You don’t need lots of followers to be a UGC creator, but you do need to show brands you can make the type of content they need. Here’s how to do that.

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Marketing teams crave user-generated content (UGC), a type of content that’s sweeping TikTok, Instagram Reels, and even platforms like LinkedIn. UGC comes across as more genuine than any other kind of content — and marketers are willing to pay creators big bucks for it. As a content creator, you can collaborate with brands to make high-quality UGC that both turns heads and pads your wallet.

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But how does UGC creation work? Is it different from typical content? Check out this guide to learn what UGC is and how you can become a UGC content creator. 

What Is UGC?

Once upon a time, customers created UGC after falling in love with a brand’s products. Think content like Amazon product reviews, photos, and videos.

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Since 72% of consumers trust customer reviews and testimonials more than content created by brands, companies know how effective this content is. UGC provides much-needed social proof that encourages people to buy. In fact, 79% of shoppers say UGC highly affects their buying decisions, while branded content influences just 13% of buying decisions.

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A reported 60% of marketers said they were planning to use more UGC in 2022 marketing, so it’s no wonder why so many businesses are hiring UGC content creators. 

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Now that brands realize how powerful UGC can be, they want more of it. The problem is that brands have a tough time persuading customers to create UGC for them. That’s why many businesses work with UGC content creators as part of their marketing strategy. 

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As a UGC creator, brands pay you to essentially become your own media studio. You make the content and multimedia, and they distribute it. The brand will take the UGC you create and reshare it across its own social media platforms, eCommerce site, and more.

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 If you’re a creator with a small audience but A-plus content, this could be a great gig for you.

UGC Creators vs. Content Creators

A UGC content creator is a type of influencer who specializes in making UGC for brands. They’re like your typical content creator, but with a twist. While garden-variety creators make content and share it with their own audiences, UGC creators allow brands to share the content instead.

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Sure, creator-made UGC isn’t 100% organic content, but it’s made in the style of real UGC, which is exactly what brands want. Since brands put in the legwork to promote the content, UGC content creation is perfect for smaller creators who still want to monetize their content marketing chops.

5 Steps to Become a UGC Content Creator

The biggest benefit of becoming a UGC content creator is the fact that you can monetize your skills without having a huge follower count. Even if you don’t have a ton of views on TikTok, for example, you can still make money by filming UGC TikToks for brands. 

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If that sounds up your alley, follow these five steps to become a UGC content creator.

1. Hone Your Content Skills

First things first, you need high-quality content. To do that, you need to hone your craft as a creator.

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This might mean: 

• Buying a professional camera
• Mastering editing apps like Adobe
• Researching other UGC social media accounts
• Learning how to use free platforms like Canva

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Brands are outsourcing their content to you, so make sure you have the skills to deliver what they need. 

2. Overhaul Your Profile

Turn your social media profile into a sponsorship magnet by making it as professional as possible. Your social media profile should make it obvious that you offer UGC services to brands. 

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Make sure you use the right type of account to attract business sponsorships. Most platforms have Creator or Business Accounts that offer metrics on your content performance. Switch to these account types so you get access to all of their cool features. Don’t worry, it’s free!

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You should also add hashtags like #UGC to your bio to attract more partnerships. Be sure to drop in a few niche-specific hashtags like #BeautyCreator, #Mompreneur, or #Songwriter so brands can find you more easily, too. Oh, and don’t forget to use your link-in-bio to highlight the fact that you accept brand partnerships. Not to toot our own horn, but Hype lets you do this easily — just saying.

3. Create a UGC Portfolio

Brands need proof that you’re legit before they’ll hire you as a UGC creator. You’ll need to provide a UGC portfolio to prove you’re the real deal. Make sure your portfolio includes: 

• A quick “About Me” section that highlights your education or experience in your niche
• Links to your past posts, as well as screenshots of the content itself
• Engagement metrics to show how your posts perform
• Your pricing and rates
• Contact information

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If you don’t have any UGC work yet, don’t sweat it. Just treat yourself like your own client. Record unboxing videos, even if they aren’t sponsored, or have a photoshoot featuring fashion products you love. Include this content in your portfolio and replace it with real UGC projects as they come in.

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To showcase your portfolio, use a link-in-bio tool to create a microsite featuring your UGC work alongside other social media accounts.

4. Source Brand Collaborations

Unless your content is world-renowned, you’ll probably need to do some legwork to find your first deal as a UGC content creator. 

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You can follow the same steps to finding TikTok sponsors or Instagram sponsors — just be sure to highlight your focus on UGC content instead of audience promotion. 

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There are lots of marketplaces that will match you with brands in need of UGC, too. For example, the TikTok Creator Marketplace will match you with brands who want video content. 

5. Create the Content

Sourcing a brand partnership is the hardest part of this process, so if you secure a deal, congratulations. Now you get to create the UGC content for your client.

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Depending on what the brand needs, you can expect to create content like: 

• Unboxing videos: Did you know that shoppers trust customer reviews 12X more than branded marketing campaigns? That’s why brands pay UGC creators to do honest unboxing videos.
• Social media posts: Brands will hire you to rave about their product in a post or short-form video, which the brand will then share on its own social media. 
• Blogs: Multimedia content matters, but plenty of brands hire UGC creators to write blogs, too. These are usually reviews, but it’s also common to see gift guides and tutorials for promoted products.

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Whatever you do, make sure you follow the brief. Brands will often partner with a handful of UGC creators at one time and forge long-term partnerships with the creators who do the best job. By following the brand’s directions, you’ll prove that you can deliver. 

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Bottom line: If you want a long-term brand ambassador arrangement, make sure you create A-plus content that your clients love.

Create Authentic Content for Brands as a UGC Creator

Being a content creator isn’t easy, but UGC is a great way to dip your toes into the world of influencer marketing, especially if you have a smaller audience. Since UGC creators focus on content creation, you can score paying brand partnerships without a massive following. If you want to become a UGC content creator, follow these five steps to launch your career: 

1. Hone your content skills
2. Overhaul your profile
3. Create a UGC portfolio
4. Find brand collaborations
5. Create A-plus content

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But we know that monetization is a craft, and it takes skill, practice, and lots of know-how. Check out the Hype blog to get the latest tips on finding sponsors, improving your content, and everything else about the business of content creation.