What Is a UGC Creator? 5 Steps to Become One and Get Paid

A UGC creator is a person paid by a brand to make photos, videos or reviews in the style of a real customer, which the brand then uses in its own ads, product pages or social accounts. You don't need a large following. You need good samples and clear packages. These five steps take you from first sample to first paid job.

What a UGC creator does

UGC stands for user-generated content. A brand sends you a product or a brief, you film it the way a customer would, and you deliver the files. The brand may post the content from its own accounts or run it as an ad. For the idea behind the term, see our guide to what UGC content is.

5 steps to become a UGC creator

1. Pick a niche

Choose a category you know from your own life, such as skincare, fitness, pets or kitchen products.

2. Make three samples

Film three short videos with products you already own: a review, a how-to and a before-and-after. Use your phone, natural light and clear audio. Add captions so the video works without sound.

3. Build a simple portfolio

Put the samples on one page or in a Highlight on your Instagram profile, with your niche, the kinds of videos you make and an email address. Our guide to Instagram Highlights for brands shows how to organize them.

4. Pitch brands and join marketplaces

Message small brands in your niche with one sample and one idea for their product. You can also sign up with UGC marketplaces such as Billo and JoinBrands, where brands post briefs. Check each one's sign-up rules for your country.

5. Set clear packages

Write down what one job includes: number of videos, length, formats, how many revisions, delivery date and where the brand may use the content. Set your own prices from the time a job takes. Don't copy a number from an article.

Use Instagram to show your work

Post your samples as Reels, keep a clear bio, and link to your portfolio. See how UGC helps Instagram growth and our Instagram guide for brands.