Hi friends! Grab your coffee because I have some exciting news to share.
I officially landed and got paid for my first UGC deal!
And honestly, this feels like a bigger accomplishment than the amount of money itself.
I had been putting off trying UGC for months because I wasn’t sure I was good enough. I kept wondering whether brands would actually want to work with someone like me.
But eventually, I decided to stop overthinking it, apply for an opportunity, and see what happened.
And now I have my first paid UGC project under my belt.
Here’s exactly how it happened, what I learned, and what I’d tell anyone who is thinking about trying UGC for the first time.
What Is UGC?
If you’re completely new to UGC, it stands for user-generated content.
UGC creators make videos, photos, reviews, testimonials, demonstrations, and other types of content that brands can use for their marketing.
One thing I didn’t fully understand when I first started looking into UGC is that you don’t necessarily have to be an influencer to become a UGC creator.
UGC is different from traditional influencer marketing.
Instead of getting paid primarily because you have a large audience, brands can hire UGC creators to create content that they can use on their own social media, websites, advertisements, email marketing, and other platforms.
That was one of the things that made UGC so interesting to me.
I wasn’t looking to become a full-time influencer.
I was looking for another way to make money from home using skills I was already developing through my own business and social media content.
The Doubt That Almost Stopped Me
I’ll be honest.
I put off applying for months.
Not because I didn’t want to do it, but because I had that little voice in my head asking:
“Are you actually good enough for this?”
And that wasn’t a new feeling for me.
It’s actually the same doubt that kept me from making videos for my own business for a long time.
I would think about making videos, but then I’d talk myself out of it.
What if I look awkward?
What if nobody watches?
What if I’m not good at it?
What if people judge me?
But here’s the thing.
I want financial freedom for my family.
I want the flexibility to be there for my kids while still being able to contribute financially.
My family is my why.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to magically become fearless. It just means my reason for doing this is bigger than my fear of looking silly on camera.
So I finally pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started making videos for my business.
And something surprising happened.
I actually loved it.
Making videos has been so much more fun than I expected. I’ve had success with them, I’ve enjoyed creating them, and I’ve become much more comfortable putting myself out there.
It reminded me of one of my favorite sayings, one that I probably need to remind myself of a lot more often:
Success is on the other side of your comfort zone.
I had already pushed myself outside my comfort zone with my own business.
So I decided it was time to do the same thing with UGC.
How I Got My First Paid UGC Deal
The process was actually much simpler than I expected.
I filled out an application for a brand and heard back the same day.
They told me they thought I would be a good fit and sent me the campaign brief and contract.
I signed the contract and had about two weeks to complete the video.
The video needed to be between 60 and 120 seconds long.
Mine ended up being about 70 seconds.
And you know what?
Once I finally got over myself and actually sat down to film it, it didn’t take that long at all.
That is something I really want to remember the next time I start overthinking something.
I spent much more time worrying about filming the video than I actually spent filming it.
I followed the brief, recorded my video, looked it over, and submitted it.
That’s it.
My first UGC video was done.
Getting Paid for My First UGC Video
Then came the part I was really curious about:
Would I actually get paid?
I was told payment would be made within 24 to 48 hours after the required process was completed.
I received my payment about 36 hours later.
Exactly as promised.
My first UGC payment was $50.
And if the brand ends up using my video in their content, I will receive another $150.
So I’m obviously hoping they use it!
That would bring the total for this first project to $200.
But even without that additional payment, getting that first $50 was exciting.
Not because $50 is going to change my life.
It isn’t.
It was exciting because it was proof.
Proof that I could take something I was nervous to try and turn it into actual income.
That’s a pretty cool feeling.
What My First UGC Deal Taught Me
My first UGC project taught me several things that I think are worth sharing if you’re considering becoming a UGC creator.
1. You don’t have to feel ready before you start
I definitely didn’t feel ready.
If I had waited until I felt completely confident, I probably still wouldn’t have applied.
Sometimes you have to start while you’re still nervous.
2. You may spend more time worrying than actually doing
This one is definitely for me.
I spent weeks thinking about applying.
Then I spent days putting off filming.
And when I finally sat down to make my 70-second video?
It didn’t take nearly as long as I had built it up in my head.
Sometimes the hardest part is simply starting.
3. Your first UGC video doesn’t have to be perfect
I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we see polished videos online.
But UGC isn’t necessarily about creating a perfect, highly produced commercial.
Brands can be looking for content that feels natural, relatable, and authentic.
Following the brief and delivering what the brand requested is much more important than trying to make yourself look perfect.
