Brands are no longer willing to pay for views. They pay for unique content that becomes part of the sales funnel. In this scenario, influencer marketing takes a back seat, as this content creation model has several pitfalls: algorithm changes, creator burnout, and the constant chase for likes.
That’s why more and more creators are choosing the UGC niche, as it offers more freedom, the opportunity to monetize their creative ideas, and the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about how many views your video will get. In this article, we’ll discuss all the benefits of this approach, how to monetize your content effectively, and how much you can earn from your videos.
UGC vs. Influence Marketing: The Main Difference
People often confuse UGC creators with regular influencers. Some even think that being a UGC creator is worse (which is obviously nonsense). To settle this debate, we’ve compiled a side-by-side comparison of these two roles in a single table. This will help you choose the option that’s right for you.
| Criterion | UGC Creator (User Generated Content) | Basic Influencer |
| What do they sell? | Content as a final product for the brand. | Access to their loyal audience. |
| Key asset | Unique filming, editing, and storytelling skills. | Number of followers and personal brand. |
| Where is the content hosted? | On the brand’s accounts or in their targeted ads. | In the creator’s own feed or Stories. |
| Dependence on reach | None. You get paid for the file itself, not for views. | High. The contract price directly depends on the engagement rate (ER) and reach. |
| Personal visibility | Optional. You can be “faceless” (only show your hands/voice). | Mandatory. You need to constantly “market your face” and lifestyle |
| Barrier to entry | Low. You can start with 0 followers, using only an iPhone. | High. You need to grow your fan base over months or years. |
| Content rights | The brand purchases full usage rights for advertising. | Content usually remains the property of the creator. |
Of course, brands continue to work with influencers as well (including celebrities and content creators). However, the greater focus right now is on UGC content. Why? Here are a few reasons:
- It’s cheaper than collaborating with influencers
- Audience loyalty is higher
- Sales of goods/services are more organic
- The ability to collaborate with a multitude of creators on a budget.
It’s important for the creators themselves to understand that they’re selling their unique approach to content, not just numbers. That’s the main strength of UGC.
How Can UGC Creators Earn Money?
When creators consider becoming UGC creators, they often believe it’s impossible to monetize their content in this format. It’s understandable that early in their careers, such creators often offer their content in exchange for brand mentions and increased reach, with the goal of eventually monetizing their audience. In general, here’s how you can earn money through UGC:
- Base Video Rate: Minimum price per video. Includes scriptwriting, filming, and editing.
- Usage Rights (Licensing): Sale of video rights if a brand wants to use your video in ads on Google Ads or Meta Ads. This usually amounts to a 30% markup on the price of the video.
- Bundles: Instead of selling a single video, you sell a collection of 5, 10, or 15 videos per month.
- Whitelisting: This gives brands the opportunity to run ads through your account and manage them on their own.
As you can see, these are methods that can and should be combined with traditional content marketing, which can yield the best results and lead to long-term partnerships.
How to Become a UGC Creator from Scratch: A Complete Guide
Have we convinced you to become a UGC creator? It’s actually not that hard, and it’s entirely possible to succeed in this field, despite the huge number of creators out there. We’ve put together a guide on how to get off to a successful start in UGC so you can avoid common mistakes and have a clear plan from the very beginning.
Step 1: Choose a Niche
Creators often experiment with different formats and niches, thinking that this will attract more attention from brands. In reality, this comes across as inconsistent branding, and not all brands will be interested in such a partnership. That’s why it’s important to define your niche and unique value proposition and stick to that model.
Step 2: Create a Portfolio
Even if you haven’t collaborated with brands yet, you can always “come up with” case studies and create content tailored to the brands you’re targeting. This way, you can build a portfolio of materials that might interest your target brands. Typically, this includes a collection of photo and video content. By the way, Mediacube can help you create a high-quality portfolio or media kit.
Step 3: Work on Content Quality
Of course, as competition grows, you’ll need to focus even more on quality. At first, you can shoot with an iPhone and edit using free software, but as you grow, it’s worth investing in professional lighting, a camera, a microphone, and editing software. That way, you’ll grab advertisers’ attention from the very first seconds.
Step 4: Build Your Personal Brand
Even though UGC doesn’t require you to manage your own social media accounts, it’s still worth working on them to build your personal brand. In other words, you should still post reviews, case studies, and a little bit about your personal life so that brands can find you on their own and your audience can support you in your very first collaborations.
Step 5: Brand Cold Outreach
Your social media profiles are up and running, and your UGC portfolio is ready. So what’s next? Sometimes the brands you’re dreaming of won’t always find you on their own. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, just reach out to the brands that interest you yourself. Of course, this shouldn’t be a cookie-cutter message. It’s better to tailor your message to each brand individually, highlighting what makes each company unique.
Where Can UGC Creators Find Orders in 2026?
