Sell User-Generated Content

Brands have discovered that polished, professional ads often get scrolled past. What stops thumbs? Authentic-looking content from real people. User-generated content (UGC) creators produce this content for brands—casual testimonials, product demos, unboxing videos, and lifestyle shots that feel genuine rather than corporate.

For digital nomads, UGC creation is brilliantly simple. You need a smartphone, decent lighting, and the ability to speak naturally on camera. Brands ship you products, you create content featuring them, and you get paid per deliverable. No need to build a following—companies want the content itself, not your audience. You can film in beautiful locations you're traveling through, adding production value at no extra cost.

What UGC Actually Looks Like

UGC content types brands commonly request:

Content Type	Description	Typical Rate
Testimonial	Speaking about product benefits	$100-250
Unboxing	First impressions opening a product	$100-200
Product Demo	Showing how to use something	$150-300
Lifestyle/B-roll	Product in natural use, no talking	$75-150
Before/After	Transformation or results	$150-300
Story/Hook	Attention-grabbing intro for ads	$100-200

Most brands want multiple variations—different hooks, different angles, different lengths—for testing in ads.

Why Brands Pay for This

Traditional ads feel like ads. People scroll past them. But content that looks like a real person sharing their genuine experience? That performs better.

Brands use UGC for:

• Paid social ads (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook)
• Website testimonials
• Email marketing
• Product pages
• Organic social content

They're paying for authenticity they can't create internally. The slightly imperfect, casual style is the point.

Getting Started

Step 1: Create Sample Content Use products you already own to create sample videos:

• 2-3 testimonial-style videos
• 1-2 product demos
• Some b-roll/lifestyle shots

Show range in your style, energy, and content types.

Step 2: Build a Portfolio Create a simple portfolio showing your samples. This can be:

• Notion page (free and easy)
• Simple website
• Google Drive folder with organized samples
• Instagram highlight reel

Include contact info and rate card.

Step 3: Find Clients

Platforms:

• Billo - connects creators with brands
• Trend - UGC marketplace
• Insense - brand-creator matching
• Fiverr - offer UGC packages
• Upwork - search for UGC projects

Direct Outreach:

• DM brands on Instagram/TikTok
• Email brand marketing teams
• Connect with marketing agencies

Step 4: Deliver and Iterate

• Deliver high-quality content on time
• Be responsive and easy to work with
• Ask for testimonials
• Request ongoing relationships

What Brands Look For

Beyond content quality, brands want:

• Reliability - Deliver on time, every time
• Communication - Responsive, professional messages
• Flexibility - Willing to make reasonable revisions
• Authenticity - Natural delivery, not scripted-sounding
• Consistency - Predictable quality across deliverables

The creator who's easy to work with gets rehired. Be that person.

Pricing Your Services

Experience	Per Video	Package (3-5 videos)
Beginner	$100-150	$250-400
Intermediate	$150-250	$400-700
Experienced	$250-500+	$700-1,500+

Usage rights matter—content for organic social vs. paid ads should be priced differently. Paid ad usage typically commands a premium.

The Nomad Advantage

UGC creation is exceptionally travel-friendly:

What you need:

• Smartphone with decent camera
• Ring light or natural lighting
• Simple tripod or phone stand
• Quiet space for recording

Travel benefits:

• Interesting locations add production value
• Varied backgrounds keep content fresh
• No equipment shipping needed
• Work on your own schedule

Challenges:

• Finding quiet recording spaces
• Consistent lighting in different locations
• Product shipping to temporary addresses

Many nomad UGC creators have products shipped to their next destination or use local pickup services.

Realistic Income Expectations

Activity Level	Monthly Income
Side hustle (5-10 videos)	$500-1,500
Part-time (10-20 videos)	$1,500-4,000
Full-time (20-40+ videos)	$4,000-10,000+

Income is project-based and variable. Building relationships with agencies and brands creates more consistent work.

What This Pairs Well With

UGC skills connect to hosting a YouTube channel if you want to build your own audience. The content creation overlaps with building a themed social media account. Video editing skills help you deliver polished content.

Use Notion to track client projects and deliverables. Google Drive works well for sharing final content with brands.

Getting started: Create a portfolio of sample UGC videos using products you already own. Set up profiles on platforms like Billo, Trend, and Insense that connect brands with creators. Pitch directly to brands via email or social media DMs. Learn what makes content convert—hooks, pacing, authentic enthusiasm. Start with lower rates to build testimonials, then increase as you gain experience.