How to Become a UGC Creator: Is it Right for You?

• UGC Creators Tips and Strategies

UGC creator jobs are offered by brands to content creators so that their products or services can be promoted in an organic way.

User-generated content, or UGC, is content created by users or fans of a brand, rather than the brand itself; it can take many forms, such as: 

• Photos
• Videos
• Blog posts
• Social media posts

And more.

This post explores how you can become a UGC creator and easily connect with brands with the help of JoinBrands.

How to Become a UGC Creator with JoinBrands (Full Guide)

Step 1: Choose Your Niche

To become a UGC creator, it’s essential to identify what topics you’re passionate about and what interests you have. 

While it may seem overwhelming to pick a specific industry to focus on, you can start by brainstorming the things you enjoy and have knowledge about.

Some popular industries and niches that you could consider include:

Beauty and Skin

The beauty and skincare industries are vast, and there are endless possibilities within them. 

You could create a profile around a specific skin care issue that you may have dealt with and share your journey on how you overcame it. Alternatively, you could focus on a particular skincare path, such as natural or organic skincare. 

There’s space for every skincare enthusiast, so don’t be afraid to get creative and explore the possibilities.

Fitness and Wellness

If you’re interested in health and fitness, the wellness industry might be the right fit for you. 

You could narrow down your focus and create content around a specific fitness niche, such as yoga or bodybuilding. Alternatively, you could share your knowledge about wellness topics like mental health or meditation.

Fashion and Style

If fashion is your thing, you could showcase your daily style, what you wear on certain occasions, your regular shopping hauls, and your seasonal must-haves. 

You could also explore fashion trends and share your opinions on celebrity style choices. 

You don’t need to have a degree in fashion to create content about it, all you need is an eye for style and a willingness to experiment.

Food and Cooking

If you’re a foodie, you can consider creating a profile around cooking and recipes. 

You could specialize in a particular type of cuisine or diet, such as vegan or gluten-free cooking. 

Additionally, you could share your favorite restaurant finds and explore food trends as well.

Books and Literature

Regardless of how strange it might seem, if reading is your thing, there’s space for such niche communities. 

This includes:

• Writing interpretations and analyses of certain types of books
• Writing and sharing reviews
• Delving deep into the lore of one particular book or book series and sharing your insights

There are tons of UGC creators that specialize in a singular aspect of a particular book’s lore or fandom. If you have any such interests, you could create a unique lane for yourself in that book’s online community.

The possibilities are really endless. All you have to do is figure out what particular community you’re interested in, what kind of value that community needs, and how you can provide that value.

Step 2: Practice Your Filming and Editing Skills

So, you’ve captured some great footage for your UGC video, now it’s time to edit it. 

If you’re new to editing, don’t worry as it can take time to master. The best thing to do is to practice it as much as possible. This is because the more you get accustomed to the editing tools, the faster you’ll be able to make edits.

It may seem overwhelming to edit videos at first, but thankfully there are numerous apps that can make the process easier.

Some of the most commonly used apps include CapCut and InShot.

If you want to create content for TikTok, you can use their in-app editor which is very user-friendly.

Lastly, we suggest you integrate the most recent TikTok trends into your UGC videos to keep them captivating and engaging for viewers.

Step 3: Build Your Filming Setup

To create high-quality UGC, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment.

In fact, all you really need is a phone with a decent camera and a tripod to stabilize your shots. 

However, if you want to take your content to the next level, here are some optional upgrades you can consider:

1. Ring light: A ring light is a circular light that attaches to your phone and provides even lighting for close-up shots. It’s especially useful when filming in low-light conditions or when you want to highlight certain features of a product.
2. Lavalier mic: A lavalier mic is a small microphone that clips onto your clothing and records high-quality audio. It plugs into your phone’s audio jack and helps to eliminate background noise and improve the clarity of your voice.
3. Backdrops: Backdrops are used to create a clean and professional look for your UGC. You can get creative with the materials you use for backdrops, such as paper, fabric, or construction materials, to set the scene and highlight the product.
4. Props: Props can help to enhance your content by giving your viewers a better sense of the product’s features and use cases. For example, if you want to showcase a new pair of running shoes, you could include a water bottle and workout clothes in your shot.

