The Complete Guide on How to Become a Content Creator

This article is for you if…

• You’re new to UGC and trying to figure out how to become a content creator.
• You’re already a content creator, and you’re wondering how to make more money.
• You’re looking for a complete, step-by-step guide to breaking into the UGC market.
• You’re wondering how to become a full-time content creator.

We’ve written about this topic before, but we realized that we didn't go deep enough if you’re new to UGC marketing.

So this time, we’ll also show you how to become a content creator with no experience. 🙅

We’ll start by helping you ask the most critical question: Is figuring out how to become a content creator a good idea for you?

Should you become a content creator?

Ah, this is the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

If you’re just thinking of creating content on the side, it’s probably worth a shot. But if you’re hoping to make this your full-time gig in the future, there are quite a few things to consider.

Let’s start with the good news first.

The perks of becoming a content creator

We’d be lying if we said there weren’t TONS of perks. After all–we chose this lifestyle for a reason! Here are just a few:

• Freedom: You can work anywhere you want, as long as there’s internet. Bye-bye, long cubicles, and commutes, and hello, relaxing days!
• Financial freedom: If you become successful (and you will, with time and the right strategies), the ongoing revenue is NICE. Honestly, content creation isn’t super hard. You just have to be consistent with your efforts.

And just a note: You can obtain financial freedom with less money if your expenses are low, but we’re not saying you have to do that. Content creation can become a very lucrative business in and of itself, as some creators make thousands per month. It's not a pipe dream; it's a reality.

Okay, back to the perks!

• More time: For your family, friends, and yourself. Just cutting down on office time and commuting saves you tons of time each day, so you’ll have more time to spend on the things and people you love.
• Future proof: Brands are shifting from hiring influencers to hiring UGC content creators. The future looks bright with the emphasis on authenticity in marketing these days.
• Fun: Making UGC is just plain fun! Who else gets to say that they create content full-time for their job?

The harder things

We won’t lie–becoming a content creator isn’t 24/7 fun. Here are the main obstacles you’ll encounter:

• Finding work (especially at first): It can be tough to find jobs at the beginning–especially jobs that pay the bills. But don’t stress–we’ll teach you how to find work later in this article!
• Self-discipline: When you can do whatever you want, using your time well is harder. Discipline is super important–you’ll need to work on your portfolio, learn how to shoot better content, and film for jobs as they come in. If you’re used to having a boss to hold you accountable, this can be a big culture shock.
• Business stuff: Congrats! You are now running your own business, which means you have to detail with taxes, business banking accounts, invoices, and other minor inconveniences. It’s not that bad, but it is something to be aware of. 
• Demanding clients: Okay, just let us sound off for a minute: Some brand owners (who have never created content a day in their lives) think it’s super easy to do your job, and they can just ask for any amount of raw files an all sorts of edits! You’ll want to look them in the eyes and say CALM DOWN. But don’t worry–it’s pretty easy to navigate these situations too. You can draw healthy boundaries simply by charging more for more services–that quiets the demands quite nicely.

Is it worth it?

Keep going even if the obstacles we covered above seem like a lot. We wanted to be super honest with you and show you all sides of the job–but we’re confident in your ability to handle whatever comes your way. The downsides of learning how to become a content creator are easily managed, and the benefits far outweigh the annoyances.

If you’re new to the world of content creation, don’t worry–we got you! Just keep reading, and we’ll help you learn everything you need to know about how to become a successful content creator. 🦸

How to become a UGC creator: step by step

If you’re ready to learn how to become a content creator, follow these steps. Be sure to pay attention to steps #1 and #2–most creators regret skipping these.

1. Start filming UGC videos and learn how to do it well

DUH, right? Well, we have some news: You’ll want to skip this or think you “already know” how to do it. If that hurts your feelings, we’re not sorry. We’d rather break it to you now than deal with your devastation because you didn’t ever learn to film quality UGC.

Here’s how to film fantastic UGC:

1. Start filming with the products you have! Take one of your favorite products and write a mini script for a video about it. Think of a potential opening for the video (called a hook) and what you like about the product (this is often called the body of the video). Then, think of an ending (the call to action). Write down what you want to say, word by word, and you’ll have a script. Speak your script directly to the camera, and congrats! 🎉 You’ve just recorded your first UGC video. It may not be the best UGC video ever (and probably won’t be), but give yourself a break–you took the first step, and that’s worth celebrating! If you want to see an example of how other creators do it, check out content from our creators. You’ll see that most of them use this format: hook, body/features, and call to action. Notice ways you might be able to improve your video.
2. Repeat step #1We’re dead serious. Start practicing as much as possible. Learn how to write a script and speak in front of a camera, then watch your videos back to see what you can improve. Check out content from other UGC creators, too, to get inspired. Then rinse and repeat. You’ll need to do this a lot to polish this skill, especially if you’re camera-shy. So gather some of your favorite products from around your house and start filming!

2. Create a portfolio and social media profiles

Start building your social media profiles on Instagram and TikTok as you hone your video creation skills. For inspiration, check out how Alison, one of our top creators, crafted her Instagram. You don’t need a UGC-specific account on every platform if you don’t want to, but it’s a good idea to have at least one to show to brands.

Also, while you’re working on your social media profiles, start creating a portfolio too. If you don’t have videos for your portfolio yet, check out the next section–we have a hack for you. I mean, what did you expect? We promised a complete guide, right?

