How to Become a UGC Creator With No Following

Short answer: a UGC creator makes short videos and photos that brands run on their own channels and in their own ads. The brand is buying the content, not your audience, so you can start with zero followers. The path is: shoot sample videos for products you already own, put them on a one-page portfolio, pitch small brands with a sample, then deliver on time so they rebook you.

What a UGC creator actually does

UGC stands for user-generated content. A brand sends you a product and a brief, or you pick a product yourself. You film something that looks like a real customer made it: an unboxing, a demo, a “here is how I use it” clip, a get-ready-with-me, or a testimonial-style video. You hand the files to the brand. They post them from their account or use them in paid ads.

That is different from being an influencer. An influencer posts to their own audience. A UGC creator is hired for the content itself.

Why you don’t need followers

Brands use UGC because customer-style content tends to feel more natural than polished studio ads. The deliverable is the video file. Your follower count does not change what the brand receives. What they do care about is whether your clips look natural, are well lit, are easy to understand, and arrive on time.

What you need to start

• A recent smartphone.
• Soft light. A window works.
• A few products you already own and know well.
• A free or low-cost editing app to trim clips, add captions and export vertical video.
• A place to show your work: a one-page site, a link-in-bio page, or a public folder.

You do not need a studio, a ring light or a following.

Step 1: Pick one or two content types

Start narrow so your samples look consistent. Common formats:

• Unboxing: first look at the product and packaging.
• Demo: the product doing its job.
• Testimonial style: you talk to the camera about why you use it.
• Get ready with me / routine: the product inside a daily habit.
• How-to: three quick steps with the product.

Step 2: Shoot three spec videos

“Spec” means you make it before anyone hires you. Pick three products you own. Treat each one like a real brief: a hook in the first two seconds, one clear message, and a simple ending that tells the viewer what to do next. Film in vertical. Shoot the hook a few different ways and keep the best one. Add captions, because many people watch with the sound off.

Step 3: Build a one-page portfolio

Your portfolio does the job a following would do. Keep it simple:

1. A short line saying who you are and what you make.
2. Your three best clips, with the product category next to each one.
3. What a brand receives: file format, length, number of hook variations, turnaround time.
4. A contact email.

Don’t wait until it feels perfect. A small portfolio you can send today is better than a large one you never finish.

Step 4: Pitch small brands with a sample

Start with brands you really use. Smaller direct-to-consumer brands are often easier to reach than big ones. Lead with a sample instead of a request. A short message:

“Hi [Name], I’m a UGC creator and I use [Product]. I made a short sample video of it, linked here: [link]. If it’s useful for your ads or social, I can make more in this style. Here’s my portfolio: [link]. Thanks for taking a look.”

Most deals don’t come from the first message. Follow up once or twice, politely, a few days apart. Keep a simple list of who you contacted and when.

Step 5: Deliver well and get rebooked

Your first brand is the start of a relationship. A few habits help:

• Read the brief twice and match the requested length and format.
• Send files on or before the deadline, named clearly.
• Offer one reasonable round of changes.
• Ask whether there is a next product or a longer retainer once the first job is done.

Repeat clients are usually easier than finding new ones.

Common beginner mistakes

• Waiting for a following before pitching.
• Making a long portfolio with weak clips. Three strong ones beat ten average ones.
• Copying a brand’s ad style exactly instead of showing a natural point of view.
• Sending a pitch with no sample.
• Not asking about usage rights in writing. Always confirm what the brand can do with the content and for how long.

How rates work (no numbers on purpose)

Rates are usually set by what you deliver, how long the brand can use it, and how fast you turn it around. Ask other creators and look at current marketplace guides before you quote, because prices change. We don’t publish figures here, and nothing on this page is a promise of income. See our Earnings Disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

Learn this as a trade

Digital Trade School teaches UGC as one of its trades: pitching, delivering and getting rebooked, alongside content, editing and AI workflows. See what’s included.