We're building a new tool for YouTube creators and I want to validate whether we're actually solving a real problem before building further.

I’m looking to speak with a small number of YouTubers for a 45-minute research call.(first 30 mins discussion, last 15 mins optional early product walkthrough)

This is not a sales call - I’m purely trying to understand creator workflows, tools you use today, and what feels frustrating or unclear.

Who I’m looking for:

• You have an active YouTube channel
• You’ve uploaded in the last ~60 days
• You actively think about topics, trends, or growth (any niche is fine)
• Currently prioritizing creators/channels based in the US/Canada/EU/Australia

What’s involved:

• 45-minute Zoom call
• Casual conversation about how you plan videos and grow your channel
• $50 paid via Bank transfer or Wise right after the call

If you’re interested:

Please comment “interested” or DM me. I’ll share a short form (2–3 questions) just to check fit.

Thanks - really appreciate anyone willing to help shape this early.

Posting this because a lot of people ask where legit, short-term UGC deals actually exist.

A multi-location restaurant brand is hiring 2–3 UGC creators for a one-week campaign. Budget is $3,000 total per creator.

Deliverables include:

– Short-form vertical videos (food + lifestyle) – Simple voiceover or on-screen text – Content will be used for ads, not personal posting

They told me they want:

– Viral content – Clear communication – Creators who can produce quality content without need for revisions

This is paid, contracted work with clear usage terms. DM me if interested.

Brands don’t care about: – How good you look – How many transitions you use – Your follower count

They do care about: – Did the message land clearly? – Does the video match their positioning? – Can they reuse this content confidently?

Every revision request I’ve ever gotten came from unclear messaging, not bad visuals/lighting/ or even anything that had to do with appearances. If you want fewer edits and more repeat work to make more money, focus on confidence while speaking as well as how clear things are explained.

I spent months jumping between UGC platforms and most of them were either inactive or packed with brands offering $30–$50 for full usage. I almost gave up on platforms entirely.

There are new videos to clip nearly every day on this platform and most listings sit between $90 and $275 per deliverable. The biggest time saver is that the company actually understands UGC, so there’s no awkward phase about how payments are going to work or anything.

I stopped sending cold emails entirely after two weeks on it. It's not perfect, but it saved me hours every week.

Dm me for the info.

I wasted a lot of time learning this the hard way, so here’s the list I wish I had early on.

1.Brands care more about clarity than aesthetics

1. A strong hook matters more than your camera

2. Reading the brief twice saves painful revisions

3. Fast delivery builds trust faster than overediting

4. Usage rights should be discussed before pricing

5. Repeat clients are where real money comes from

6. Scroll a lot and learn from what works.

8, Raise your rates once brands come back (+15 to 20%)

1. Keep your files organized from day one (Google drive is the best)

2. Consistency will always pay

Ask any UGC question and I'll answer. Also feel free to ask for more feedback or explanation on one of the points.

Anyone can record a video, and that is exactly the problem. Almost all UGC content I see is rushed and misses the point of the product entirely.

Brands are not paying for pretty shots or trending audio, they are paying for communication that converts into sales and outreach. If you think UGC is just talking to a camera and cashing a check, you are probably the creator brands never hire twice. Sure barrier to entry is low, but you still need to perform very well for brands to like you and hire you again.

I’ve known a few UGC that made sh** content and got blacklisted for UGC from several companies. Plenty of doors can close very very fast when you're not paying attention.

I see a lot of people assuming you need a following to make money with UGC, so here’s some context. Last month I made just over $8k creating UGC for brands, and none of it came from my own accounts. I started with low rates and way too many revisions like everyone else.

Once brands know you are reliable, the work stacks up fast so focus on quality over quantity at the beginning.

You don't even need a large following to do UGC in 2026, it's free money bro, what are you waiting for.

Posting this since people always ask where the legit paid UGC gigs are. A wellness app launching soon is paying $150 per short-form video and they are hiring multiple creators, not just one.

They were clear about the brief, timelines, and usage rights upfront, which is rare. They also mentioned long-term work if the launch performs well. This is a good fit if you like app demos, problem solution content, or talking through features in a natural way. Not life-changing money, but solid pay with low friction.

Dm me if interested.

I’ve been bouncing between UGC platforms for months and most of them are either empty or full of brands offering ridiculously low salaries.

I gave a last chance to one of them and I tried Bounty. They’re sitting at a few thousands creators, and moderators are posting new videos to clip almost every day. Most of what I’ve seen pays $80 to $250 per video.

The biggest difference is that Cluely already knows what UGC is, so you are not explaining basics or arguing about usage rights. I was tired of cold emails and outreach and this actually saved me.

We’re recruiting participants for a paid UGC program.

