Do you mean you want to become a UGC (user-generated content) creator, or you want help hiring one? I’ll assume you want to become one — below is a practical, ready-to-use playbook: what UGC is, how to start, pricing & pitching templates, legal & delivery checklist, and a simple workflow you can copy.

What is UGC (quick)

• Short-form, native-feeling content brands use in feeds and ads that looks like organic creator posts (unpolished talking-heads, product demos, before/after, quick tips, lifestyle uses).
• Brands buy UGC because it often performs better than polished ads: higher trust, lower production cost, easy to scale for ads.

Why brands hire UGC creators

• Authenticity and relatability
• Fast, low-cost content production
• Variants for A/B testing in paid ads
• Better conversions from real-user formats

How to get started — step-by-step

1. Pick a niche (2–3): e.g., skincare, home gadgets, fitness, pet, kitchen, productivity.
2. Build sample content (portfolio):
   • Create 6–12 high-quality UGC-style videos (15–90s) demonstrating product use, benefit-driven hooks, quick demo, and 1 CTA.
   • Include 4–6 static images and 3–5 short captions.
3. Optimize platform presence:
   • TikTok / Instagram Reels / YouTube Shorts — choose 1–2 to focus on.
   • Bio with niche + “UGC creator | available for hire” + email.
4. Gather metrics to show brands:
   • Views, engagement rate, watch time, click-throughs (if available from previous posts), past ad results (if any).
5. Outreach & discovery:
   • DM small brands, reply to brand mentions, join creator marketplaces, and list on freelance sites.
6. Close & deliver:
   • Use a simple contract, collect a deposit (25–50%), create content, deliver files + captions + variations, gather feedback, and provide final handoff.

Basic equipment (low-cost to pro)

• Phone with good camera (iPhone/Android recent model) + tripod
• Ring light or soft LED panel
• Lavalier or shotgun mic (USB/phone adapter)
• Simple backdrop or clean, well-lit location
• Editing apps: CapCut, InShot, VN, Premiere Rush, or Adobe Premiere Pro for advanced
• Storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer for large files

Content types that sell well

• Unboxing + first impressions
• Honest review with short star/score
• 15–30s demo showing benefit/hook
• Before/after or transformation
• “How I use this” / routine
• Comparison vs competitor
• 3 quick tips to get the most from product
• POV / reaction / duet / stitch (for TikTok)

UGC structure that converts (simple formula)

• Hook (0–3s) — say the problem or surprising stat
• Introduce product (3–8s) — one-liner benefit
• Demonstration (8–30s) — show it solving the problem
• Social proof or mini-review (optional)
• CTA (end) — what to do next (e.g., “link in bio” or “swipe up”)

Pricing guide (how to think about rates)

• Decide pricing model: per asset, per deliverable bundle, or retainer.
• Typical ranges (ballpark; adjust for niche, exclusivity, usage):
  • Nano (1–10k followers): $50–$300 per short video
  • Micro (10–50k): $250–$1,000 per short video
  • Mid (50k–250k): $1,000–$5,000 per short video
  • Macro (250k+): $5,000+
• Alternative: Bundles (e.g., 5 shorts + 5 static images + captions = $X)
• Usage/licensing: base rate usually covers organic social; charge extra for paid ad usage, exclusivity, or long-term/perpetual rights (typical add-ons: 50–200% of base, depending on scope).
• Payment terms: 25–50% deposit, remainder on delivery or Net30. For new clients insist on deposit.

Simple rate formula you can use

• Base production fee (time + skill) + usage fee + rush fee (if <48h) + edit rounds fee
• Example: Base $300 + Usage for ads 75% ($225) + 2 rounds edits included = $525 total

Metrics brands want to see

• Views, CTR (if ad), average watch time, engagement rate, saves, link clicks, conversion data (if available).
• Provide screenshots of analytics or export CSVs.

Pitch / DM templates

1. Initial outreach (short DM) Hi [Brand name] — I make short-form product demos for [niche]. I love [specific product/feature you genuinely like]. I’m available to create 15–30s UGC videos for social or ads — I can make 3 concepts in 72 hours. Here’s a sample reel: [link]. Open to paid collab — email: [[email protected]].

2. Follow-up (3–5 days) Hey [Name], checking in — would you be open to a quick 10-min call to discuss content ideas for [brand]? I have 4 specific hooks that convert for [audience]. Thanks!

3. Proposal summary (after interest) Thanks, [Name]. Plan: 3x 15–30s UGC videos (hook/demo/CTA), 3 caption options, 1 vertical still. Deliverables: raw & edited files, 1 round of edits. Fee: $[X] (50% deposit). Timeline: filming within 3 days after approval, final delivery by [date]. License: non-exclusive, 6-month paid media okay. If that works I’ll send a short contract.

Deliverable checklist to include in contracts

• File types & sizes (MP4, 1080x1920, < 60s)
• Captions, hero stills, thumbnails
• Number of videos, number of edits included
• Delivery method (Google Drive/Dropbox)
• Timeline and milestones
• Payment schedule and late fees
• Usage rights & scope (channels, duration, paid media, exclusivity)
• Credit/tagging requirements
• Approval process and rounds of changes
• Cancellation & reshoot terms
• NDA if needed

Sample licensing language (short)

• “Creator grants Brand a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use the Content on Brand’s owned social channels and paid social ads for 6 months from delivery. Additional fees apply for perpetual use or exclusive rights.”

Production workflow (fast)

• Day 0: Brief & product in hand — confirm objectives & target audience
• Day 1: Script + shot list (3 concepts), record
• Day 2: Edit first drafts, send to client for review
• Day 3: Revisions, deliver final files with captions & suggested CTAs

Quick content calendar template (for launching one product)

• Day 1: Teaser Reel (hook + product reveal)
• Day 2: Demo Reel (how to use)
• Day 4: Comparison Reel (vs competitor or old method)
• Day 6: Testimonial-style Reel (benefit + real result)
• Ongoing: 3–5 Stories / community Q&A across first 2 weeks

How to scale and get recurring work

• Offer monthly retainer packages (e.g., 8–12 assets/month)
• Create “ad pack” bundles specifically for paid social
• Build relationships with marketing managers and agency contacts
• Document case studies showing performance lifts
• Use creator marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr Pro, specialized UGC platforms) and join relevant Slack/Discord groups

Common mistakes to avoid

• Over-producing UGC — brands want native-feeling content
• Forgetting to include captions and text-on-screen for mute viewing
• Not specifying usage rights in writing
• Accepting large projects without a deposit or contract

Examples of quick hooks (copy you can steal)

• “I thought this was gimmicky — until I tried it…”
• “If you hate [problem], you need this.”
• “Here’s why this replaced my [old product].”
• “3 things this product does better than X.”

Deliver these first to get traction

• 3 short videos (15–30s) + 3 caption options + 3 thumbnails + raw files.

If you want, I can:

• Draft a one-page contract template and a sample invoice.
• Create 6 UGC script hooks tailored to your niche (give me niche).
• Review your Instagram/TikTok bio and pitch message and rewrite it.

Which would you like next: contract template, pitch DM variants tailored to a specific brand, or UGC script hooks for a particular niche?