Brands Looking for UGC Creators: How to Find & Land Brand Deals

Why Brands Want UGC Creators

Brands are spending more on UGC than ever because it works. UGC ads see 400% higher click-through rates than traditional advertising. Conversion rates increase by 29%. Production costs are 70-80% lower.

This creates massive opportunity for creators. If you can produce authentic, engaging content, brands will pay for it.

Types of Brands Hiring UGC Creators

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Brands

The biggest UGC buyers. These brands sell directly to consumers online and rely heavily on social media advertising.

Beauty & Skincare

• Indie brands: Glow Recipe, Drunk Elephant, The Ordinary
• Mass market: Olay, CeraVe, Neutrogena
• Haircare: Olaplex, Function of Beauty, Prose

Fashion & Apparel

• Fast fashion: Shein, Fashion Nova, Princess Polly
• Sustainable: Everlane, Reformation, Girlfriend Collective
• Athleisure: Fabletics, Outdoor Voices, Alo

Food & Beverage

• Meal kits: HelloFresh, Factor, Daily Harvest
• Supplements: Athletic Greens, Ritual, Seed
• Beverages: Liquid Death, OLIPOP, Hint Water

Health & Wellness

• Vitamins: Care/of, Persona, HUM
• Fitness: Mirror, Tonal, Peloton
• Sleep: Purple, Casper, Helix

Tech & Apps

• Fintech: Cash App, Robinhood, Chime
• Productivity: Notion, Todoist, Calm
• Dating: Hinge, Bumble, Thursday
• E-commerce tools: Shopify merchants

E-commerce & Retail

• Amazon sellers seeking content
• Etsy shops
• Shopify store owners
• Small business brands

Where to Find UGC Opportunities

UGC Platforms

Billo

• Best for beginners
• Easy application process
• Consistent opportunities
• Lower per-project rates

Insense

• Higher-quality brands
• More vetting required
• Better rates
• Relationship-focused

Collabstr

• Marketplace model
• Set your own rates
• Direct brand communication
• Both UGC and influencer work

JoinBrands

• Growing platform
• Diverse brand categories
• Regular new opportunities

Trend.io

• Curated opportunities
• Premium brands
• Higher production expectations

Social Media

Twitter/X

• Search: #UGCopportunity #UGCcreators
• Follow UGC community accounts
• Brands post needs directly

TikTok

• Hashtags: #UGCjobs #UGCcreator #BrandCollab
• Comment on brand posts offering to create
• Post your work to attract inbound

Instagram

• DM brands directly
• Respond to stories asking for creators
• Use UGC hashtags in posts

Facebook Groups

Active UGC communities:

• UGC Creator Community
• UGC Creators Hub
• Brand Collaborations for Creators
• Content Creators Network

Brands and agencies post opportunities daily. Be among the first to respond.

Job Boards

Indeed/LinkedIn: Search "UGC creator," "content creator," "video content"

Upwork/Fiverr: Create UGC-specific gig offerings

AngelList: Startup brands seeking content

Direct Research

Facebook Ad Library

• Search any brand name
• See if they run UGC-style ads
• Those brands are already buyers
• Approach with confidence

TikTok/Instagram

• Study brands' organic content
• Look for UGC reposts
• Identify brands investing in creator content

How to Pitch Brands Effectively

The Perfect Pitch Structure

1. Hook: Why this brand specifically
2. Credibility: Brief background + results
3. Value: What you can offer
4. CTA: Clear next step

Email Template

Subject: UGC creator for [Brand Name]

Hi [Name],

Love what you're doing with [specific product/campaign].
I'm a UGC creator specializing in [niche] content.

[1-2 sentence credibility: brands worked with, results, or skills]

I'd love to create authentic content for [Brand].
Here's my portfolio: [link]

Would you be open to a quick chat?

[Name]

DM Template (Instagram/Twitter)

Hey [Brand]! 

Been a fan of [specific product] and noticed you're doing great video content.
I create UGC for [niche] brands—would love to work together.

Portfolio: [link]

Shoot me a message if you're looking for creators!

What Makes Pitches Work

Personalization: Reference specific products, campaigns, or posts.

Brevity: Keep under 100 words. Busy marketers scan quickly.

Portfolio link: Make it easy to see your work immediately.

Specificity: "UGC for skincare brands" beats "content creator."

No begging: Confident, professional tone.

What Kills Pitches

• Generic copy-paste messages
• Long paragraphs
• No portfolio link
• Spelling/grammar errors
• Overly casual or overly formal
• Asking "Do you work with creators?" (research first)

Outreach Numbers Game

Realistic Expectations

This improves with experience. First-time creators may need 50+ pitches for their first deal. Experienced creators convert at 20-30%.

Tracking Your Outreach

Create a simple spreadsheet:

• Brand name
• Contact info
• Date pitched
• Platform used
• Response (Y/N)
• Follow-up date
• Outcome

Patterns emerge. Maybe Instagram DMs work better than email. Maybe beauty brands respond more than tech. Data informs strategy.

Making Brands Come to You

Outreach works, but inbound inquiries are better. Build visibility:

Post Your Work

Share UGC samples on TikTok and Instagram:

• Use hashtags: #UGCcreator #UGCexamples
• Tag brands you'd want to work with
• Show before/after or process content
• Brands actively search these hashtags

Build Social Proof

As you land deals:

• Request permission to feature logos
• Get written testimonials
• Share results when possible
• Update portfolio regularly

Be Discoverable

• SEO-optimize your portfolio
• Create LinkedIn presence
• Join creator directories
• Engage in UGC communities

Negotiating Brand Deals

What to Discuss

• Number of videos
• Video length and format
• Deadline/timeline
• Usage rights (organic vs. paid ads)
• Revisions included
• Product/compensation details

Red Flags to Avoid

• "Pay with exposure"
• Unlimited usage at base rate
• Unrealistic deadlines
• No contract/written agreement
• Requesting personal information early
• Extremely low rates

Sample Negotiation

Brand: "We'd like 5 videos for $300 total."

You: "Thanks for reaching out! My rate for 5 videos is $750 with organic usage. I can offer a bundle discount at $650. For paid ad usage, I'd add $400 for 30-day rights. Want me to send over a formal quote?"

Negotiate confidently. Many brands expect it.

Building Long-Term Relationships

One-off deals are fine. Recurring clients are better:

• Deliver on time, every time
• Exceed expectations
• Be easy to work with
• Suggest content ideas proactively
• Ask about ongoing needs
• Follow up after campaigns end

A single brand can provide thousands in monthly revenue through retainers.

Your Action Plan

This Week:

1. Sign up for 2-3 UGC platforms
2. Research 20 brands in your niche
3. Prepare pitch templates
4. Send 10 outreach messages

This Month:

1. Send 50+ total pitches
2. Apply to 20+ platform opportunities
3. Post UGC samples on social
4. Refine pitch based on responses

This Quarter:

1. Land 3-5 paid deals
2. Collect testimonials
3. Raise rates
4. Focus on repeat clients

Consistency beats perfection. Ten mediocre pitches sent beat one perfect pitch drafted.

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Want the complete guide to UGC creation? Read our UGC creator guide covering everything from rates to scaling your business.

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