Remember, though, that having all of the fancy equipment isn’t necessary to create great UGC. In fact, many UGC creators produce amazing content with just a phone, a product, and their creativity.

The key is to start with what you have, experiment with different techniques and styles, and gradually upgrade your equipment as you gain more experience and feedback from your audience and brand partners.

Step 4: Build Your Portfolio

It can be tricky to build a portfolio for UGC content because you need products to showcase, but brands won’t send you any without a portfolio. So, what can you do? Well, you can make content for free using your favorite products.

There are different types of UGC content you can create such as:

• Unboxing videos
• Product reviews
• How-to demonstrations

And more.

In unboxing videos, you open a new product’s packaging and reveal all the contents.

In reviews or testimonials, you share your honest opinion on the product and how it works. When you make UGC testimonials, keep it short and straightforward. Focus on one aspect rather than the entire product.

Lastly, in how-to videos, you demonstrate how you use the product in real-life situations. This makes your content more engaging and lifestyle-focused.

Step 5: Use Platforms to Reach Out to Brands

With the growing popularity of UGC, several platforms have emerged that aim to connect content creators with brands looking for UGC. Some of these platforms offer opportunities for creators to apply, while others require creators to create a profile listing their services.

One example of such a platform is JoinBrands.

If you’re a UGC creator, JoinBrands makes it easy to get in touch with brands and start earning money for your original content.

To register as a creator with JoinBrands, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Sign up with JoinBrands as a content creator.

Step 2: Browse the available content creator jobs that brands post on the platform.

Step 3: Choose jobs that match your content style and personal brand.

Step 4: Once you’ve chosen a job, create content at your own pace.

Step 5: Enjoy your earnings as well as the free products you’ll receive from brands.

Some Tips to Succeed as a UGC Creator

Collaboration with specific brands as a UGC creator can be a great way to build long-term partnerships and earn extra income for your content creation.

However, it’s important to approach these partnerships with a strategic mindset in order to ensure that they are beneficial for both you and the brand.

Here are some tips to ensure you are successful as a UGC creator:

Ensure That Your Values Align with the Brand

One of the most important things to consider when working with brands is whether or not they are a good fit for you.

It’s essential that the brand’s values align with your personal values, as this will make it easier to create content that feels authentic and true to your personal brand.

If the brand doesn’t align with your values, it will be challenging to create content that you’re proud of.

Establish Boundaries and Expectations Early

Once you’ve found a brand that is a good fit, it’s important to be clear about what you are willing to do for the brand.

It’s essential to set realistic expectations from the beginning and avoid overcommitting yourself.

This will help you avoid finding yourself in a situation where you can’t deliver on what you promised.

Be Curious About the Brand’s Goals

One of the ways to build a successful partnership with a brand is to help them achieve its business goals. This could include things like increasing traffic to their website or helping them get more sales.

In exchange for your help, you can ask for things like free products, discounts, or compensation for your time and effort.

Maintain Creative Control

It’s also important to maintain creative control over your content.

You don’t want to create something that you’re not proud of because it doesn’t fit with your personal brand.

Before you start to create content, make sure you clearly understand what the brand wants and what kind of content will resonate with its target audience.

Be Clear on Usage Rights

Another important thing to consider when working with brands is the usage rights of the content you will create.

Sometimes, the brands require the rights to your content for their own marketing activities. It’s essential that these usage rights are clearly defined from the beginning to avoid any misunderstandings down the line.

What is a UGC Creator?

UGC creators are people who create sponsored content that looks and feels genuine but is designed to showcase a specific business or product.

UGC creators typically use videos filmed from their own point of view and share them on social media channels such as: 

• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube 

And more. 

By doing so, it creates an authentic feel that makes it more appealing and relatable to the audience.

Why is UGC So Important for Brands?

User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool that can be used by brands throughout the entire buyer’s journey. It is usually utilized by brands and companies to influence engagement and increase conversions.

When brands use UGC content on:

• Social media
• Email
• Landing pages
• Checkout pages

They create a more authentic and trustworthy brand presence that resonates with their audience.

UGC Builds Authenticity for Brands

In today’s highly competitive online landscape, it’s more important than ever to establish a sense of authenticity and build trust with your audience. This is where UGC comes in. 

