r/UGCSideHustle

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I'm creating content for different brands for a while now. In the first few weeks of being a UGC creator, I didn’t have any equipment aside from my phone and a cheap tripod I bought on Amazon. After a few months of creating content, I started earning and saving up so I could invest in more tools that actually helped me work faster and improve quality. Here’s the full list of tools I personally use:

1-Phone/Camera: You don’t need to start with an expensive setup. All of my early deals were filmed on a phone. None of them asked what camera I used. They cared more about lighting, framing, audio, and whether the content felt natural. Start with what you already have and focus on making it look good.

2-Lighting kit: I used natural lighting before, and looking back at the content I filmed, everything looked dull especially videos I shot at night. Once I got a basic lighting kit, my videos looked cleaner, clearer, and more consistent. Good lighting can make even phone footage look more professional.

3-ChatGPT and Claude: This is super useful for beginners. It helps generate script ideas, I usually copy the brief, ask for a few hook ideas or script angles, then rewrite it in my own voice. I wouldn’t rely on it too heavily though. Use it for ideas not to replace your personality.

4-CapCut: This is where I edit everything. Auto captions, quick cuts, music, and transitions. I film and edit in the same app which saves me a lot of time. No need to transfer files or learn a complicated editing tool when you're just starting.

5-Canva: Treat your portfolio like a resume and make it look professional. Every brand deal I finish, I add the best piece to my Canva portfolio page. Clean layout, brand name, content type, thumbnail. It takes me around 10 minutes to update and it's usually the first thing I send when a brand reaches out or when I apply to platforms.

6-Cueprompter: Having a good script is not enough if you can’t deliver it well on camera. This is what I use as my teleprompter so I can read scripts more naturally instead of re-taking shots 10 times trying to memorize lines and still sounding stiff.

7-Google Drive: This is how I deliver every single project. I create a labeled folder for each brand, export the final videos from capcut, upload them, and send a clean shared link with a short note explaining what’s inside. Brands notice when delivery is organized. It’s one of those small things that can affect whether they work with you again.

8-Sideshift: This was one of the platforms I used early on to look for opportunities. I found a few beginner friendly campaigns there, including one where the brand already had the script ready and I just needed to film and deliver. It wasn’t my only source of deals, but it helped when I was starting out and trying different platforms like Billo and Fiverr

None of this is expensive or complicated. I’m using free apps and cheap tools to make high quality content You don’t need a full setup to start. You can begin with your current phone and a cheap tripod, then upgrade slowly as you start earning from it.

Casting call! soona is looking for creators who can authentically portray small business owners for an upcoming UGC campaign. The number of deliverables depends on your schedule. The usage and scope for this campaign is mainly short videos for ad work and promotional material.

Creator Profile
• Ages 25–54 (ideal range: 35–44)
• Comfortable speaking naturally to camera
• Authentic, relatable, conversational personality
• Able to portray the perspective of a small business owner (does not need to currently work in the industry)

Ideal industries to represent
• Construction
• Landscaping
• Trucking
• General contracting
• Subcontracting
• Skilled trades
• Small service-based businesses

Filming Requirements
• Film vertically on a phone
• Access to a workspace that feels like a real small business environment (e.g., contractor office, small commercial office, garage, workshop, or warehouse—not a home office).
• Access to a handheld wireless microphone (such as a DJI Mic or similar) that can be visibly incorporated into the video.
• Comfortable capturing both talking-head footage and supporting B-roll

We're accepting applications from creators in the U.S., Canada, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Australia, Italy, Mexico, and Sweden 🌍

Please email us at collective@soona.co to apply and include "Small Business Owner Stories with Nav" in the subject line.

I’m doing UGC for a while now and, at the beginning I was doing everything in the most random way possible. I was messaging brands, filming random samples and changing my portfolio every few days without really knowing what I was doing. This is the roadmap I’d follow now:

1- Make a few decent sample videos You don’t need 30 videos or a perfect portfolio. I’d make 8 samples with different formats: testimonial, product demo, problem/solution, voiceover and maybe an unboxing. The main thing is showing that you can make content that feels natural and not like a bad TV commercial.

2- Don’t stay only in the beauty niche Beauty is probably the easiest niche to start with because everyone has products at home, but it’s also insanely crowded. Apps, fitness, food, education, ecommerce and SaaS are worth testing too.

3- Put together a simple portfolio Don’t overthink the design. Brands mostly want to quickly see your videos, your style and whether you can communicate clearly on camera.

4- Still do outreach, but make it specific I wouldn’t completely stop cold outreach, but I’d avoid sending the same message to 100 brands. Even mentioning one actual video idea or hook makes the pitch feel way less generic.

5- Check if the brand is already running ads The Meta Ad Library helps a lot here. If they’re already using UGC-style videos, there’s a much better chance they understand the value and actually have a budget.

6- Learn usage rights before accepting deals This is something I didn’t understand at first. A brand using your video organically is different from them running it as an ad for six months. Same with raw footage, extra hooks and multiple revisions.

