A UGC creator is someone who makes videos about products the way a regular user would—and gets paid by brands for it. They're not an influencer with a million followers or a professional actor in a commercial; more often than not, it's just a person with a phone who knows how to showcase a product authentically, without the professional gloss.
Below, we'll explain what UGC is in plain English, how this work differs from influencing, where the money comes from, how to build a portfolio without a single client, and how to tell a legitimate gig from a scam.
In a Nutshell
- UGC is content that looks like it was made by a regular customer: unboxings, reviews, "before and afters," and how-to videos.
- UGC creators don't need followers. Brands pay for the video itself or for its views, not for the size of your audience.
- There are two ways to earn: creating custom videos that brands use in their own ads, or posting a video on your page and getting paid for views.
- You can start with no experience: all you need is a phone, some window light, and three or four videos for your portfolio.
- The biggest risk for beginners is "job offers" that ask you to pay for training or a test assignment first.
What Is UGC in Plain English?
UGC stands for user-generated content. Originally, the term referred to genuine reviews and videos from actual customers. Then brands noticed that these videos sold better than studio-shot commercials—and started commissioning them on purpose.
The reason is simple: people on their feed scroll past anything that looks like an ad. But a video of someone in their kitchen showing how they use a product feels like a recommendation from a friend. That's why good UGC isn't about a polished image; it's about trust.
A UGC creator is someone who makes these videos on commission. A brand provides a brief: what to show, what must be said, and what to avoid. The creator shoots the video at home, in their own voice, and in their own words.
How a UGC Creator Differs from an Influencer
| Influencer | UGC Creator | |
|---|---|---|
| What they sell | Access to their audience | The video itself |
| Are followers needed? | Yes, the price depends on it | No, the video matters, not the audience |
| Where the video is published | On the influencer's page | In the brand's ads or on the creator's page—depends on the brief |
| What they get paid for | For posting on their page | For the video or for its views |
| How to start | Building an audience for years | Build a portfolio in a week |
The key takeaway: you can earn with UGC from zero followers. That makes it one of the few content-related jobs you can actually get into without a pre-existing online presence.
How UGC Creators Earn Money
1. Custom Videos for Brands
A brand pays for a video and uses it for its own purposes: in ads, on its social media page, or on a product page. The price is negotiable and depends heavily on the brand, the complexity of the video, and how long and where the brand will use it.
That last point is a crucial detail that beginners often forget. A video that a brand runs in paid ads for a month is worth more than a video for a single post. Always clarify where and for how long the video will be used before you start shooting, and get it in writing.
2. Getting Paid for Views
The second method is you publish a video about a product on your own page, and the brand pays you for every thousand views. This is how UGC tasks on Prime Oracles work, with current rates ranging from $0.50 to $3 per 1,000 views.
The math is simple: views × rate ÷ 1,000. A video with 50,000 views at a rate of $2 will earn you $100, and a video with 200,000 views at $0.50 will also earn you $100. For a real-life example of a campaign with a top rate, see I AM: $3 per 1,000 views.
The upside of this method is that you don't have to look for a client or negotiate a price: the rate is already listed in the brief, and the brand's budget is held in escrow in advance. The downside is that your income depends on how many views the video gets, so it's crucial to know how to hook the viewer in the first few seconds.
If you're from Russia, you should also read how to earn on TikTok, Shorts, and Reels right now: it breaks down where and how to publish when the platforms' monetization is unavailable there.
What Kinds of Videos Do Brands Want?
- Unboxing. Opening a package, showing what's inside, your first reaction. The easiest format to start with.
- Review. You use the product for a couple of days and give your honest opinion on what you liked. This works best if you focus on one specific detail rather than general praise.
- "Before and After." Show the transformation: cleanliness, organization, a result, time saved.
- How-to / Product in Action. Show the product in use: how you use an app, how a service works.
- Problem-Solution. Start with a pain point and show how the product solves it. This is the highest-converting format.
- Comparison. How things were with the old method versus how they are with the new one.
How to Start With No Experience: Build a Portfolio in a Week
Brands choose creators based on their work samples. They care very little about your follower count, but they always look at your portfolio. The good news is you can build one without having a single client.
- Pick three or four products you actually use. An app on your phone, a cosmetic product, a food item, a delivery service—it doesn't matter what, as long as you can talk about it in your own words.