If you're unsure how to get started, check out this fantastic guide with examples to learn how to create a UGC portfolio. Here's a tip: You can create these portfolios in Canva, it's the perfect tool for this. 🫶

Most of the platforms you’ll join will ask you for an intro video to see who you are and what you’re passionate about–so it’s a good idea to start filming one of these, too. Here are some great examples to get you started.

3. Join UGC platforms

Most UGC platforms are free to use as a creator, which is great! Join everyone you can to work with as many brands as possible.

They WILL ask you for portfolios and intro videos, so make sure you have those ready before you start this step.

Most of these platforms will set your rates as a UGC creator, so you can go with that or research the fees or upsells you can charge. We’ll write an article on that later, so stay tuned!

If you’re not sure where to find UGC platforms to join, we wrote an article about them (which you should check out once you’ve finished this one!) Although we wrote that article for brands, you can visit the websites we mentioned and apply to be a creator–because those UGC platforms are also great for creators!

4. Apply to available campaigns

Once you’ve joined some UGC platforms, start applying to work with brands on campaigns. Fair warning: this will be harder initially because brands will probably be reluctant to work with you. But don’t be discouraged–if you’re persistent, collaborations will come.

Whenever you apply for campaigns on these platforms, most applications require a message explaining why you want to work with the brand. Don’t write a long message—nobody has time for that. Do your best to make it memorable, but keep it short.

It’s a good idea to build a bit of branding on these platforms, too. Build your profile, craft it nicely, and add portfolio and intro videos. But most of all, GET REVIEWS from brands you’ve worked with.

You obviously won’t have any of these at first, but once you get your first gigs, ask for them.

You’ll want the reviews to showcase a few key aspects of working with you–mainly, the things they can’t guess from looking at your portfolio. You’re looking for reviews about how fast you deliver the content, how well you communicate, and how well you can follow a script they provide.

5. Get paid and scale

Now, it’s time to celebrate! 🎉

After much hard work, you’ve made money from your first UGC deal. All you have to do now is enjoy–and keep it going.

Things will get easier as you gain more experience and build up your creator profile. Yes, it’ll be easier to land jobs, but even more importantly, it’ll be easier to secure ongoing jobs with brands.

So enjoy the journey–you’re in it for the long haul!

The main thing here is to follow these steps and be consistent. Believe it or not, most UGC content creators who start down this path quit. Find a way to keep going even when it gets tough, and you’ll be one of the success stories we mentioned earlier in this article.

Now, let’s discuss some frequently asked questions about how to become a content creator!

Do you need experience to become a content creator?

Uh… Yes and no. Let us explain: First, brands are going to ask to see your content portfolio, which is fair enough. They need to know if you’re good at creating content, right?

So, if you’re considering it from that angle, you need some experience to land jobs.

At the same time, how are you supposed to get that experience if brands don’t accept you because you don’t have it? Do you see the issue here?

If you’re in the “no experience yet” camp and feel stuck on a hamster wheel, don’t worry–we've got you.

How to become a content creator if you don’t have any experience

Here are two ideas for how to become a UGC content creator if you don’t have any experience:

• Work for free to get the ball rolling. Now HOLD ON. We’re not saying you should always work for free. You SHOULD be paid fairly for your work, and we’re not recommending you do this for six months or a year or anything crazy like that. We’re just saying–consider working for free for 5 to 10 collaborations to build up your portfolio. Think of it as a short internship–you’ll do your first collaborations for free and gain a few videos to show brands later when you want to get paid.
• Film yourself with the products you already have. You have products you like at home, so why don’t you start filming some content with them? Let’s say you just got a new pair of shoes, and you’re PUMPED about them. What’s stopping you from practicing an unboxing video when they arrive? You can show these videos on your portfolio too, and be honest about them–say something like, “I am an up-and-coming creator and haven’t gotten paid jobs yet, but here are some videos that I created for my favorite brands that I bought products from.”

You get the idea–these hacks will help you practice, build your portfolio, and potentially generate some reviews, which will help you start getting paid brand deals.

Do you need to show your face as a content creator?

We get asked this all the time, and despite many articles on the internet claiming that you don’t, we stand by our answer: Yes.

You NEED to be willing to show your face as a content creator. There’s no way around this.

While you might find some campaigns that don’t require your face, 99% of them do–so why would you make it harder on yourself?

If you’re not comfortable showing your face but want to become a content creator, you’ll have to practice until you are.

We wish we had another answer, but we need to be honest. Brands generally want you to show your face and be comfortable in front of the camera. If that’s not you, practice until it is.

What tools do you need to start as a content creator?

This is a GREAT question. Thankfully, the list isn’t super long: to get started, you only need a phone with a good camera. Most of the latest smartphones will do nicely.

Honestly, a new phone will serve you well for quite a while, but if you’re interested in cameras or other gear, we wrote an article about the best cameras for UGC creators. We also included some recommendations from one of our top-performing content creators, so check it out in the featured section at the end of this article. 🙂

Ready? Then set and go!

And now you have it–the complete guide to how to become a content creator.

However, you must know that it’s super important to work on each step and be consistent. That will make a huge difference.

While we’ve given you a complete overview of HOW to become a UGC creator and break into the market, you will need to dedicate a significant amount of time to each step–don’t skip ahead!

Also, it’s crucial to understand that your journey will be different from others. Don’t compare yourself–this is your journey, and if you keep learning and stay consistent, you will get where you want to be.

So are you ready? Then let’s GOOOO! (And, if you have questions about how to become a content creator, shoot us a message at hello@useclip.com. We’d love to help!)

By the way, feel free to sign up with us as a creator! It’s free, there are plenty of campaigns to apply to, and we have in-house professional content creators who give you personalized feedback. Is there anything better?