For Creators

Guides for UGC creators

Everything you need to go from your first sample video to repeat clients — with templates you can copy, rate-card worksheets, and the US rules you need to know.

New to UGC? Start here

  1. How to Become a UGC Creator in the US: A Step-by-Step Guide
  2. 15 UGC Sample Videos to Film for Your First Portfolio
  3. How to Build a UGC Portfolio (With a Template Structure)
  4. UGC Rates: How Much to Charge for UGC Videos (With a Rate Card Template)
  5. UGC Pitch Email Templates (Plus Follow-Ups That Don’t Annoy)

Getting started

Getting started How to Become a UGC Creator in the US: A Step-by-Step Guide What UGC creators actually do, what you need to start (no big following required), and a step-by-step plan from your first sample video to your first paid project. Getting started How to Land Your First UGC Client With No Experience or Followers A 30-day plan to get your first paid UGC project without experience or an audience: spec videos, the right first targets, first-deal pricing, and what not to do. Getting started UGC Niches: What Beauty, Fitness, Food, Pet, Lifestyle, and Tech Brands Expect How the main UGC niches differ — the formats each buys, the skills and props you need, and the claim rules to watch — so you can pick a focus that fits you.

Portfolio and profile

Portfolio and profile How to Write a UGC Creator Bio and Profile That Gets You Hired How to write a UGC creator bio, choose your profile videos, and present your rates so brands understand what they get — with fill-in-the-blank bio templates. Portfolio and profile How to Build a UGC Portfolio (With a Template Structure) What brands look for in a UGC portfolio, the sections to include, free ways to host it, and a copy-ready structure you can build in an afternoon. Portfolio and profile 15 UGC Sample Videos to Film for Your First Portfolio Fifteen portfolio videos you can film with products you already own, each with a hook, shot list, and the skill it proves to a brand.

Finding brands and paid work

Finding brands and paid work How to Find Brands That Work With UGC Creators A repeatable research method to find brands already buying creator content — using public ad libraries, marketplaces, and social signals — plus a lead-tracking sheet. Finding brands and paid work How to Turn One UGC Project Into Repeat Client Work What to do during and after a UGC project so the brand books you again: delivery habits, the follow-up offer, and how to structure a monthly package. Finding brands and paid work UGC Jobs: Where to Find Paid UGC Work (and How to Spot Scams) Where paid UGC work actually comes from — platforms, job boards, direct outreach, and agencies — how to judge a listing, and the red flags of UGC job scams. Finding brands and paid work UGC Pitch Email Templates (Plus Follow-Ups That Don’t Annoy) Copy-ready UGC pitch emails and DMs for different situations, follow-up templates with timing, subject lines, and the rules for cold email in the US. Finding brands and paid work UGC Platforms for Creators: How the Main Options Compare How UGC marketplaces, freelance sites, and brand-run creator programs differ for US creators: who sets the price, how you get paid, and what each requires.

Rates and pricing

Rates and pricing UGC Rates: How Much to Charge for UGC Videos (With a Rate Card Template) How to price UGC videos in USD: what drives rates, how to price add-ons like usage, raw footage, and hook variations, and a rate card template you can adapt.

Scripts, filming, and briefs

Scripts, filming, and briefs How to Read a UGC Brief and Handle Revisions Professionally How to break down a UGC brief before you film, the questions to ask, how many revisions to include, and scripts for handling revision requests that go beyond scope. Scripts, filming, and briefs UGC Equipment and Editing Setup for Beginners (Phone-First) The minimum gear for professional-looking UGC, what to upgrade first, phone camera settings, and a simple editing workflow with captions and exports. Scripts, filming, and briefs UGC Script Templates: 8 Structures With Examples Eight UGC script structures — problem/solution, testimonial, demo, comparison, and more — with fill-in templates, example scripts, and timing for 15–60 second videos. Scripts, filming, and briefs How to Film Product Demos, Unboxings, and Testimonials for UGC Shot-by-shot guidance for the main UGC video types: demos, unboxings, testimonials, tutorials, try-ons, and screen recordings, with mistakes to avoid.

Rights, taxes, and disclosure

Rights, taxes, and disclosure FTC Rules for UGC: When Creators and Brands Need to Disclose When a UGC video needs an ad disclosure, who is responsible, how the FTC’s Endorsement Guides and fake-review rule apply, and practical disclosure examples. Rights, taxes, and disclosure Taxes for UGC Creators in the US: 1099s, Deductions, and Quarterly Payments How US UGC income is taxed: self-employment tax, Forms 1099-NEC and 1099-K, free products, deductible expenses, and quarterly estimated payments — from IRS sources. Rights, taxes, and disclosure UGC Usage Rights Explained: What to Charge When Brands Run Your Videos as Ads How creators price UGC usage rights: organic vs. paid, license length, Spark Ads and partnership ads, exclusivity, plus quote and negotiation scripts.