It's a myth that you need a huge following to earn money from UGC. You don't need 50,000 followers or a long list of brand collaborations to get started. What you do need is proof that you can create content a brand would actually want to use, a reliable way to find opportunities, and applications that give brands a reason to choose you.
The tricky part for beginners isn't usually creating one UGC video. It's figuring out where the jobs are, which ones are worth applying for, and how to stand out when dozens of other creators are applying too.
Here's how to approach it.
1. How to get your first UGC job
Before you start applying, you need something that shows brands what you can do.
That doesn't mean you need previous clients. In fact, one of the easiest mistakes to make is waiting for your first client before creating a portfolio.
It works the other way around. Your first few samples give a brand something to judge before they take a chance on you.
You can create spec UGC using products you already have at home. If you're still figuring out what kind of UGC you want to create, understanding the difference between Canva UGC and traditional UGC can help you choose the format that fits your strengths.
Pick products you genuinely know how to talk about and create a few different formats, such as:
- A product demonstration
- A testimonial or review
- A problem-and-solution video
- A voiceover with product B-roll
- A lifestyle or routine video
You don't need 20 samples. Three to five good ones are enough to start.
And don't pretend your sample videos were paid collaborations. A well-made sample can tell a brand much more than an empty portfolio ever will.
Your UGC portfolio should demonstrate to brands what kind of content you're proficient in within the first few seconds. It also should be easy to browse. Show the videos first, keep the introduction short, and make your contact information obvious.
Once you have that foundation, getting your first job becomes a matter of putting your work in front of the right brands consistently.
2. Where to find UGC jobs
There isn't one place where every UGC opportunity lives, so it's worth using several channels.
UGC marketplaces and creator platforms
These are particularly useful when you're starting out because brands are already looking for creators and posting real campaigns.
Instead of relying entirely on cold emails and hoping a brand happens to need content, you can apply directly to campaigns that match your location, niche, or content style. This gives you a better chance of being considered because you're responding to an active need, rather than trying to create one from scratch. Even if you aren't selected, your application can still put you in front of the brand and create an opportunity for future work. That's a win-win.
Platforms such as Aveoreach let brands and creators connect around campaigns, making it easier to find relevant opportunities and apply in one place.
Creating a profile on platforms like Aveoreach, where many of your favorite brands are already present, increases your surface area of luck and gives you more chances of being selected for their next campaign.
Social media
Follow brands you'd genuinely like to work with and pay attention to creator calls, casting posts, and UGC opportunities shared on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and creator communities.
You can also search for brands that are already working with UGC creators. If a company is regularly using this kind of content, there's a good chance it's worth approaching them.
Freelance platforms
Websites such as Upwork and Fiverr can have UGC projects alongside broader video and content work.
The competition can be higher, but these platforms can also help you find clients outside your immediate network.
Direct outreach
You don't have to wait for a job listing.
Make a list of brands whose products fit your content and send them a short, specific pitch. Smaller and emerging brands can be particularly worth researching because they may need a steady supply of content but don't have large in-house creative teams.
The important thing is to avoid treating every channel as a numbers game. You want relevant opportunities, not just more applications.
3. How do brands find UGC creators?
The search doesn't only work one way. Brands also have ways of finding creators when they need UGC.
They can post campaigns on creator marketplaces, search creator databases by niche or location, discover creators through social media, work with agencies, or reach out directly to creators whose content fits their brand.
This is why your profile matters even when you're actively searching for jobs yourself. A complete portfolio, clear niche, and examples of your work can help a brand understand what you create without having to guess.
Creator platforms can be particularly useful here. When brands can search for creators based on factors such as niche or location, you don't necessarily have to find the campaign first. A brand looking for someone who fits your profile may find you.
4. Choose UGC jobs worth applying for
Not every UGC opportunity is worth your time.
Before applying, look beyond the headline compensation and check what the brand is actually asking for. How many videos do they want? Are photos included? How many revisions are expected? Where will the content be used? Are they asking for paid advertising rights?
Usage matters because a brand using your video organically on its social channels isn't the same as giving it permission to run that video as a paid advertisement for months.
