You’ve probably seen or heard many people on social media talking about UGC. What exactly is UGC? Well, UGC stands for User-Generated Content. UGC is simply content created organically by a brand’s consumer that is then shared on the brand’s social media accounts. Brands love user-generated content because it allows them to connect authentically with their target audience, dramatically impacting potential customers’ purchase decisions. Since brands are constantly looking to share more user-generated content with their followers and consumers, they are always looking for fresh, new faces to help spread the word about their products and services.

Why become a UGC creator

Unlike influencers who need to grow their following before they start working with brands, UGC creators don’t need hundreds of thousands of followers, nor are they required to show their faces. UGC creators simply need to create great content that can be shared on the brand’s social platforms.

Types of UGC

So, what types of content qualify as UGC? Brands are looking for unique photos and/or videos that will resonate with their target audience. Types of UGC include:

How to make money

So, how can you become a UGC creator?

The first step would be to determine what types of brands you want to work with. Basically, what niche do you want to work in? The next thing you want to do is put together a portfolio. Your portfolio should showcase who you are, how you can help brands, and any previous work you can share. If you don’t already have any type of content that you can showcase, now would be a great time to start creating. Start taking some high quality photos and create videos that would make for good TikToks, Reels, and Stories.

Once you’ve got your portfolio together, it’s time to start looking for opportunities. If you’re not ready to pitch brands directly, you can search websites like Upwork, Fiverr, or even Twitter — all of which have tons of brands constantly looking for UGC creators.

Earning potential

So, how much money can you potentially earn as a UGC creator? While many creators claim they’ve earned thousands of dollars in just their first month creating UGC, this doesn’t guarantee that the same will happen for you. On sites like Upwork, some brands are only paying about $5 per video, while bigger brands will pay minimum of $250 for a 60-second video once a relationship has been established. It really all depends on how consistent you are, where you’re finding your deals, and how good your content is. There’s definitely money to be made with UGC.

Things to remember

Like anything else, you need to have patience. Success won’t happen overnight. Don’t go into this expecting to land deals with big brands right away. Not only that, but don’t expect to make thousands of dollars with your first few deals. Once you build up your portfolio and gain that experience, you can start charging more. Lastly, don’t get too comfortable. Social media is always evolving and you never know what changes will be made or what trend will fizz out. Always be prepared to pivot when needed.