It’s the most authentic type of content you can produce since it shows real-life experiences with a particular brand.

Authenticity is the key to attracting and retaining customers. UGC can help brands achieve this as it provides a word-of-mouth marketing strategy that is both effective and cost-efficient.

UGC Helps Brands Build Brand Loyalty

UGC not only helps establish trust with your audience, but it can also help establish brand loyalty and grow a brand’s community.

Since you’ll be the UGC creator in this entire shtick, you must recognize what the best way to promote that brand’s product will be. You’ll need to take into account not only the brand’s audience but also, your primary audience.

UGC Helps Build Trust in a Brand

One of the most significant benefits of UGC is that it acts as a trust signal, which is essential in today’s era of fake news and mistrust of media and advertising. 

With the help of UGC, brands can show their audience that they are trustworthy and that their products or services are of high quality.

UGC Helps Increase Conversions for a Brand

UGC is also incredibly influential in the final stages of the buyer’s journey when a brand is looking to convert its audience and influence them into making a purchase. As a UGC creator, you act as authentic social proof that their product is worth buying.

Your audience knows you as a person and will be interested in your opinions about that brand’s product or service. Hence, those opinions can act as a strong motivator for your audience to make purchases from that particular brand.

UGC Content is Highly Flexible

UGC is also a highly adaptable and flexible marketing strategy that can be used off social media in other campaigns.

UGC is Cost-Effective

UGC is often cheaper and easier to manage than investing in larger-scale brand awareness campaigns. This makes it an ideal marketing strategy for brands that are smaller or just starting out.

As a novice UGC creator, it can be a good idea to reach out to these types of brands as you’ll have a much better chance of securing a deal. Once your following and online influence rises, you can consider reaching out to larger brands.

In conclusion, UGC and social commerce work well together since user-generated content is a perfect match for the future of online shopping.

What is the Difference Between a UGC Creator and an Influencer?

What sets UGC creators apart from influencers is that they create content to deliver to the business. This is in contrast to influencers who usually post it only on their social media channels. 

UGC content allows brands to use their own channels to promote the content they have paid UGC creators for.

UGC has become extremely popular in recent years and the reason for that is simple: authenticity. Consumers today want to see content that feels relatable, and that’s exactly what UGC provides.

So, if you want to become a UGC creator, remember that it’s all about creating content that feels genuine and real. You must understand that creating UGC requires creativity and storytelling specific to your audience and the product you are promoting. 

That being said, with the right approach, UGC can be a fun and lucrative way to build your personal brand and collaborate with big players in your niche.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the benefits of being a UGC Creator?

One of the primary benefits of becoming a UGC creator is that you can earn extra income while doing something you enjoy.

You can also build your personal brand, gain exposure, and potentially collaborate with your favorite brands.

How do I know if being a UGC Creator is right for me?

If you enjoy creating content, have a strong social media presence, and are interested in working with brands, becoming a UGC creator might be right for you.

However, it’s important to consider the time commitment, potential financial risks, and how well your personal brand aligns with the brands you’d be working with.

What kind of content can UGC Creators make?

UGC creators can create a wide range of content.

Examples include:

• Photos
• Videos
• Reviews
• Blog posts

The content can vary depending on the brand, product, and target audience.

However, it should be engaging, and authentic, and should showcase the UGC creator’s unique voice and style.

How do UGC Creators make money?

UGC creators can make money through a variety of channels, including:

• Sponsored content
• Affiliate marketing
• Selling products or merchandise

The amount of money UGC creators can make varies depending on their reach, engagement, and the brands they work with.

What are some tips to get started as a UGC Creator?

Some tips to get started as a UGC creator include:

• Building a strong social media presence
• Creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience
• Networking with other creators and brands
• Being consistent in your content creation

Do you need to have a large following to become a UGC Creator?

While having a large following can certainly help, it’s not a requirement to become a UGC creator. 

Brands are often looking for authentic content from micro-influencers and everyday people who have a niche audience and high engagement.

Conclusion

There are a ton of benefits to being a UGC creator and with platforms like JoinBrands, you can easily find brands to connect with. 

Not only can you enjoy fixed rates with JoinBrands but you also get to keep the free products that you receive from brands you collaborate with. 

If you have any further questions related to UGC creator jobs, please contact us in the comments section below.