Key takeaways
- A UGC brand deal pays you for content the brand uses on its own channels, so a large following is not required.
- Build two or three niche sample videos before you pitch.
- Pitch with a short, specific message and follow up two or three times.
- Agree scope, usage rights, payment and deadlines in writing before you film.
- Check whether a deal is paid, gifted or affiliate before you accept it.
Last updated: November 2026
A UGC brand deal is a paid agreement where a brand hires you to make photos or videos, then uses that content on its own channels, such as ads, product pages and social accounts. To land one, build a small portfolio, pitch brands that fit your niche, and agree on deliverables, usage rights and payment terms in writing before you film.
This guide is for creators who want paid UGC work and are not sure where to start, including people with a small following or none at all. You will see how deals are structured, where to find them, how to pitch, and what to check before you say yes.
What a UGC brand deal actually is
In a UGC deal, the brand is buying content, not your audience. You film the content and hand over the files. The brand usually posts it from its own accounts or runs it as an ad. That is why follower count matters less than it does in influencer sponsorships.
If you are new to the term, read What Is a UGC Creator? first. If you also post to your own audience, you are in influencer territory, which is covered in Brand Deals: How Small Creators Find and Land Them.
Most deals combine four things:
- Deliverables: what you hand over, such as three short videos or five photos.
- Usage rights: where and for how long the brand may use the content.
- Payment: a flat fee, a fee plus product, or product only.
- Timeline: when drafts and final files are due.
Paid, gifted and affiliate deals compared
Not every brand deal pays cash. Know which type you are looking at before you start.
- Paid: the brand pays a set fee for agreed deliverables. This is the type to aim for.
- Gifted: you receive a product or service and make content in return. Gifted work can help you build samples, but it does not pay your bills.
- Gifted plus affiliate: you receive product and earn a commission on sales you drive. The income depends on sales, so ask how tracking works.
Jem's public Opportunity Board shows paid and gifted campaigns side by side, so you can see the difference on real listings. Each listing states its own platform, deliverables and compensation, so read it before you apply.
Build a small portfolio before you pitch
Brands want proof that you can make the kind of content they sell with. You do not need client work to show it.
- Pick one or two niches, such as skincare, apps or food.
- Film two or three sample videos with products you already own.
- Show a clear hook, the product in use, and a call to action.
- Put the samples in one page you can link, such as a media kit.
For a full walkthrough, see UGC Portfolio: What to Include and How to Build One. You can build your media kit on Jem at jem.social/features-media-kit.
Where to find UGC brand deals
There are three routes. Use at least two at the same time, because replies take time.
Open campaigns that brands post
The fastest route is to apply to campaigns brands have already posted. On the Jem Opportunity Board, brands post live campaigns and creators browse them by type, with compensation and deadline shown on each listing. For other job sources, see UGC Jobs: Where to Find Paid UGC Work.
Direct pitches to brands
Most brands never post a job. They will still hire if a creator shows up with a clear offer. The Brand Pitch Tool gives you brand contacts, AI-written personalized pitches and automatic follow-ups, so you can pitch many brands without writing each email from scratch.
Your own social profiles
Post your best sample videos with a clear line saying you make UGC and are open for work. Some brands search hashtags and profiles for creators. Treat this as a bonus route, not your only one.
How to pitch a brand for a UGC deal
Keep the pitch short. The brand should understand who you are, what you offer and what to do next within a few lines. Use this structure and fill in the brackets:
Subject: UGC creator for [Brand name] [product or category]
Hi [first name],
I make [type of content, such as problem-solution videos] for [niche] brands. I noticed [specific thing about their product or recent content], and I have an idea for [content idea].
Here are two samples: [link 1] and [link 2]. I can deliver [number] videos in [timeframe], with [raw files or edited files].
Would you like my rates and usage options?
[Your name], [portfolio link]
Follow up two or three times, spaced a few days apart. Many replies come after a follow-up, not the first email. The free brand pitch email generator can draft a first version for you.
Set your rates and understand usage rights
Price your work on three things: the type of content, how much editing it needs, and how the brand will use it. Content used in paid ads is worth more to a brand than content posted once on its profile, so usage should change your price.
Before you quote, decide how you will answer these questions:
- Will the brand use the content only on its organic social accounts, or also in paid ads?
- For how long: a fixed period, or with no end date?
- Will the brand post from your handle, or from its own?
- Do you hand over raw footage, and does that cost extra?
Use the UGC rate card generator to turn your answers into a rate card you can send. Never copy a rate you saw in someone else's article without knowing the content type and usage behind it.
Agree the terms in writing
A written agreement protects both sides. Cover these points before you film:
- Scope: number of videos or photos, length, format and number of revision rounds.
- Usage: channels, duration and whether paid ads are included.
- Payment: the amount, when it is due and how it is sent. Ask for a deposit on larger jobs.
- Deadlines: draft date and final date.
- Disclosure: if the content will be posted as a sponsored post, the FTC expects a clear disclosure. See the FTC's Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers.
Be careful with deals that ask for unlimited usage with no extra fee, or that want a large amount of free work first. Deals booked on Jem run through escrow, so payment is not left to chance.
This is general information, not legal advice. For larger contracts, ask a lawyer to review the terms.
Why brands book small creators
Brands do hire small creators. In one example, Triller spent $1,500 across 40 nano and micro creators booked through Jem Social and tracked more than 10,000 conversions at about $0.15 each. You can read the details on the Jem Social pricing page. A small following is not a barrier if your content fits the brief.
Mistakes that cost beginners deals
- Pitching everything to everyone: a pitch that names the brand's product and your matching idea beats a generic template.
- Quoting without asking about usage: a low flat fee can quietly include paid ad rights. Ask first, then price.
- Skipping follow-ups: one email is easy to miss. Schedule your follow-ups when you send the first message.
- Vague samples: three focused samples in the brand's category show more than a long reel of random clips.
- Starting before the terms are clear: confirm scope, usage and payment in writing, then film.
Land your first UGC brand deal this week
Pick your niche and film two samples on day one. Build your portfolio page on day two. Then spend the rest of the week applying to open campaigns and sending short pitches, with follow-ups scheduled. Keep a simple list of every brand you contacted and when.
Ready to start? Set up your pitching with the Brand Pitch Tool, or browse open campaigns on the Opportunity Board and create your creator profile.