7- Track everything and follow up I’d keep a basic spreadsheet with brands, applications, replies and follow-ups. A lot of people don’t reply to the first message, so following up once or twice is normal. That’s basically the roadmap I’m trying to follow now: improve the portfolio, send better outreach and stop wasting time on brands that only want free content

I’m making travel content for a while, and one of the first things I noticed is that brands already have plenty of nice photos and polished videos.

What they often need more of is content that helps people understand what the experience actually feels like.

These are the things that helped me improve the most:

A) Make the video useful

When I film a hotel, tour or activity, I try to include the details I would want to know before booking.

How far is the hotel from the centre? What does the room look like in normal lighting? Is the experience better for couples, families or solo travellers? Is it worth the price?

The videos that get the most saves and questions usually answer something specific. Pretty footage helps, but people also want practical information.

B) Show the full experience

Hotels already have professional shots of the room, pool and restaurant.

I try to show the parts that make the stay feel real: arriving, checking in, opening the curtains, going down for breakfast, walking around the area and seeing what the place feels like at different times of the day.

The same applies to activities.

For a cooking class, I’d rather show people making mistakes, talking with the chef and eating together at the end than only film the final plate.

Those small moments make it easier for viewers to imagine themselves there.

C) Give the product a reason to appear

This matters a lot when working with travel apps, eSIMs, booking platforms or luggage brands.

I usually introduce the product through a situation that already makes sense in the video.

Maybe I’ve just landed and need internet, I’m trying to organise a group trip, or I’m packing for four days with only a carry-on.

That gives the product a clear role in the story and makes the content feel more natural.

D) Start with places near you

You don’t need an international trip to build a travel portfolio.

Local hotels, restaurants, spas, tours, countryside stays and weekend activities can give you plenty of material.

Brands mainly want to see whether you can create a good story around a place or service.

You can also make sample content for travel apps from home using screen recordings, voiceovers and planning-style videos.

E) Pitch a specific idea

Generic messages like “I love your hotel and would love to collaborate” are easy to ignore.

I get better responses when I include a clear concept.

For example, I might suggest a video about spending a quiet weekend outside the city, or a guide to visiting the area without following the usual tourist route.

That gives the company something concrete to react to and shows that I’ve looked at what they offer.

F) Pay attention to saves and questions

Views are useful, but travel content often gives stronger signals through saves, comments and direct questions.

When people ask for the location, price, itinerary or booking details, there’s a good chance they’re genuinely considering the experience.

I always save screenshots of those results because they’re useful when pitching the next client.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is to create content from the point of view of someone planning the trip.

Show the details, answer the questions people usually have and make the experience easy to imagine.

Any travel UGC creators here? Which type of collaborations have worked best for you?

Hi everyone! I’m just starting to look into UGC as a side hustle, and I’ve been reading through all the helpful advice on this sub.

I’m currently filming some practice videos (spec ads) using products I already own around my house—mostly skincare, some tech, and pet supplies. My main question is: how many sample videos should I actually have in my Canva portfolio before I start sending out cold emails or DMs to brands?

Also, when I do get my first bite, what is a realistic starting rate for a beginner just to get a real testimonial? I’ve seen people mention everything from $5 to $150 per video, and I want to make sure I’m not lowballing myself, but I also don't want to scare away my first real client.

Any advice on getting that very first client would be hugely appreciated. I'll be hanging around to reply to comments! Thanks in advance!

I think it’s useful for creators to hear what the process looks like from our side, I have an agency and I’m the creative strategist for multiple companies and have hired creators myself for my own e-commerce jewelry company so I know a thing or two about content creation and hiring creators.

What gets you hired:

A- can confidently deliver scripts on camera this is my main focus when i review your portfolio

B- creators who aren’t difficult to work with, can take direction well and don’t complicate the process

C- ⁠portfolio has actual product content, not just selfies or lifestyle. I need to see you holding a product and talking about it

D- ⁠you respond within 24 hours. If i message you Monday and hear back the next week i'm already talking to someone else.

E- knows how to hook, calls to action, communicate to the viewers while using the product and speaking on camera

What gets you ignored:

A- portfolio is just you talking to camera about random topics with no product in sight.

B-sample videos are faceless and just hands, aesthetic clips, or unboxing videos. we don’t care much about that because we can make our own if that’s all you do.

C- only posting one style of content with no variety or product examples.

D- asking for high rates with no portfolio or results to back it up.

E- instagram account with 30k followers but zero content that looks like UGC. i’m not looking for influencers. i’m looking for people who make ads.

F- prioritizing aesthetic over results. we want conversions, not just pretty visuals.

What we look at in your portfolio:

A- can you grab attention with a strong hook in the first 2 seconds?

B- where are you based and what age range do you fit? (we mostly look for creators in the US and UK)

C- does your content feel natural, like something a real person would post, not a scripted commercial?

D- can you follow a brief properly? (your samples usually show if you understand flow and structure)

E- is the audio clear and video quality solid? bad sound or low quality is a quick turn off.

