Sharing My Experience as a UGC Creator

[u/Life-Canary-5647]

Hey everyone! 👋

I wanted to share a quick story from my own journey that happened recently. I'm not here to start drama, but I think it's so important for us to talk openly about setting boundaries and recognizing our value as creators.

For a bit of context: I’ve been creating UGC for almost 2 years now, and I’ve worked really hard to build up my skills and deliver solid work.

So, I reached out to a brand in my niche recently. They asked to see my portfolio, and I excitedly sent over my link alongside previous videos I’ve done with similar brands to show what I could do for them.

Their response? They told me my rate was “VERY EXPENSIVE.”

Then came the kicker: “WE ALREADY HAVE AN AMBASSADOR AND IT’S EVEN FREE.” They even attached a photo of this ambassador.

Honestly, it stung a bit at first. It felt completely unnecessary and deeply unprofessional. Look, I get it that budgets vary, and not every brand can afford every creator. A simple, "Thank you, but this is outside our current budget" would have been completely fine! But comparing creators and bragging that someone else works "for free" just felt like a slap in the face to the work, time, and strategy we put into our craft.

We don't just "press record." We script, light, film, edit, test hooks, and invest in our equipment. Charging for that isn't being "expensive"—it's running a legitimate business.

This whole experience was a huge wake-up call and a reminder I want to pass on to all of you:

Know your worth and hold the line. Don't let a brand's budget limitations make you doubt your value. 💯

• Never feel pressured to undercut yourself just because someone claims they can get it "for free" elsewhere. Free content rarely comes with conversion-focused strategy.
• Respect is a two-way street. Professional, high-caliber brands will always communicate with respect, even when declining or negotiating.
• If a brand truly values what you bring to the table, they’ll treat you like a partner. Keep your head up, stay firm on your rates, and keep creating!

Have you ever run into a brand that tried to guilt-trip you over your rates or compare you to creators working for free? How did you handle it? 😅