Don’t wait for brands to come to you. Check out this list of places where you can land gigs and projects.
- Aggregator platforms: It’s not just tech professionals and journalists who can find work on freelance marketplaces. UGC creators can find gigs on platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Billo, and JoinBrands.
- Cold Outreach: We discussed reaching out to brands in the previous chapter, but it’s important to note that such emails must include a specific offer (a video or several pieces of content), a description of your experience, pricing, and contact information.
- Agencies: Agencies like Mediacube have dedicated departments that help creators and brands connect, negotiate, and secure the best deals.
Of course, you can find clients just about anywhere, even at a networking event. The key is to know what makes your offer unique and to have a polished portfolio ready.
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Get a Free AuditHow Much Do UGC Creators Really Earn?
Typically, the rates for a single video depend heavily on a number of factors. Below, we’ve compiled the average rate per UGC video based on the creator’s experience.
| Creator Level | Experience | 1 Video Base Rate |
| Beginner | 0–1 year, with portfolio | $100–$200 |
| Middle | 1–3 years, with cases of ROI | $300–$700 |
| Pro | 3+ years of experience working with top brands | $800–$3,000+ |
These are the rates a creator can earn just for shooting a single video. Of course, the final amount can be increased. For example, usage rights add 30–50% to the final price if you sell the rights to your video for 30–90 days. If a brand requests the source files for your content, you also have the right to ask for an additional amount on top of the final price. And let’s not forget about the partnership option where the brand runs ads through your social media channels, which can drastically change the final amount for a single video.
Plus, a lot depends on the niche you work in. In Tech & SaaS, you earn the most due to the complexity of the subject and low competition ($300–$1,500 per video). In the Beauty sector, there’s a lot of competition, but the budgets are huge ($250–$1,200 per video). And in the Finance sector, customer value and retention are so high that brands immediately offer high rates for a single video. So, you can make money in any niche, and ultimately, the choice is entirely up to the creator.
FAQ on UGC Content Creation
Still have questions about this topic? We’ve compiled the most popular search queries so you can get a clear understanding of all the ins and outs of UGC right from the start.
1. Do I need to have many followers to start working as a UGC creator?
No. Brands don’t look at the number of followers. They look at the quality of the content you showcase in your portfolio.
2. What is the difference between a UGC creator and an influencer?
Influencers sell views and engagement. A UGC creator sells high-quality content and the rights to it. An influencer retains the rights to their content.
3. How much will a brand pay for one UGC video in 2026?
Brands pay between $100 and $800+ per video. Overall, it all depends on the niche, your level of professionalism, and whether you sell additional services (usage rights, whitelisting, etc.). This can increase the price by 30–50%.
4. What are usage rights, and how can I earn from them?
This is “renting out your image.” For an additional fee, brands take your content and use it for various purposes, including advertising. Brands typically pay an extra fee for using content in this way (approximately 30% on top of the standard rate).
5. Is it possible to do UGC anonymously, without showing your face?
Yes, you can film unboxing videos in ASMR format, use only your hands and voice, or even create an AI character to do the unboxing for you.
6. Where can I find first orders if I don’t have any official cases in my portfolio?
You can reach out to brands on your own by messaging them on social media. What’s more, there are plenty of UGC jobs available on freelance platforms like Upwork. Even on X and TikTok, brands are constantly looking for creators.
7. Do I need to be a sole proprietor or self-employed to work with brands?
It all depends on the country where you live, but of course we recommend setting up an official legal entity to ensure everything is aboveboard and you don’t run into any issues with government agencies. Plus, many brands only work with creators who are legally “safe.”
8. How to build a UGC portfolio that will convince a brand to hire a creator?
First, your portfolio should include examples of your work (photos, videos, and descriptions of your niche and brand). If you haven’t collaborated with anyone yet, you can film your own content ideas and create your own portfolio pieces. Creators often present brands with ready-made ideas for their portfolio to grab their attention right away.
9. Why should a UGC creator work through an agency or media network (e.g., Mediacube)?
This is because agencies help find even more brands to collaborate with, handle any legal issues, and ensure that every deal is successfully closed (from the initial video concept all the way through to editing). Brands often turn directly to agencies to quickly and reliably find the right creators.
Why is Mediacube the Best Partner in the World of UGC?
Want to stop chasing UGC partnerships? Join Mediacube. Our Agency Department connects creators with brands. For over 10 years, we’ve known which formats work best in specific niches, what to look for in a contract, how to shoot a video so it requires minimal edits, and how to secure the maximum budget for your video.
Why Mediacube? We work with hundreds of brands that are challenging to reach on your own but offer exciting opportunities for creators. Plus, we handle all the paperwork (contracts, negotiations, deadlines, payments), leaving the creator to focus solely on the creative side. Of course, you can certainly go on the UGC route on your own, but we recommend speeding it up and making it easier with 10,000+ other creators who have already chosen us.