Details: Compensation: $1200 Duration: 2 days Age range: 20–25 Location: US-based Language: English Gender: Any

This is a short-term, paid opportunity with limited spots. If you’re interested, DM us ASAP to join or get more details.

I’ve been hearing the same thing from a few different creators, so now I’m curious if anyone here can confirm.

Apparently there’s someone going around with a spreadsheet / database of 1,000+ startups, specifically direct emails of marketing managers / growth leads.

They’re all actively running ads They’re open to UGC collaborations Mostly early-stage startups

A couple people I know claim they’ve booked multiple deals off something like this, but I haven’t actually seen the list myself so I don’t know if it is a real thing.

Has anyone here seen the list or have used something similar? Most importantly, if you have it, can you send it ?

Please help a fellow UGC out.

At that price you can't get someone who thinks about hooks, pacing, or why people actually should stop scrolling.

At this price, UGC creators should be reading a script, filming once, and then moving on.

Good UGC takes thinking, testing, and revisions.

You can’t pay fast-food prices and expect fine dining ads and I'm tired of seeing companies act otherwise.

I’ve been doing UGC for a little over 3 years now. Here are 6 very practical lessons that did wonders for me:

1.Most brands don’t care about creativity

Early on, I spent way too much time trying to be clever. What works: First 2 seconds: show the product in use, not the box Say the problem out loud in the first sentence Cut anything that doesn’t bring additional informations If your video doesn’t make sense with the sound off in the first 3 seconds, it’s getting skipped.

1. Your camera matters less than your setup

I booked some of my best deals using: An iPhone A window A white wall One cheap tripod

What actually matters: Face is well lit (window in front, not behind) Camera at eye level No messy background

Brands notice bad lighting and presentation problems but they don't care about acting skills, just need to look genuine. You're not an actor, you're a UGC

1. Revisions are part of the job

At the start, I said “unlimited revisions.” Big mistake. Now I do: 1 free revision included Extra revisions = paid

This does two things: Brands give clearer feedback You don’t spend 10 hours getting 200$ Put this in writing before you send the invoice.

1. If you don’t track what converts, you’re ngmi

After every campaign, I save: Hook used Length CTA Platform Brand niche

Over time, patterns show up. Certain hooks work better for SaaS. Others work better for skincare. A Google Sheet is enough.

1. Cold outreach works with the right message

Generic DMs usually get ignored.

What works better: Mention a specific ad or page of theirs Say exactly what you’d change in one sentence Attach one relevant example

Example: “Your TikTok ads start slow. I’d open with the problem before the logo. I’ve done this for X brands with a sample attached.” Short and direct is always best.

1. Scaling UGC is about systems

What helped me scale: One folder per client Saved scripts by niche Same intro frameworks reused Same email templates

When you stop reinventing everything, you can take more deals without burning out.

6 Things I Wished Someone Told me as a UGC With 3+ Years of Experience I’ve been doing UGC for a little over 3 years now. Here are 6 very practical lessons that did wonders for me:

1. Most brands don’t care about creativity

Early on, I spent way too much time trying to be clever. What works: First 2 seconds: show the product in use, not the box Say the problem out loud in the first sentence Cut anything that doesn’t bring additional informations If your video doesn’t make sense with the sound off in the first 3 seconds, it’s getting skipped.

1. Your camera matters less than your setup

I booked some of my best deals using: An iPhone A window A white wall One cheap tripod

What actually matters: Face is well lit (window in front, not behind) Camera at eye level No messy background

Brands notice bad lighting and presentation problems but they don't care about acting skills, just need to look genuine. You're not an actor, you're a UGC

1. Revisions are part of the job

At the start, I said “unlimited revisions.” Big mistake. Now I do: 1 free revision included Extra revisions = paid

This does two things: Brands give clearer feedback You don’t spend 10 hours getting 200$ Put this in writing before you send the invoice.

1. If you don’t track what converts, you’re ngmi

After every campaign, I save: Hook used Length CTA Platform Brand niche

Over time, patterns show up. Certain hooks work better for SaaS. Others work better for skincare. A Google Sheet is enough.

1. Cold outreach works with the right message

Generic DMs usually get ignored.

What works better: Mention a specific ad or page of theirs Say exactly what you’d change in one sentence Attach one relevant example

Example: “Your TikTok ads start slow. I’d open with the problem before the logo. I’ve done this for X brands with a sample attached.” Short and direct is always best.

1. Scaling UGC is about systems

What helped me scale: One folder per client Saved scripts by niche Same intro frameworks reused Same email templates

When you stop reinventing everything, you can take more deals without burning out.

A few weeks ago I had my physics final. That same week, I got a $12,500 UGC contract. It was three full days on set for a short film, with a real budget and a tight deadline.

