How I Make 8k+ Months With UGC (And Why You Don’t Need Followers to Do It)

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For most of my adult life, I thought making money online required one thing: an audience. Growing up in the era of bloggers, YouTubers, and influencers, it felt like the only path to earning a living through content was to have tens of thousands of followers behind you. And for a long time, I believed that myth.

Then I discovered UGC.

Today, I consistently earn $8,000+ per month as a UGC creator — not because I went viral, not because I built a huge following, and not because I became an influencer in the traditional sense.

I ended up packaging all of this information in a 65+ page e-book that can be found here: 7 Day Guide To Starting UGC

I earn that income because I create content that brands actually need, content that helps them sell more effectively.

This blog post is the full breakdown of how I got here, how UGC actually works, and the exact systems I rely on every single month to maintain (and now grow) my income without depending on followers.

This is the guide I wish existed when I first started.

What UGC Actually Is — And Why It Works

UGC, or user-generated content, is any form of content that looks like it was created by a real customer. But these days, brands often hire creators specifically to produce this style of content. The goal is authenticity. Consumers trust real people over highly-produced studio ads, and brands know this.

Instead of investing in expensive productions, they hire creators like me — people who can film simple, effective, relatable content that blends seamlessly into social feeds and performs well in ads.

UGC isn’t about being an influencer. In fact, most clients don’t care whether you have 200 followers or 200,000. They only care about whether you can create content that aligns with their brand and helps them convert more customers.

This shift in advertising has opened the door to thousands of creators who would never have called themselves “content creators” before. And it’s exactly why making $5,000–$10,000+ months is not only possible, but common, once you build the right foundation.

How I Got Started With Zero Followers

When I started creating UGC, I didn’t have an audience ready to buy from me. I wasn’t a micro-influencer. I didn’t have a reputation in the industry. I simply had a background in content creation and an understanding of how people make purchasing decisions online.

Instead of waiting for a following to grow, I built a portfolio — just a simple one — with a small handful of sample videos I filmed myself. They weren’t elaborate or overly polished. They were clean, clear product demos and simple testimonial-style clips similar to the ads I saw performing well on TikTok and Instagram.

That portfolio landed my first brand deal.

Then another.

Within a few months, I had brands coming back to me for ongoing work and new brands reaching out after seeing my portfolio on UGC platforms.

Looking back, the portfolio was the turning point. Without it, nothing else would’ve happened. But once it existed, things began moving faster than I expected.

The Foundation: Building a Portfolio That Actually Gets You Hired

There’s a very specific reason most new creators struggle: their portfolios aren’t optimized for what brands actually want to see.

Here’s what made the biggest difference for me:

1. I used real products, not mock brands.

Real products instantly make your portfolio more credible. You don’t need permission to film something you already own, as long as you’re not pretending it’s a paid sponsorship.

2. I kept my videos simple and conversion-focused.

Brands don’t want short films. They want 15–30 second videos with:

A clear hook
A simple product demonstration
Key benefits
A natural CTA

If your portfolio showcases this, you’re already ahead of most creators.

3. I filmed in natural, everyday settings.

This is the entire appeal of UGC. Brands are not hiring you for studio production. They’re hiring you because your content feels organic. Filming in my kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom made my videos more relatable and improved conversions for brands.

Your portfolio doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to show that you understand how to create content people trust.

Here’s what I use to film:

Iphone 16 Pro Max (but I started with an Iphone 11!)
This tripod with a magsafe magnet (this was a gamechanger)
Portable Ring Light (this one attatches to the tripod)

Positioning Yourself as a Partner, Not an Influencer

One of the most common mistakes I see new creators make is assuming brands are hiring them for their personality, aesthetic, or social influence. UGC operates differently.

Brands hire creators because:

They need more content than they can produce themselves
They’re testing ads at scale
They require variety in faces, tones, and styles
UGC consistently outperforms traditional ads

When I shifted from presenting myself as a “creator” to presenting myself as a “content partner,” everything changed.

I started communicating the same way freelancers do:

Who I help
What problem I solve
What outcomes my videos help brands achieve

This reshaped my entire business. Suddenly, I wasn’t just another UGC creator. I was someone who could contribute to their marketing goals. That level of clarity attracts long-term clients.

Where My Clients Come From (Most Creators Don’t Know These Sources)

I get most of my clients from two places:

UGC marketplaces
Private outreach

Let’s break both down.

UGC Marketplaces

These platforms have been essential to my growth because they allow brands to find creators directly. You’re not competing with algorithms or follower counts; you’re simply showcasing your work.

Some platforms I’ve used include:

UGC Shop
Billo
Insense
Trend.io
JoinBrands (this was my first one!)

I don’t rely on just one platform. I rotate through several because each one brings different types of brands and different budgets.

Bento Outreach

I use a VA to outreach on my behalf (around 300+ emails per month!)

