To get your first UGC brand deal, make three to five sample videos for products you already own, put them on one portfolio link, and pitch small brands directly with a short message and a clear price. Brands do not need a following or past clients to hire you; they need proof that you can make a believable ad video, and a simple way to say yes.
Most first deals come from the same four moves done in order: build samples, package them, pitch with specifics, and quote without flinching. This guide walks through each one with wording you can copy.
What a brand needs to see before they say yes
A brand deciding whether to hire an unknown creator is asking one question: can this person make a video I can run as an ad? Everything you send should answer that quickly.
That means a few things, and nothing more:
- Two or three videos that look like the ad format they already run (a testimonial, a demo, an unboxing).
- A face and voice that match the product's buyer, or at least are easy to believe.
- Clean audio, steady framing and a hook in the first seconds.
- A price and a way to contact you, all in one place.
You do not need a long reel. If you have no work yet, how to build a UGC portfolio from scratch covers making samples without a single paid job.
Step 1: Make samples that look like paid work
Pick products you already own and use: a moisturizer, a water bottle, a kitchen gadget. Film each one the way a brand would brief it.
Choose one niche to lead with
A brand in skincare wants to see skincare. If you have one strong niche, lead with it and keep other work behind it. The niche guides show which buyers, formats and hooks each category tends to use, so your samples match what that buyer already looks for.
Film three different formats
Make one testimonial, one product demo and one unboxing or first-impression video. That gives a brand three reasons to picture you in their feed. Pick formats brands already run in their ads.
Treat each sample like a client brief
Write a one-line brief for yourself ("a 30 second testimonial for a skincare brand targeting people with dry skin"). Add a hook, a problem, a demo and a closing line. Samples that follow a brief read as professional; samples that ramble read as hobby posts.
Step 2: Put everything behind one link
Sending five files in a DM gets ignored. Send one link. Your link should show your videos in vertical format, your rates, and a way to reach you.
A free ugcbios page does this: a playable 9:16 portfolio, a rate card, on-camera traits and a brand inquiry form that lands in an inbox. Any tidy page works, as long as a brand can understand you in under a minute.
Step 3: Find brands worth pitching
Start with brands that already run paid video ads and sell something you have used. Small and mid-size direct-to-consumer brands are the realistic targets for a first deal, because the person reading your message is often the founder or a single marketer.
Where to look:
- Brands whose ads show up in your own feed, especially ones that repeat the same format.
- Products you have bought and could speak about honestly.
- Brands that post "creator wanted" calls, which UGC creator jobs: where to find them covers in detail.
Make a list of ten and treat it as a short project, not a lifetime of cold outreach.
Step 4: Send a pitch that gets answered
Keep it under 100 words. Lead with something specific about their product, not about you.
Here is a template you can adapt:
Hi [name], I have been using your [product] for [time] and the [specific detail] is what stood out. I make short UGC videos for brands (testimonials and demos) and put together a sample idea for [product]: [one-sentence concept]. My portfolio and rates are here: [link]. Happy to send a quick script if it is useful.
Why this works: it names the product, offers a concrete idea, and gives them a link instead of an attachment. Follow up once after a few days with a one-line nudge. If there is no answer, move on to the next brand.
What to do when someone replies
A reply usually asks for your rate. Do not guess in the moment. Have your numbers ready before you send the first pitch, so the conversation does not stall.
Step 5: Quote a price you can defend
First-timers either undercharge to feel safe or go silent when asked about price. Decide your rate card before outreach.
The ugcbios rate calculator's starting point for a creator with 0 to 10 paid videos is $100 for a video up to 30 seconds, and $115 for 30 to 60 seconds. You can run your own numbers in the free UGC rate calculator, which prices each line item.
Here is an example of a priced quote built from the calculator's structure. It is a hypothetical growing creator answering a brand that wants a small batch:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| 3 UGC videos (30–60s), $200 each | $600 |
| Bundle discount (10%) | -$60 |
| 3 extra hooks, $50 each | $150 |
| Paid usage rights, 30 days (25% of video fee) | $135 |
| Total | $825 |
Example only. Your own tier and add-ons will change the figures.
Notice what is separate: extra hooks and paid usage are priced as add-ons instead of buried in the video fee. That way a brand can say yes to a smaller scope without you cutting your rate.
Step 6: Agree the terms in writing
Once a brand says yes, confirm the basics before you film: number of videos, length, revisions, delivery date, how long they can run the video as a paid ad, and when you get paid. A short written agreement protects both sides. The UGC contract template clauses lists what to include.
Do not hand over raw footage or unlimited paid usage unless they are in the quote. Both are common asks, and both are add-ons.
Mistakes that delay a first deal
- Waiting for a perfect portfolio. Three good samples are enough to start.
- Pitching with no price. Brands that cannot see a rate often move on.
- Sending the same generic message to every brand.
- Working for free on a promise of "exposure". A free product in exchange for a video is a choice you can make, but call it a trade and keep the scope small.
- Not following up once.
Send your first pitch this week, not when the portfolio feels finished.
If you want your samples, rates and inquiry form in one place, you can set up a free page on ugcbios and send that single link with every pitch.