4. You don’t necessarily need a huge following
This was one of the things that really interested me about UGC.
A UGC creator isn’t necessarily being hired because they have thousands or millions of followers.
You’re being hired to create content.
The brand can then use that content on its own platforms.
That makes UGC an interesting option for people who enjoy making videos but don’t necessarily want to become influencers.
5. Your family can be your motivation
I think this is probably the biggest lesson for me.
There will always be reasons to stay comfortable.
There will always be a reason to say, “Maybe later.”
But I have goals for my family.
I want more financial freedom.
I want flexibility.
I want to build income streams that can work around my life instead of always feeling like my life has to work around my income.
That’s my why.
And when I remember that, taking the uncomfortable step becomes a little easier.
What Helped Me Get Started With UGC
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While I was researching how to get started with UGC, I came across the Anti-Influencer Method.
I decided to go through it because I wanted to better understand how UGC works, what brands are looking for, and how someone without a large following can approach this type of work.
It helped me understand the difference between being an influencer and being a UGC creator, how to position myself, and how to approach opportunities.
It also gave me a more structured way to think about getting my first UGC deal instead of just randomly applying for things and hoping something worked.
For me, having a system to follow helped take some of the guesswork out of getting started.
That doesn’t mean the course magically landed my first deal for me. I still had to apply, create the content, and actually do the work.
But having more direction helped me feel confident enough to finally take that first step.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out the Anti-Influencer Method.
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through my link, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
I’m Also Trying Pet UGC
And because apparently I wasn’t nervous enough already, I decided to explore another type of UGC.
I joined a Skool community called Paws on Payroll, which focuses on creating UGC for pet brands.
And honestly, this one makes me laugh.
My pets don’t contribute a single penny to our household finances, so I figured it was about time they started earning their keep.
Ha!
Pet UGC is interesting to me because I can create content featuring my pets without necessarily having to be the person on camera for every project.
The community teaches members about pitching pet brands, finding pet UGC opportunities, and creating content with their pets.
And no, your pet doesn’t need thousands of followers either.
Sometimes the most impressive thing my pets do is sleep on the couch, so I’m pretty sure we’re qualified.
If you’re interested in pet UGC, you can learn more about Paws on Payroll.
Do You Need Followers to Do UGC?
This was one of my biggest questions when I started researching UGC.
The short answer is not necessarily.
Traditional influencer marketing is generally tied to an individual’s audience and reach.
UGC works differently.
A brand may hire a creator because they like the creator’s ability to make relatable videos, demonstrate products, tell a story, or create content that feels natural on social media.
The brand can then use that content on its own channels.
That’s why UGC can be appealing to someone who wants to make money creating content but doesn’t have a large social media following.
You still need to create good content, communicate professionally, follow instructions, and deliver what you promise.
But you don’t necessarily have to build a massive audience first.
Is UGC Worth Trying?
For me, it was.
My first UGC deal wasn’t life-changing money.
It was a $50 payment for creating a roughly 70-second video, with the possibility of another $150 if the brand uses the content.
But the experience gave me something I couldn’t get by simply watching videos about UGC or thinking about starting.
Experience.
I now know what it’s like to communicate with a brand, receive a creative brief, create content for someone else’s specifications, submit the finished video, and get paid.
And that’s something I can build on.
I also learned that UGC doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision.
I don’t have to quit my job.
I don’t have to become a full-time influencer.
I don’t have to have a million followers.
I can simply learn, try opportunities that make sense for me, and see where it goes.
If You’re Thinking About Trying UGC
If you’re sitting on the sidelines because you’re worried you’re not good enough, I completely understand.
I was there.
I spent weeks thinking about applying before I finally pushed myself to do it.
And now I’m really glad I did.
My first UGC deal didn’t make me an expert.
It didn’t suddenly make me fearless.
But it gave me proof that I could do something I had been afraid to try.
And sometimes that’s all you need to take the next step.
I don’t know yet where this UGC journey is going to take me.
Maybe the brand will use my video and I’ll get that additional $150.
Maybe I’ll land another UGC deal.
Maybe I’ll discover that I love creating a certain type of content more than another.
I’m going to keep trying and see what happens.
Because if there’s one thing this experience reminded me of, it’s this:
Success really can be on the other side of your comfort zone.
And sometimes you just have to be willing to take that first step.
If you’re interested in following my journey, finding legitimate ways to make money from home, saving money, and making mom life a little easier, follow along.
I’m figuring this out as I go too.
But now I have my first UGC deal behind me.
And I’m excited to see what’s next.
