How to become a UGC creator: getting started without a big following

As a UGC creator, you produce videos and photos for brands that publish them themselves – which is why you don’t need followers for it. What counts are convincing work samples, a reliable process and clear prices.

UGC creator with no followers: why it works

In classic collaborations, a brand pays for a channel’s reach. With UGC, it pays for the production: you deliver videos or photos, and the brand runs them on its own channels or as ads. Your own follower count hardly matters. What’s decisive is whether your footage feels natural, whether you can show a product clearly and whether you deliver reliably. That makes UGC a good way in for people who enjoy working in front of or behind the camera but don’t want to build a big channel or are just starting out.

The skills you need

Above all, a UGC creator has to be able to do three things. First, show a product so that people understand within a few seconds what it does and why it’s useful. Second, speak naturally without sounding like they’re reading – or, if you’d rather stay off camera, tell the story with hands, voice and scenes. Third, work cleanly: good lighting, steady shots, clear audio, vertical format. Add reliability, because brands plan around your delivery dates. Editing and captions are a plus but not a requirement. You’ll learn much of this with every job.

Your first work samples without a client

Hardly any brand will book you without examples, and without a job you have no examples. The usual way out: you film sample videos with products you already own. Pick three or four products from different categories and show different formats, such as an unboxing, a testimonial, a short tutorial and a before and after. Make it clear that these are your own samples and not paid jobs. Be careful not to present other companies’ logos or campaigns as if you had worked for the brand. Quality beats quantity: three really good samples convince more than twenty mediocre ones.

Gear to get started

To get started, a recent smartphone with a good camera is enough. More important than a new device are light and sound. A window with daylight or a simple light improves your footage right away. A small clip-on mic makes sure people can understand you clearly. A tripod or mount keeps the shot steady. Add a tidy, neutral background that works for different products. Editing apps on your phone are enough for most jobs. Only invest in more expensive gear once you notice that jobs are falling through because of it.

UGC creator rates and usage rights

UGC rates depend on the effort, the format, the number of variations and, above all, on how the brand wants to use the content. A video for the brand’s own channel is something different from an ad that runs for months with an ad budget behind it. That’s why usage rights are usually priced separately for UGC. Set a base price for each format and think about which surcharges you charge for ads, longer durations or full rights. Also budget time for coordination and revisions. Low prices at the start are understandable, but raising them later is often hard.

Becoming a UGC creator on creatordeal

On creatordeal, UGC is a platform option of its own. You set up a free profile for it and offer packages such as product video, product photo, video ad, photo ad, testimonial or unboxing, each at your price. For every package, we suggest a typical market value that you can freely change. Because no social account is involved, your UGC profile shows no follower count; brands compare you by work samples, niche, language and region. If you accept product samples, brands find you through the “Accepts product samples” filter. You decide yourself which usage rights you offer and what they cost.

Questions

Frequently asked.

Key answers at a glance. Everything else is in the guides and in the FAQ.

Can I become a UGC creator with no followers?

Yes. With UGC, the brand pays for the production, not for your reach, because it publishes the content itself. What matters are your work samples.

How do I become a UGC creator?

Film a few convincing sample videos with products you own, set your formats and prices, and make yourself findable where brands look for UGC. On creatordeal, UGC is a separate option in search.

What equipment do I need as a UGC creator?

To start, a recent smartphone, good lighting, a small microphone and a tripod. More expensive gear only pays off once jobs call for it.

Do I have to show my face as a UGC creator?

Not necessarily. Many formats work with hands, voice and product scenes; say on your profile and before accepting what you offer.

How much should I charge as a UGC creator?

That depends on the format, effort, variations and usage rights. Set a base price per format and charge extra for ad rights and longer durations.

Get found as a UGC creator

Set up a UGC profile, show your work samples and list your packages with prices.

Become a creator

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