Also look at whether the opportunity is paid, barter collaboration, commission-based, or a combination of these. There's nothing inherently wrong with barter collaborations if it makes sense for you, but you should know what you're agreeing to before accepting it.
Be cautious when a brand is vague about deliverables, expects a large amount of unpaid work, asks you to pay to participate, or promises exposure instead of clearly explaining the compensation.
A UGC opportunity isn't automatically a good one just because a brand is offering it.
5. How to pitch brands for UGC work
A generic application is easy to ignore.
Hi, I'd love to collaborate with your amazing brand. I think we'd be a great fit!
That doesn't tell the brand anything they can use to make a decision.
A better pitch shows that you've looked at the brief and already have an idea for the content.
For example:
Hi, I saw your brief for the new skincare launch. I'd approach this as a short morning-routine video, starting with the skin concern before introducing the product as part of the routine. I have a similar skincare demo in my portfolio here: [link]. I'd be happy to create a natural, testimonial-style version for your campaign.
That's enough.
You don't need a five-paragraph sales pitch. Show that you understand the product, suggest a useful angle, and make it easy for the brand to see what you can create.
And when possible, send the most relevant portfolio sample rather than making someone click through ten unrelated videos.
6. Make your applications more targeted
If you're applying for everything you see, you're probably making your own job harder.
A brand selling protein powder and a brand selling luxury skincare may both need UGC, but they're looking for very different content styles. Your application becomes stronger when your portfolio already demonstrates the kind of content they're asking for.
This doesn't mean you need to lock yourself into one niche forever. It simply means your portfolio should make sense. Knowing where UGC fits among the different types of influencers can help you understand your strengths and target the right creator opportunities.
If you're interested in beauty, skincare, and wellness, for example, building samples around those categories gives you a stronger starting point than randomly creating videos about whatever products happen to be nearby.
It's also useful to demonstrate range within your style. A brand may want a testimonial for one campaign and a product demo or voiceover for another.
Think of your portfolio as your pitch before you even send the pitch.
7. How much do UGC creators get paid per job?
There's no single rate that every UGC creator should charge. What you earn depends on the content you're creating and what the brand is allowed to do with it.
A single short video for organic social media will generally be priced differently from a bundle of videos that the brand wants to use in paid ads. Usage rights, revisions, raw footage, turnaround time, and the number of deliverables can all affect the final price.
As a beginner, it's useful to think about your rate as a combination of content creation + usage, rather than charging one flat amount for everything.
You may also come across barter opportunities while building your portfolio. These can be useful when you're starting out if the product and amount of work make sense for you, but they shouldn't be confused with paid UGC work.
Most importantly, don't let a generic "average UGC rate" convince you that every job should cost the same. Look at the actual scope before agreeing to a price.
8. What if you're applying but not getting UGC jobs?
Don't immediately assume the problem is your follower count.
Look at the parts you can actually control.
Are your samples good enough to make a brand imagine their product in your hands? Does your portfolio match the jobs you're applying for? Are your applications personalized enough to show that you understand the brief? Are you applying for opportunities that actually fit your content?
You can also track your applications for a few weeks. Note which types of jobs you applied for, which ones received responses, and which samples you used.
Patterns usually become easier to spot once you have some data.
If skincare brands keep responding while fitness brands don't, for example, that tells you something about where your current portfolio is strongest.
Keep creating samples alongside your applications. Your portfolio doesn't have to stay the same once you start looking for work.
9. Turn your first UGC job into the next one
Getting your first paid UGC job is useful for more than the payment.
If the brand allows you to display the work, add it to your portfolio. Ask for a testimonial if the project went well. You can also use the experience to approach similar brands with a much stronger pitch.
And don't overlook repeat work.
If a brand liked your first video, they may need more variations, new products, seasonal content, or fresh creative for another campaign. Delivering reliably can turn a one-off project into an ongoing client relationship.
This is where UGC can start getting easier. Your first few jobs require you to prove that you can do the work. After that, every good project gives you another piece of proof.
