How to Get Your First UGC Deals: Beginner’s Guide

June 4, 2026

We all know UGC is user generated content, but isn’t almost all content on social media “user-generated?” Then, what’s the hype, and how are people making money from UGC?

In this guide, we’ve compiled the experiences of UGC Creator to tell you how to get UGC deals and land your first UGC deals effortlessly. But before we get into it, let’s give you a brief overview of what UGC is, and how it works.

Understanding What is UGC

User-generated content is exactly what you think: content created by users.

While you create and post content on socials all day, not using it for money-making from UGC, TikTok affiliate marketing, or any other, it’s just content.

UGC Creator make money from brand deals. UGC deals start paying you when brands use content (photos, videos, or reviews) created by everyday people on their social media channels. It shows a regular person’s perspective and opinion of the product. You may call it the opposite of influencer marketing.

UGC Tools

While you do not require any fancy equipment for UGC videos, and only a phone with a good camera is sufficient, you need editing tools, such as canva, CapCut, etc., to bring that vision to life after filming. Along with content creation, here’s a list of tools UGC creators use.

Tool	Best for	Free Plan
Google Sheets	Content planning, campaign tracking	✅
Notion	Workflow management	✅
canva	Easy content design campaigns	✅
CapCut	Short-form video editing	✅
InShot	Quick mobile editing	✅
Adobe Illustrator	Professional graphic design	Free Trial
Teleprompter Pro	Smooth script reading	✅
Frame.io	Frame-accurate client feedback	✅
Nosto	Performance optimization	❌

How to Get Your First UGC Deals?

Now comes the big question, “How to get your first UGC deals?”

Finding UGC deals could seem challenging at first, but many UGC content creators start making decent money within a few months. Try one or more of these ways to get UGC deals when starting out.

X/ LinkedIn

Search for keywords like "#UGC needed", "#UGC creator wanted", "#UGC opportunities", "#looking for UGC creators", "#UGC paid collaboration", and "#content creator needed" on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and linkedin.

Many brands, startups, and marketing agencies actively post creator requests there. Use these searches to find businesses looking for authentic user-generated content, then reach out with your portfolio and rates. Brands increasingly rely on UGC creators because authentic content often performs better than traditional ads.

Instagram/ TikTok

Similar to X and LinkedIn, using the right search terms can help you land UGC social deals on instagram and TikTok as well.

However, UGC creators on these platforms also earn from affiliate links. You can start creating UGC videos (that could double as a ghost portfolio) with products you already own and add affiliate links to the videos. On TikTok, you can also use the TikTok Shop Affiliate network if you have a good following.

reddit is typically not a first thought when thinking, “how to get UGC deals.” And if you’re also sleeping on it, it’s time to buckle up and log into your Reddit account.

Other than searching with the keywords mentioned above, joining UGC-specific communities can also help. Some popular ones are:

Freelance Marketplaces

Freelance platforms do not only offer opportunities for marketers, graphic designers, or project managers; you can also find UGC deals there.

Select a platform of your choice.

upwork

fiverr

guru

People per hour

Others

Create your account.
Create gigs or apply to jobs (depending on the platform)
Deliver work according to the brief for UGC retainer deals

UGC Platforms

While UGC creators get brand deals from social media and freelance marketplaces, many also find UGC social deals on UGC platforms.

These platforms or tools help you get UGC retainer deals from various different brands in one place. Pitch to those relevant to your niche and get started.

Platform	Real User Reviews
Cohley	“As a beginner, Cohley has been the most successful for me with around 1k TikTok followers.”
JoinBrands	“JoinBrands was good, but now it’s oversaturated.”
Collabstr	“I have been getting gigs from Collabstr and most of them have been random.”
Veel	“Good for consistent and smaller gigs with a smooth workflow.”
SideShift	“The package details at SideShift are often different once you talk to the agency.”
Billo	“The platform is good but the money is bad. Treat it as training.”
Insense	“Insense is good for finding decent paying deals, but the brands sometimes delay payments.”
Youdji	“Small platform with fewer jobs, but also lower competition.”
Social Cat	It’s a great place to begin and grow to better things.

Other than these, you can also try:

How Long Does it Take to Make Your First Dollars With UGC?

You might see many UGC creators and gurus mentioning how they made their first UGC dollars within a few days. It might sound exaggerated, but some creators, in fact, start making money within their first month of starting UGC. Here’s what UGC creators say about their first UGC deals:

“Started my first month as a UGC with $450 and in the past three years, I’ve made around $1,000 per month.”
“Just like you, I heard about UGC around 6 months ago and researched it. I do not make a lot, but up to $200 per month. It works for me.”
“I started earning from UGC pretty early on, but it took me around six months to earn $3k per month. The journey has been steady since then.”
“I landed my first paid gig within two days of pitching. Yes, that’s possible. I still work with the brand, making decent money out of it.”
“I did not earn any significant money for the first three months, but I earned my first $1,000 by my fourth month. It’s been around 3.5 years with part-time UGC and I make around $7k on average.”
“My first UGC gig was a $70 offer and I took it. Didn’t even know what UGC was, properly. It’s going great now!”
“As a full-time UGC content creator, I make $10k a month with less than 20 hours of work per week. It’s not easy, but it's possible.”

Expert Tips for UGC

User-generated content feels more natural when it’s authentic and relatable to the audience. Do not try to create videos like brands. Be more human. Be relatable. Think of the audience you’re producing that content for.
Learn from your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to pitch your not-so-perfect content initially. You’ll eventually learn and do better.
Be comfortable in starting small. You do not necessarily need to start with the big names. Use the small gigs to improve and set the stage for bigger ones.
Build a ghost portfolio using products around you. If you keep waiting for the first UGC deal without a portfolio, you might never land one.
Learn to negotiate. Talk to other UGC creators, whether they’re also starting out or if they’ve been in the game for longer. Listen to their experiences to set your rates accordingly.

Conclusion

Landing your first UGC deal may not be super-easy, but it’s not that hard either. In this article, we’ve told you everything you need to know when wondering how to get UGC deals. Whether you’re looking for UGC social deals or UGC retainer deals, you cannot do it until you have a ghost portfolio and you shoot your shot.

All UGC creators start somewhere. Pick a platform. Start pitching. Deliver. Learn from your experiences.

That’s pretty much it. Best of luck!!!

FAQs

I got rejected by a UGC brand, but I don’t know what went wrong?

Many UGC creators stepping into the world of UGC do not fail because of their portfolio or content, but because of their pitches. Make sure that your pitch is unique and authentic, instead of those generic templates everyone uses.

What are the best ways to make your first ugc dollars for free?

You can start from UGC platforms like Cohley , Collabstr, SideShift, Billo, and Youdji to make your first UGC dollars without any investment. Many brands and agencies also post on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and reddit; search for keywords like “UGC needed” and “UGC opportunity.”

How to start UGC without followers?

You can easily start UGC without followers on TikTok and instagram. Many brands do not care if you have a massive following or not. As a beginner, it is better to niche down and create relevant content to get noticed by the brands in the niche.

Can I become a UGC creator without posting with my face?

Yes, similar to faceless TikTok, you can very much become a faceless UGC creator. You can use aesthetic b-rolls of the product, hands-only unboxing, product flatlays, etc., but it is worth knowing that this might make it harder for you to land gigs.

How much should I charge for UGC as a beginner?

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to UGC rates. Typical charges for UGC content range between $150 and $300. It’s better to ask about the budget. Sometimes brands are willing to pay well to new UGC creators as well.

Ugc