I got in while they had their promotion for “If Bento pitches for you for one full year and you don’t earn more than what you paid, you’ll get a 100% refund on their platform” 🙂 Sometimes they run offers like this! So at the very least I reccomend signing up for their free version, getting on the email list and just being on the lookout for their offers.

For me, I was super serious about landing deals FAST which is why I opted for the VA package. With this package, I knew I was going to get the help I needed with creating a very high value email template to send to brands.

You can sign up for free and also upgrade later here.

Exactly How I Price My UGC Packages

Pricing is where many creators limit themselves. They assume lower follower count means lower pricing, but that’s not how UGC works. Clients are not paying for reach; they’re paying for:

Your time
Your skill
Your ability to create content that performs in ads

Here’s a transparent breakdown of the rates I’ve used to scale to $8k+ months:

Single Video Rates

$175–$300 for a simple testimonial-style video
$250–$400 for hook + demo + CTA videos
$300–$500 for more scripted or stylized content

Packages

Brands always prefer packages because they need volume. These are my example structures:

3 videos: $450–$750
5 videos: $750–$1,500
10 videos: $1,500–$3,000

Brand Monthly Retainers

This is where income becomes consistent and scalable.

Examples:

4 videos/month: $800–$1,200
8 videos/month: $1,500–$2,500
10–12 videos/month: $2,500–$4,000

One or two good retainers are enough to stabilize your entire business.

If you’re doing Tech UGC or Canvas UGC, you it will look more like this”

$25/per video or $50/per video
That’s anywhere between $500-$1k+ months just from quick 20 second videos!

The reason I get rehired isn’t because I’m the “best” creator. It’s because I’m reliable and easy to work with. In a digital world where people disappear mid-project or submit content late, reliability becomes your competitive advantage.

I keep brands coming back by focusing on:

Fast communication
Clear turnaround times
Providing multiple hook variations
Suggesting ideas when needed
Delivering ahead of deadlines

Brands love creators who make their job easier. If they know you deliver content that performs, they will rehire you for months on end.

One ongoing client has resulted in thousands of dollars in recurring income — from just one brand.

The Types of Videos That Make the Most Money

There are dozens of UGC formats, but a few consistently earn more because they convert better. These include:

Testimonial Videos

Simple, direct, and believable. These perform extremely well in ads because they mirror real customer experiences.

Hook + Demo Videos

These get straight to the point. They start with a strong hook, show the product being used, highlight benefits, and finish with a clean CTA. Many of my best-performing videos follow this structure.

Before-and-After Clips

If the product allows for it (like skincare, haircare, or cleaning tools), these can be extremely valuable to brands.

Storytelling / POV

These feel organic, like a friend sharing something that helped them. Brands love this style for awareness campaigns.

Unboxings

Simple but effective, especially for new product launches.

Understanding which formats convert well allows you to create videos brands can actually use, which increases your value as a creator.

The Real Reason Followers Don’t Matter

UGC is not influencer marketing. You are not selling your audience — you are selling your content.

Brands are running your videos on:

TikTok Ads
Meta Ads
Amazon product pages
Their own websites
Email campaigns
Organic social feeds

Your job is to create content that helps a brand sell, not content that relies on your personal reach.

Once you understand this difference, you realize why follower count is irrelevant — and why lack of followers is not a barrier to entry.

What My Typical 8K+ UGC Month Actually Looks Like

Here’s an approximate breakdown of how my income usually stacks:

1–2 monthly retainers: $2,500–$4,500
3–5 one-off packages: $1,500–$3,000
2–4 smaller project bundles: $1,000–$2,000

That’s it.
It’s not complicated.
It’s not a secret formula.
It’s consistency.

Some months are higher, some lower, but overall, UGC provides a level of income stability many online creators never experience.

The Exact Steps You Can Follow to Achieve the Same

If you want to replicate this path, here’s the simplest version of the roadmap:

Create a portfolio with 6–10 strong sample videos.
Set up profiles on UGC marketplaces.
Pitch 5–10 relevant brands per day.
Establish a rate sheet and package structure.
Deliver content quickly and professionally.
Keep track of clients to encourage long-term relationships.
Continually refresh your portfolio with new styles and niches.

If you do this consistently for 60–90 days, I can almost guarantee you’ll begin seeing traction — even if you’re starting from zero.

Final Thoughts: Why UGC Works So Well for Creators Without Followings

UGC has opened the door for a completely new type of creator — someone who enjoys making content but prefers staying behind the scenes. Someone who wants to work with brands but doesn’t want the pressure of growing an audience. Someone who wants creative freedom without committing to influencer expectations.

The truth is: UGC is not a trend. It’s the future of advertising.
And creators who understand how to produce clean, authentic, conversion-focused content will continue to thrive.

If you’re new to UGC or looking to transition into this world, let this be your signal that you don’t need a following to start. You only need the willingness to create, test, pitch, and learn.

That’s how I got here. And it’s how you can get here too. If you want my Free Resources Guide I have it right here.

If you are serious about starting UGC grab my 65+ page ebook here.