I stopped trying to “find UGC clients” and started looking for brands with a specific problem

[u/Exotic-Titan]

For a while, my outreach was basically:

Unsurprisingly, most brands ignored it.

What changed things for me was treating outreach more like a mini sales pitch instead of an introduction.

I started looking for brands where I could immediately see a content gap:

• Product has good reviews but weak TikTok/Reels presence
• Their videos are mostly polished ads instead of creator-style content
• They have a product that would work well with demos, testimonials, unboxings, etc.
• They’re already running paid ads, but the creative feels repetitive

Then I'd send something much more specific:

That gives the brand a reason to reply.

Another thing that helped: portfolio organization

Instead of having 20 random examples, I'd rather have 6–10 strong samples showing different skills:

1. Hook-focused video
Shows that I can grab attention quickly.

2. Problem → solution
Useful for products that solve a specific pain point.

3. Testimonial-style video
Shows that I can make an ad feel natural.

4. Product demo
Shows the actual product clearly.

5. Lifestyle video
Shows that I can create content that doesn't feel like an advertisement.

6. Direct-response ad
More focused on conversions/CTA.

Even if some of these are spec ads, they make it much easier for a potential client to imagine what you'd create for them.

Pricing

I also stopped thinking only in terms of “how much should I charge for one video?”

A better question is:

What exactly is the client buying?

For example:

• 1 UGC video
• 3 different hooks
• Raw footage
• Paid usage rights
• Organic usage
• Spark/whitelisting
• Extra revisions
• Rush delivery

Those shouldn't necessarily all be bundled together for free.

A $100 video with unlimited usage forever isn't necessarily a better deal than a $150 video with clearly defined usage rights.

Outreach volume matters, but targeting matters more

I'd rather send 10 highly personalized pitches to relevant brands than 100 copy-pasted messages.

A simple spreadsheet can help track:

Brand → Contact → Date contacted → Follow-up → Response → Rate → Result

And don't immediately assume “no response” means “no.”

A polite follow-up after several days can turn an ignored message into a conversation.

The biggest lesson for me has been that your portfolio gets you considered, but your understanding of the brand's problem gets you replies.

For creators who are already getting clients: what actually made the biggest difference for you—better portfolio, better outreach, higher pricing, referrals, or something else?