- Shoot one video for each in different formats. An unboxing, a review, a problem-solution video. This shows a potential client you have range.
- Keep your videos short. 15–45 seconds. If you can't get your point across in half a minute, it's too complicated.
- The first three seconds are everything. Start with the result or the problem, not with "Hi, today I'm going to tell you about..."
- Put everything in one place. A separate account or a folder with your videos that you can send as a link to a client.
It's a good idea to get inspiration for your videos from what's already getting views in your niche. We broke down how to find them in our guide to finding viral videos.
What Gear Do You Need?
You don't need an expensive camera. The whole point of UGC is that it's supposed to look like it was shot by a regular person.
- A phone with a decent camera. Use the main camera, not the front-facing one, unless you need to talk to the camera.
- Window light. Stand facing a window during the day—that's all you need. A ring light can come later.
- Sound. Shoot in a quiet room with soft furnishings—curtains, a sofa, and a rug will dampen echo. A lavalier mic is the first purchase that really pays for itself.
- A clean background. Not a studio, just a space without a lot of clutter behind you.
- A tripod or a stack of books. A shaky camera is the number one reason people scroll past a video.
How to Read a Brand Brief
A proper brief will always include: what to show, what must be said, the format and duration, where to publish, required hashtags or mentions, and what not to do.
Read the entire thing before you start shooting. The details can cost you money: on real tasks, we've seen creators lose up to 40% of their payout for a missing required hashtag. If something isn't clear, ask before you shoot, not after.
"UGC Jobs No Experience": How to Avoid Scams
Searches for "UGC jobs" turn up plenty of legitimate offers, but there are also plenty of scammers. Here are the signs that it's not a real job:
- They ask you to pay for training, a course, "access to a client database," or for them to review your test assignment.
- They ask you to buy the product with your own money, promising to reimburse you later.
- There's no clear brief or payment structure—just "make ten videos, and we'll figure it out."
- Payment is only offered after a large volume of work—"we'll pay you after the 100th video."
- Communication is only in DMs with a person who has no company, no website, and no public terms.
A legitimate setup has clear terms: you know in advance what to shoot and how much you'll be paid, the client's funds are reserved before work begins, and the terms and rules are public.
Beginner Mistakes
- Acting like you're in a commercial. A perky host voice and a memorized script kill the most important thing: the feeling that this is a recommendation, not a sales pitch.
- Starting with a greeting. The first three seconds should hook the viewer, not introduce yourself.
- Making it too long. Anything that can be cut should be cut.
- Praising without specifics. "Great product" doesn't work. "It saves me twenty minutes every morning" works.
- Giving up after the first video. The first few videos almost never take off. Results come from consistency.
FAQ
What is a UGC creator, in simple terms?
A person who creates videos about products for brands in the style of a regular user: unboxings, reviews, and how-to videos. Brands pay them for this work.
Do I need followers to become a UGC creator?
No. For custom videos, you're paid for the video itself. For tasks that pay for views, you're paid for the views on a specific video, not for the size of your audience.
How much does a UGC creator earn?
For tasks that pay for views on Prime Oracles, current rates are between $0.50 and $3 per 1,000 views. For custom videos, the price is negotiable and depends on the brand and how long and where the video will be used.
Do I have to show my face?
No. Many formats can be shot without showing your face: hands-in-frame shots, screen recordings, voiceovers. However, videos with a real person on camera usually build more trust.
Can I become a UGC creator with no experience?
Yes. A portfolio of three or four videos, which you can shoot in a week using products you already own, can stand in for experience.
How do I start with UGC in Russia?
Just like anywhere else: with a portfolio and your first tasks. If a task requires posting on TikTok, Shorts, or Reels, keep in mind that official monetization on these platforms is unavailable in Russia—learn more in our guide to earning on short-form video.
Where to Start
Shoot a three-video portfolio this week. Then check out the UGC tasks on Prime Oracles: you can immediately see what to shoot, where to publish, and how much they pay per 1,000 views, and the brand's budget is held in escrow in advance. Payouts are in USDT, with a minimum withdrawal of $5.
If you want to dive deeper, with lessons and feedback on your mistakes, the Prime Oracles Academy teaches UGC and clipping from scratch.
Working with brands and briefs is for adults only.