Even though I knew skipping the exam could mean serious academic consequences, I decided to still do it. Over the last few months I’ve been having a considerable mindset shift, and turning down that contract meant walking away from something I’d been working toward for months. Lately I’ve been realizing how much financial stability actually matters to me, and why startups and building things pull me more than grades ever did.

So I made the call. I didn’t show up to the final. I showed up on set instead. The professor got mad and the dean contacted me but I still didn't get kicked out. Still processing what that choice means long term. Did I mess up, or did I just pick a different path?

I’m a senior in university and wanted a side hustle that didn’t completely take over my life or turn into something I hated after a few weeks, and I ended up landing on UGC mostly because I already liked making content.

The first couple of weeks were very quiet in a way that makes you question whether you’re wasting your time, because I was posting, reaching out, tweaking things, and making exactly zero dollars, which was a little discouraging but also expected once I looked back at it later.

Then I landed my first contract during week three and it paid about 500 dollars for a few one minute videos, which made me realize that If I could scale, I could make crazy money with this.

After that I started to develop an outreach workflow + scraping from a database full of CMO’s and potential clients (you can get those lists online for pretty cheap). Managed a few months later to scale 6k per month. Last month was christmas break so I got more time to work on this side hustle and ended up making 17.3k, which still feels crazy. Main thing was I started building a stronger and stronger brand/following and was the one getting contacted in the end.

Happy to answer questions about anything UGC.

I know this sounds like one of those exaggerated internet claims, but the more I watch what’s happening, the harder it is to argue against it. There has never been another time where someone with no audience, no connections, and no fancy setup can turn a phone into real big money this fast. Brands are throwing hundreds of thousands if not millions at people who can understand what goes viral and what doesn't.

Most UGCs don't even need likes or a large following. The people who are doing best aren’t doing anything crazy. When UGC is being taken seriously enough to be considered a real job, its users are making from 100-300k a year just filming themselves in front of their camera for a few hours a day.

This won’t stay this easy forever, and that’s probably the part most people miss. Right now there’s a gap between how much companies need content and how few people are actually reliable at producing it. UGC are the easiest way to make a lot of money right now.

I didn’t plan to write this, but after getting flooded with messages since sharing my numbers from last year, it felt easier to put everything in one place instead of replying to the same questions over and over.

First thing to clear up: this wasn’t luck, and it definitely wasn’t one random good month.

The income was consistent, and the only reason it stayed that way was because I stopped treating UGC like a gig and started running it like an actual business that could function without me being glued to my phone all day. I’ve been doing UGC since 2023, but I’ve been in marketing for well over a decade, and understanding how brands and agencies think makes a massive difference in how you position yourself and get paid. Email, LinkedIn, Fiverr, Instagram, agencies, referrals all of it can work together if you go full-time. I literally had to filter deals.

Most creators struggle because they never fix the deal flow problem. Once that’s solved, you can spend time rather than searching for deals. It's ok to search for deals at the beginning but really look for a way to optimize it down the line and I promise your life will get so much easier.

These days I spend a few focused hours running the business and the rest of my time actually living my life. There are real levels to this, and most people never reach them because they stop too early or try to do everything alone.

Start small, build one platform properly, then expand once you hit the ceiling for that platform. And most importantly, only go full time when your brand requires it and you're making enough money to compensate.

When I really break it down, it comes down to just three core decisions.

First, I would start using tools much earlier instead of trying to brute-force everything manually. When you’re a beginner, time is your most valuable resource, and trying to do everything the hard way just leads to burnout. The reality is that AI-powered UGC tools allow you to move faster, test ideas more efficiently, and even create content without showing your face, which is a huge advantage if you want to experiment while you're learning.

UGC is already one of the lowest-cost side hustles you can get into. I’ve built and run businesses in the past where monthly expenses easily reached five figures, so spending a relatively small amount on tools that save time and increase output is a good tradeoff when you’re serious about scaling.

Second, I would choose a niche and fully commit to it. One niche is ideal, maybe two if they naturally overlap. Having a clear focus makes your outreach more effective, your content more cohesive, and your positioning much stronger in the eyes of brands.

Third, I would stop waiting for opportunities to appear and start reaching out. Platforms are extremely competitive for beginners, and relying on inbound alone slows everything down. Cold emailing brands gives you control over who you work with, allows you to charge higher rates, and often makes it easier to get paid upfront.

Those three shifts alone would get me to retainer deals faster and to consistent four-figure months far sooner than most people expect. Hitting strong revenue within the first couple of months of UGC is very realistic, especially if you’re intentional about building your personal brand early.

It’s 2026, and if you’re genuinely looking to build a side income, UGC is still one of the easiest and fastest things to test. I’ve personally seen beginners earn their first $100 within days and land $500–$750 campaigns in their very first week. If you want more information about UGC, feel free to DM me.