How it Works
Brand Deals & UGCHow Brand Deals & UGC Works
1. Create Your Portfolio
Before landing paid opportunities, develop a portfolio of 5-10 sample UGC videos showcasing your content creation skills. Choose 1-3 niches you're passionate about (beauty, tech, fitness, etc.) and create mock brand content demonstrating different styles and approaches. This portfolio serves as proof of your capabilities when pitching to brands and applying to UGC platforms.
2. Secure Brand Partnerships
Find brand opportunities through multiple channels: join UGC marketplaces like Billo, Tribe, or Insense; send cold outreach emails to marketing managers at brands in your niche; or apply to open casting calls on platforms like #Paid. When connecting with brands, focus on how your content can solve their specific marketing challenges rather than talking about yourself. Negotiate clear deliverables, usage rights, and payment terms before beginning any work.
3. Produce High-Converting Content
Once you receive products and creative briefs from brands, plan and shoot your content following platform-specific best practices. Focus on creating authentic, conversion-oriented videos that highlight product benefits within the first few seconds. Most UGC creators batch-produce content, shooting multiple videos in a single session to maximize efficiency. Edit your videos using apps like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush, incorporating brand guidelines while maintaining the authentic, non-commercial feel that makes UGC effective.
4. Deliver, Revise, and Get Paid
Submit your content to brands for review, typically allowing for 1-2 rounds of revisions as specified in your agreement. Once approved, deliver final files in the requested format and resolution. Payment methods vary by relationship type: UGC platforms often pay within 1-2 weeks of approval, while direct brand relationships typically follow Net-15 to Net-30 terms. Many experienced creators require 50% payment upfront for new clients to reduce risk.
5. Scale Your UGC Business
As you build a track record of successful content, focus on converting one-off projects into retainer relationships where brands pay monthly for a set number of deliverables. Increase your rates as you gain experience and can demonstrate results. Many successful UGC creators maintain 5-10 ongoing client relationships, producing content in batches to optimize their workflow. Some creators further scale by forming small agencies, subcontracting other creators while they handle client relationships and strategy.