matters when deciding what brands to support. Yet, only about 1% of people consider traditional advertising credible enough to click.

The numbers show UGC outperforms influencer content by 9.8 times, with consumers creating their purchasing decisions, as well as 93% of marketers report UGC campaigns showed significantly better performance than traditional branded content.

Meanwhile, on Instagram or TikTok, brands prefer this content because it acts as social proof.

What Makes UGC Content Effective

• The Influence of Authenticity in UGC: 85% of people say user-generated content is more authentic than content created by a brand, and are 5 times more likely to convert and purchase the product.
• Relatable: User-generated content seems more natural and less forced. It felt more like what you might get from a friend – not a brand.
• Significant impact: 93% of consumers report it’s the user-generated content that influences their purchasing decisions over an ad campaign or traditional advertising methods in general.
• Creates a sense of trust and ownership: When consumers see their peers using the product, they may feel more fear of missing out and feel one step closer to participating in the brand, and thus trust.
• Measurable results: UGC creators generate more authentic content that converts at high levels and creates trust and connections to your brand.
• Face optional: It still comes down to authenticity. You do not have to show yourself; just be authentic in your user-generated content.

What You Need to Start as a UGC Creator

In fact, most newcomers already have everything they need! I will go over specifically what you need to create professionally-looking content that brands will appreciate.

Basic Hardware

Your smartphone is likely the only thing you’ll need to start! Most modern phones, especially iPhones, can take high-quality video, which is perfect for creating UGC content. 

However, if you’re willing to invest some money, the Canon M50 video camera is a great option that has stunning image quality at a reasonable price point.

Audio also makes such a difference in the quality of video content you produce. A good microphone will improve your UGC content immediately.

There are low-cost options, like the PoP voice lavalier microphone, that provide great sound for the price.

If you’re looking to invest in an incredible audio experience, the DJI Mic with 2 wireless lavalier mics will offer great quality, which some will say will “change your career.”

Appropriate lighting is a necessity if you want a professional look to your content.

Most videos shot with professional lighting receive upwards of 66% more engagement. Natural light that comes through a window, and during the “golden hours”, can do very well.

Eventually, you can upgrade with a ring light or something else like the Neewer Ring Light with more color modes.

Recommended Software to Edit & Record

Editing can be both simple and affordable. CapCut has become the default application within the UGC creator space, providing features that a UGC creator would find on a professional editing platform.

CapCut is a free resource on mobile and desktop created by TikTok’s parent company, and it has built-in integration with social media platforms.

Canva offers incredible versatility for photo editing and graphics without a very much of learning curve.

For those wanting to level up, they may explore Adobe products such as Photoshop Express and Premiere Pr,o which also have enhanced tools for more creative young people.

Best Platforms to Publish UGC Content

Instagram remains a vital platform to share visual user-generated content. Instagram offers several features (Stories, Reels, Posts), providing brands with options for the type of content, albeit primarily visual.

The platform’s visual nature also makes it a suitable choice for product demonstrations and lifestyle content.

TikTok is a giant in short-form user-generated videos. TikTok’s algorithm showcases engaging content to people regardless of the number of followers the creator has, which can be considerable for new creators looking to get attention.

YouTube offers a home for longer, more detailed UGC content. While requiring more production effort, YouTube videos provide space for in-depth product reviews and tutorials that, with the most popular YouTube tags, you can easily showcase your skills to potential brand partners.

Beyond publishing, consider joining UGC platforms that connect creators with brands.

How to Stand Out to Brands

In the competitive UGC marketplace, knowing what brands really want will differentiate you. When you provide the types of value that brands really care about, you become their preferred creator.

What Brands Actually Look for in UGC Creators

When seeking to collaborate on UGC with a brand, a common misconception is that “the more polished the better.”

However, brands love creators who are sharing their authentic response/experience to brands/products since their reaction/recommendation feels more like a family/friend recommendation to viewers.

You will want to consider engagement over follower count. Brands prefer creators who can generate engagement with a smaller audience than brands that have a bigger but less engaged audience.

Several brands are also starting to consider other ways that audiences are interacting with content, through comments, shares, saves, etc., instead of only tracking views.

A consistent posting signals reliability to potential brand partners. Regular posting demonstrates your commitment and professionalism; inconsistent creators raise red flags about potential campaign delays.

