How to Start UGC With No Following: A Beginner-Friendly Guide for 2025

If you’re sitting there scrolling TikTok thinking “I could literally make videos like that” you’re right.

UGC is NOT influencer content.

You don’t need a big following.

You don’t need a perfect aesthetic.

You don’t need a camera crew.

Here’s exactly how I started UGC with less than 2k followers:

⭐️ Step 1: Pick a niche that matches YOU

Brands love creators who know who they are. My niches:

• millennial mom

• rural life

• pet mom

• cozy home

• Amazon finds

• mom humor

Don’t overthink it — pick 2–3 things you’re already doing.

⭐️ Step 2: Build a simple UGC portfolio

Use your phone + good lighting.

Make 6–12 example pieces (no brands needed).

https://amzn.to/4o8HIe3 Clip on Light

https://amzn.to/48pVWCv Tripod

https://amzn.to/4o8IaJh Mini Microphone

⭐️ Step 3: Start pitching

Your first deals usually come from:

• Instagram DMs

• brand emails: This is how I got my first 3 brand deals from. $4,150 in my very FIRST month of UGC.

  I SWEAR by Bento: https://app.onbento.com/?code=ryanna1

• platforms like Billo, Cohley, Trend

⭐️ Step 4: Charge starter rates

Photos: $75–$150

Videos: $150–$350

Packages: $350–$700

⭐️ Step 5: Deliver clean, on brand content

Brands only care about:

✔ clarity

✔ lighting

✔ relatability

✔ simple edits

✔ you following instructions

That’s it.

You do NOT need to be perfect.

You just need to be easy to work with.