How to Become a UGC Creator With No Followers

Last updated: October 2026

You become a UGC creator by making short, native-looking videos or photos about products, building a small portfolio of samples, and pitching brands that pay for content they run on their own channels and ads. You do not need followers, because brands are buying the content, not your audience.

This guide is for beginners who have a phone, no audience and no paid work yet. It walks through the steps in order, from your first sample video to your first paid booking.

What a UGC creator does

A UGC creator makes content that looks like it came from a real customer, then hands it to a brand. The brand posts it on its own accounts, uses it in ads, or puts it on product pages. Common formats include unboxing videos, product demos, "get ready with me" clips, testimonials to camera and simple photo sets.

This is different from influencing. An influencer sells access to an audience. A UGC creator sells content. If you want the full definition first, read our guide What Is UGC?.

Do you need followers to be a UGC creator?

No. Because the brand publishes your work on its own channels, your personal follower count does not decide whether you get hired. Jem Social's UGC creator page says the same: brands hire UGC creators for content they run on their own channels and ads.

Some campaigns do ask you to post on your own account as well. Those listings state their follower range up front, so read each one before you apply. Plenty of UGC work asks for none.

Step 1: Pick a niche and a content style

Choose one or two categories you know well, such as skincare, food, fitness, pets, home or apps. Brands in a category want to see that you understand its customers. Then pick a style you can repeat, for example talking to camera, voiceover over product footage, or clean photo sets.

A narrow focus makes pitching easier. "I make skincare demo videos" is clearer than "I make content for anyone."

Step 2: Get basic gear and skills

A recent smartphone is enough. Add these basics:

• Light: film near a window, or use a cheap ring light.
• Sound: record in a quiet room. Bad audio loses a viewer faster than bad video.
• Stability: a small tripod or a stack of books.
• Editing: learn to trim, add captions and export vertical 9:16 video in a free phone editing app.
• Hooks: practice a first line that makes someone keep watching in the first second or two.

Step 3: Make 3 to 5 sample videos

You have no clients yet, so create your own samples. Use products you already own or can buy cheaply. Treat each one like a real brief: a hook, a demo, a clear benefit and a call to action.

1. Film one video in your main style.
2. Film one in a second style so brands see range.
3. Make at least one version with captions and one clean version without captions or music, since brands often ask for both.
4. Keep each sample short and watchable on a phone.

Label these as samples. Do not imply a brand paid for them or hired you.

Step 4: Build a simple portfolio

Put your best samples in one link. A shared folder, a free link page or a media kit all work. Add a short bio that says what you make, your niche, the formats you offer and how to contact you. Our media kit tool lets you build this once and reuse it.

Also set your social profiles up so they back you up. Pin your best sample and say "I create UGC" in your bio.

Step 5: Set your rate

Price per deliverable, not per hour. Think about what the brand gets: the number of videos, the length, editing, and where they can use it. Paid ads usage is worth more than organic posting, so ask what rights the brand wants before you quote. Our UGC rate card generator helps you turn that into a clear rate card.

Worked example, with made-up numbers for illustration only: if you quote $X per video and a brand wants three videos, the base price is 3 x $X, before any extra for ad usage or rush delivery. Show that math in your quote so the brand sees what it is paying for.

Step 6: Find brands that pay for UGC

You have three main routes. Use more than one.

• Open campaigns: Jem Social's public Opportunity Board lists paid and gifted campaigns from brands. Each listing states the platform, deliverables and deadline. See also our guide to UGC jobs.
• Cold pitching: email brands directly with a short, specific pitch. Our guide on how to pitch brands has the structure, and the brand pitch email generator drafts one for you.
• Your network: local shops, friends' businesses and brands you already buy from often need content and rarely have a creator.

Gifted campaigns pay in product, not cash. They can be a fair way to build samples early. Move to paid work as soon as your portfolio supports it.

Step 7: Land the job and deliver it well

When a brand says yes, confirm the details in writing before you film: number of videos, length, due date, revisions, usage rights, fee and payment date. Deliver on time, send files in the format asked for, and make the allowed edits quickly. A smooth first job is how you get the second one.

If your content is paid or gifted and will be posted publicly, a clear disclosure is required. Read the FTC's Disclosures 101 for social media influencers.

Common mistakes new UGC creators make

Most early problems are easy to avoid once you know them.

• Copying ads word for word. Watch ads for structure and pacing, then write your own script in your own voice.
• Making polished, overproduced videos. UGC should feel real. Natural light and a casual tone often work better than studio gloss.
• Skipping the scope. If a brief does not say how many revisions you owe or how long the brand can use the video, ask before you start.
• Working for free over and over. One or two gifted jobs can fill out a portfolio. After that, ask what the budget is.
• Sending one pitch and waiting. Follow up politely two or three times. Many replies come after the first message.
• Making claims the brand has not approved. Do not promise health results or compare against competitors unless the brief says you can.

What to put in your first pitch

Keep it short. Name the brand's product, say what kind of video you would make, link two samples and state your rate or ask for their budget. Use a structure like this, filling in each bracket yourself:

Subject: [Product name] UGC video idea
Hi [first name], I use [product] and I make [format] videos for [niche]. Here are two samples: [link 1], [link 2]. I could make [number] videos for [product] with [deliverables]. My rate is [rate]. Would you like me to send a quick concept?

Send it to the person who handles marketing or partnerships, not a general inbox when you can avoid it.

How long does it take to get your first UGC job?

There is no fixed answer. It depends on your niche, the quality of your samples and how many brands you contact. Creators who pitch steadily and apply to open campaigns each week give themselves more chances than creators who wait. Track every pitch and application in a simple sheet so you can see what is working and adjust your samples and your message.

Start your first week

Here is a simple plan for the next seven days:

1. Day 1: choose your niche and style.
2. Days 2 to 4: film and edit three samples.
3. Day 5: build your portfolio link or media kit.
4. Days 6 and 7: apply to open campaigns and send your first pitches.

Keep following up. One pitch rarely lands a booking, so send several and track replies.

Pitch your first five brands this week

Once your samples are ready, the Brand Pitch Tool helps you reach brands faster. It costs $20/mo and includes AI-written personalized pitches and automatic follow-ups. See how the Brand Pitch Tool works, or create a free creator profile to get started.