Where we find talented creators:

We used to rely on cold outreach and spend hours scrolling through instagram looking for creators. now most of our hiring budget goes into marketplace platforms where we can post briefs and let creators apply directly.
Sideshift has been one of our main sources for paid ads creatives. we also keep an eye on reddit communities like this and others

Marketplace platforms work better for us because they save a lot of time. instead of managing 70 different DMs, we post the brief, set the budget, and review applications in one place. we still check every portfolio, but the whole process is much faster and easier than manual outreach.

If you want brands to notice you, focus on your portfolio first. include your best videos with real paid products, not just practice content. make a short intro video that shows confidence on camera. show your editing skills and range of styles. if you have past client feedback or testimonials, add them too. learn basic SEO, understand what hooks work, and study the kind of content brands actually run as ads.

hello everyone! im really new to this so not judgement please. 😅 i have been a tiktok affiliate for 5 months now, and my videos mostly highlight products that i use like makeup, bodycare and more.

however, i find it hard to make money with it. so i would want to have clients that can pay me real time. do i just wait for someone to collab with me? or do i need to apply to brands? thank you! 💗

I want to try UGC as a side hustle. I already have a Tiktok acct. with 700+ followers. What are your tips when starting out?

Hi! I just joined this sub. I teach high school and already make a lot of instructional materials for class, so UGC felt like a natural side hustle to try.

A few things I'm trying to figure out before diving in:

• Realistic starting rate with zero portfolio. Is $75-100/video actually doable, or should I expect less starting out?
• Do platforms accept creators with no UGC samples yet, or do I need to build a few first on my own?
• Thinking of niching into edtech/school supplies since I know that audience -- is that niche oversaturated or worth trying?

I would love honest input, especially from anyone who started this while working a full-time non-flexible job. I'm not chasing hype, just a realistic read on whether it's worth the time.

I’ve done a few paid UGC deals now and I’m starting to get more replies from brands, but I still have no idea if I’m charging too little.

My current rates helped me land the first clients, so I’m worried that increasing them will just make brands choose someone cheaper. At the same time, scripting, filming, editing and handling revisions usually takes much longer than I expect.

For creators who have already raised their prices, what made you realize it was time? Did you increase your rates after a certain number of campaigns, better portfolio results or repeat clients?

Also, do you tell existing clients about the new rate or keep them on the old one?

I've tried a bunch of different side hustles.

I've tested dropshipping, affiliate marketing, flipping, and a few other things, but the one that's consistently made me the most money has been UGC.

I started about 9 months ago, and since then I've earned around $17k creating UGC for brands. Over the last 6 months, the content I've created has generated more than 10M views across different campaigns.

I've also had the chance to create UGC for well-known apps like Picsart and Suno, along with a number of other startups and consumer apps. I'm definitely still learning every day, but after working with a lot of brands, these are the biggest mistakes I keep seeing new creators make.

1- Don't start in the most saturated niche

Almost everyone starts with beauty, skincare, or makeup because that's what they see all over Instagram and TikTok.

Yes, those brands spend a lot on ads, but they're also getting hundreds of creator pitches every week and If you're just starting, there are more other niches with much less competition where it's easier to land your first clients.

2- Stop charging beginner prices forever

Charging $50-$80 for your first few videos is completely fine bc you need a portfolio, testimonials, and experience.

But once you've worked with 5-10 clients and have results to show, your prices should increase too. A lot of creators never make that jump.

3- Negotiate performance-based bonuses

This is probably the biggest mistake I see.

If you create an ad for an app and it's still generating revenue for the company six months later, why should you only get paid once?

Whenever it makes sense, negotiate bonuses tied to performance, based on views or clic, anyway, if your content keeps making them money, you should benefit too.

4- Learn how to communicate

The highest-paid UGC creators usually understand advertising and they know why certain hooks improve retention, why one CTA converts better than another, and what makes people click, buy, or install.

Learning paid ads and consumer psychology has helped me a lot (Just go deep one week watching every YT video)

5- Show KPIs in your portfolio

Brands want proof that your content performs, o if you can show that one of your videos improved CTR, lowered CPA, generated installs, increased ROAS, or became a winning creative, that's what gets clients.

6- Apps are one of the biggest opportunities right now

Everyone wants to work with beauty brands but I personally think apps are one of the best markets in 2026.

These companies spend huge budgets on paid acquisition, which means they constantly need fresh creatives to test.

There are also far fewer creators specializing in app UGC compared to beauty or skincare, so there's less competition and often much bigger budgets.

One campaign with an app alone ended up paying me around $5k, and if I were starting from zero today that's where I'd focus.

A few extra thoughts

My first videos weren't great and I still cringe when I look back at them, but you get better by making content, getting feedback, and improving with every project.

Every creator you look up to started with zero clients and a terrible portfolio.

Hi there! I'd like to share that Canva is a beginner-friendly app for editing, and i have used it in creating a portfolio. Plus, there are templates that can be customized according to your likings.