Tips for your portfolio from a UGC brand manager
I work for a skincare brand as Brand manager and i have been working in this role for 3 years now and have seen numerous UGC applications getting accepted or rejected.
Sharing a few things I wish more beginner UGC creators knew when starting out. i hope some of these help you in your journey :
1. Turn off autoplay
Brand managers go through a lot of portfolios, so opening one and having multiple videos start playing at the same time can be overwhelming. If you really want autoplay, at least keep the videos muted. Personally, I will advise keep it off.
2. Put your strongest video first
Your first video matters more than you think. Brand reviewers don’t have unlimited time to go through every creator, so don’t make them scroll through three average videos before reaching your best work. Lead with the video that represents your content the best.
3. Test your portfolio link before sending it
Always check that your portfolio actually opens. Broken links and restricted permissions happen more often than you’d expect. Open the link yourself in an incognito window before sending it to a brand. It takes a few seconds and can save you from losing an opportunity.
4. Make your portfolio easy to browse
Google Drive works, but it isn’t always the easiest experience when someone has to open and watch multiple videos. A simple Canva portfolio website or even a well-organized TikTok account can make the process much smoother for the person reviewing your work.
5. Show more than one content style
If every video in your portfolio is silent product B-roll, they can start looking identical. Add some variety: talking-head content, product demonstrations, reviews, before-and-after videos, voiceovers or lifestyle content. It gives brands a better idea of how versatile you are and what kind of content you can create for them.