1. What a UGC creator does
UGC stands for user-generated content. As a UGC creator you film videos that look and feel like a real customer talking about a product: unboxings, try-ons, reviews, routines and tutorials. The brand then posts them, runs them as ads, or both.
The big difference from influencer work is that brands pay for the content, not your audience. Your video might never appear on your own account. That's why you can start without a big following.
2. Pick a niche you can film every week
Brands look for creators who fit their customer. Pick one or two areas you already live in, so filming is easy and believable:
- Apparel and activewear: try-ons, fit checks, workouts in the product.
- Beauty, skincare and hair: routines, before and after, honest first impressions.
- Food, drink and supplements: recipes, taste tests, day in the life.
- Home, pets and parenting: setups, real use, problem and solution.
Your niche can grow later. Starting focused makes your portfolio look intentional.
3. Build a portfolio with no brand deals
Brands decide in seconds, usually from your best video. Make three to five sample videos using products you already own:
- Choose products in your niche you genuinely use.
- Film each one in a different format (see the next section).
- Keep them 15 to 45 seconds, vertical, with a strong first two seconds.
- Post them on TikTok or Instagram so you have links to share.
Pin your best one. When you apply to brands, that link does most of the selling.
4. Learn the videos brands actually buy
Talking to camera
You speak straight to the viewer about a problem and how the product helped. Simple, trustworthy and the most requested format.
Unboxing and first impressions
Open the package, react honestly, and show the details a buyer would want to see up close.
Try-on, routine or tutorial
Show the product being used the way a customer would: an outfit, a skincare routine, a recipe, a workout.
Day in the life
The product shows up naturally in your day. Works well for food, drink, wellness and lifestyle brands.
Whatever the format, the hook is everything. Open with the problem, a bold claim you can back up, or the most interesting visual you have.
A simple structure for creating UGC
- Hook (first 2 seconds): the problem, the result, or the most interesting shot.
- Context: who you are and why you needed this, in one sentence.
- Product in use: show it working, close up, the way a buyer would use it.
- Proof: your honest reaction, a before and after, or the detail that sold you.
- Call to action: tell the viewer what to do next, like “check the link”.
Need ideas to film? See UGC hooks and video ideas brands run as ads.
5. Keep your setup simple
- A recent phone, filming in 4K or 1080p, vertical.
- Natural light: face a window, avoid overhead lights.
- Clear audio: a quiet room, or a cheap clip-on mic.
- Free editing apps for cuts and captions. Always add captions.
6. Find brands and apply
There are a few ways to land deals:
- Brand creator programs. Many DTC brands run an application page for creators. Search the brand name plus “creator program” or “ambassador”.
- Directories. The SQWAD brand directory lists brands that send free product and pay commission. You see the offer, open spots and posting deadline before you apply.
- Direct pitches. Email or DM a short pitch with your best video link, your niche and why their product fits your content.
Looking for paid work, not just product? See how to find paid UGC jobs.
Apply to brands in one tap. A free SQWAD creator profile saves your socials, best videos, sizes and shipping address once. Use it to quick apply to any brand on SQWAD, and let brands that fit your niche invite you.
7. Understand how you get paid
- Free product: the brand sends the product in exchange for a video. Great for building a portfolio.
- Commission: you earn a percentage of the sales your link or videos drive. This can add up when a brand runs your video as an ad.
- Flat fee per video: a set price for each video delivered.
- Retainers and bonuses: a monthly goal, like a set number of videos, with a fixed bonus when you hit it.
Before you start, check who owns the video, how long the brand can run it as an ad, and your posting deadline. Keep track of your earnings for taxes.
8. Work like a pro so brands rebook you
- Post on time. Deadlines usually start when the product arrives.
- Follow the brief, then add one idea of your own.
- Send links and raw files the way the brand asks.
- Be easy to reach and reply quickly.
Brands keep a short list of creators they trust. Hitting deadlines is the fastest way onto it.
Bonus: your first 30 days as a UGC creator
If you want a plan to follow, here is a simple month that takes you from zero to applying to brands:
- Week 1, set up: pick your niche, gather three to five products you already own, and find a spot with good window light.
- Week 2, film samples: make one video per format from section 4. Write three hooks for each and film them all, then keep the best.
- Week 3, build your portfolio: post your samples, pin the strongest one, and put your links in one place. See how to build a UGC portfolio.
- Week 4, apply and pitch: apply to brands in the SQWAD brand directory and send a few short pitches. See how to pitch brands.
After the first month, keep filming one or two new samples a week. Your portfolio gets stronger and you always have something fresh to send.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lot of followers to be a UGC creator?
No. Brands pay for the video, not your audience, so many UGC creators start with small accounts. A strong portfolio of sample videos matters more than follower count.
How do UGC creators get paid?
Common setups are free product, a flat fee per video, commission on the sales your link or videos drive, or a monthly retainer. Many programs combine free product with commission.
What equipment do I need?
A recent phone, natural light from a window, and a quiet room are enough to start. A cheap clip-on mic helps with talking-to-camera videos.
What is the difference between a UGC creator and an influencer?
An influencer is paid for reach: posting to their own audience. A UGC creator is paid for the video itself, which the brand usually posts on its own pages or runs as an ad. That is why becoming a UGC creator does not require a big following.
How do I start creating UGC with no experience?
Film three to five sample videos with products you already own, each in a different format: talking to camera, unboxing, try-on or routine, and day in the life. Keep them short and vertical with a strong hook, post them, and use the best one as the first link you send brands.
How long does it take to become a UGC creator?
You can have a starter portfolio within a couple of weeks if you film a few videos a week. Landing the first brand deal depends on how many brands you apply to and how well your samples fit their customer, so keep applying while you keep filming.
Where do I find brands that work with UGC creators?
Brand websites and creator programs, creator marketplaces, and directories like the SQWAD brand directory, where you can apply to brands with one profile.