Tips to Make Your Content More Brand-Friendly

Show your products through lifestyle storytelling. Brands want to see you using their products, putting on skincare, drinking a beverage, or showing features.

Be real and quality. Being real is one thing, but your videos need to show good lighting, framing, and editing- basically quality, considering as one industry expert put it, “production value still matters even if the content is authentic”.

Research each brand thoroughly before creating content. Understanding their audience, values, and aesthetic helps tailor your approach accordingly.

How to Write a Compelling Pitch

Craft attention-grabbing subject lines that highlight benefits. Considering most brand inboxes overflow with pitches, try formats like “[Top UGC For Brand Name]” to stand out.

Personalize every outreach attempt. Generic copy-paste messages often land in trash folders. Instead, mention specific products you love and explain why your content style aligns perfectly with their brand.

Include a tailored content sample created specifically for that brand. This demonstrates initiative and gives brands a tangible preview of your capabilities.

Outline clear collaboration opportunities in your pitch. Detail exactly what you can deliver, whether it’s product reviews, tutorials, or lifestyle integration.

How to Make Money as a UGC Creator

The journey from casual content creator to paid professional offers multiple revenue streams for savvy UGC creators. Let me show you the most effective ways to turn your content into cash.

Sponsored Content & Brand Deals

Brand partnerships constitute the primary source of income for UGC creators. Partnerships usually entail making real content that showcases a brand’s product for the brand to use across its marketing.

As a result, many top creators, classified as successful mid-tier creators, can typically earn between $250-500 per commissioned video. Therefore, if a creator is working consistently, that adds up to $2,500-5,000/month.

Brand ambassadors also tend to offer a bit more stability than one-off projects. These longer-term work partnerships usually keep the income more consistent while also allowing you to build even deeper relationships with specific companies.

Affiliate Marketing & Product Links

Making money through recommendations is a win-win situation! As a UGC creator, you get to promote products you love using specific partner links, and you get paid whenever someone purchases from your link!

This works really well in the luxury space, where people care a lot about trust. For example, Louis Vuitton has great ways to promote content created by customers that shows how real people use their products!

Selling Pre-Made UGC Videos

Pre-made content offers a flexible income stream without requiring large followings. Unlike sponsored content that appears on your own channels, these videos become brand property to use in their marketing.

Professional creators strategically batch filming days and use templates for everything from pitches to invoices. Equally important, they track clients, rates, and deliverables through simple spreadsheets.

Using Billo, Collabstr, & Upwork

Dedicated UGC marketplaces connect creators directly with brands seeking content. Collabstr enables you to create a profile, list your services, and get discovered by over 250,000 brands, including Wealthsimple and Hopper. Furthermore, it handles payments upfront, guaranteeing you get paid.

Billo focuses on short-form video content tailored to drive the best outcomes for your ad performance. Through its database of over 150,000 ads, the platform will match creators with brands to generate ideal results.

Another noteworthy option is JoinBrands, which provides competitive rates relative to numerous influencer platforms.

Start Becoming The Next UGC Creator

In this era of digital marketing and nowadays with the usage of AI in content creation, the possibilities for a UGC creator are limitless. Authentic and relatable content now quickly surpasses filtered and edited advertisement campaigns, and brands want to leverage creators who can reflect real experiences.

Just focus on building your voice, filming great videos, and compiling your creative body of work into a portfolio. From sponsored collaborations to affiliate marketing and pre-made video sales, there are multiple ways to monetize your skills.

UGC Creator FAQs

1. What skills do I need to become a successful UGC creator?

If you’re looking to succeed in the world of UGC, then emphasize additional authentic engagements, storytelling, and viewer engagement. Hone your video shooting and editing skills, and make 100% authentic, relatable content that flows naturally with your viewers.

2. How much can I expect to earn as a UGC creator?

Generally, UGC creators earn $250–$500 per video. If you get used to working with brands and are steady each month with good experience, you could make $2,500–$5,000 each month, depending on your niche, skill level, and demand.

3. What are the risks of User-Generated Content (UGC)?

The biggest risk of UGC is negative content. UGC gives a genuine snapshot of customers; however, it can lead a brand to be exposed to negative reviews, comments, or negative feedback that can harm its reputation.