If you’re sending pitches into the void and hearing crickets, I need you to hear this: it’s almost never your rate, your camera, or your follower count. It’s how you’re pitching. You’re showing up like a creator who needs money instead of a partner who solves a problem — and brands can smell the difference.
I know because I lived it. My first three months in UGC I sent 500–1,000 pitches a month and made $0. My first paid deal was $150 in month four. Since then I’ve done 800+ brand collaborations and built a multi-six-figure UGC business. The pitching didn’t get lucky — it got fixed. Here’s the whole system.
- Brands ignore you when your content and pitch are aimed at other creators, not at them.
- Don’t rely on UGC apps — they’re oversaturated and underpay. Cold pitching, agencies and direct outreach scale.
- Spend 5 minutes finding one gap in a brand’s marketing before you pitch. Lead with a concept.
- The follow-up (email 2 and 3) lands more deals than the first email.
- You can turn gifted requests into paid with one script.
Why aren’t brands responding to your UGC pitches?
Because you’re making content and pitches for the wrong person. Most new creators post daily, copy what UGC educators post, and wonder why no brand reaches out. Here’s the hard pill: other UGC creators are never going to hire you. If everything you make is aimed at them, you’re invisible to the people with the budget.
When you do post to attract brands, use my SEP method — three content pillars:
- Social proof — results, testimonials, brands you’ve worked with.
- Expertise — show you understand marketing and strategy, not just filming.
- Personality — the reason a brand picks you over an identical creator.
Expertise is the most underrated of the three. When I broke down a gap in Mantis Sleep’s marketing and posted a video about it, they hired me on the spot — same with Notion and Caraway. That’s the shift: stop being “a creator,” become a creative strategist.
Where do you actually find brands to pitch?
Everyone’s number-one question is “how do I find brands to work with?” Here’s the honest ranking:
- Cold pitching (direct email/DM) — the highest-leverage channel. You control it, and it builds direct relationships you can turn into retainers.
- Agencies — they manage multiple brands and can feed you consistent work once you’re in.
- Upwork — hit or miss, sometimes low-paying, but real deals are there if you vet them.
- UGC apps/platforms — my least favorite for income. They’re oversaturated, rarely pay your worth, and make long-term brand relationships hard, so your business can’t scale. Great for one thing though (see gifted, below).
Two rules that matter: start with medium-sized brands — big names like Skims or Ruggable will lose your email in the pile, while medium brands have real budget and actually see you. And find the right email — not the generic marketing/press inbox. If it’s not on their site, DM them on Instagram and ask where to send UGC pitches.
The 5-minute gap audit (do this before every pitch)
Before you send anything, spend five minutes on the brand’s page hunting for one gap you can fill:
- Missing demographic — a group they could speak to but don’t (e.g. new moms).
- Missing concept style — a format they never use (skits are my go-to).
- Funnel gap — are they only talking to problem-aware buyers? Solution-aware? Is there a pain they never address?
Find one gap, build a concept around it, and your pitch stops being “please hire me” and becomes “I noticed this, and here’s how I’d fix it.” That’s how you make it easy for a brand to say yes.
The UGC pitch email that gets replies
Write your pitch like a UGC video: hook → problem → solution (you) → why you → CTA. Keep it short — every line earns its place:
Hi [brand], I came across your brand and immediately noticed [specific observation about their marketing]. I specialize in creating UGC content that actually converts. My content is built around [your biggest strength], which helps brands like yours grab attention and drive results. Here’s a quick look at my work: [portfolio link]. Would you be open to a quick chat about how I can serve your content needs?
Add one line with your gap-audit concept and you’ve separated yourself from every copy-paste pitch in the inbox. And don’t sleep on the subject line — I sent a hundred pitches with “Collaboration Opportunity” as if that would ever stand out. Make it specific and curiosity-driven.
Follow up — this is where the money is
Most people send one pitch and quit. Your second and third emails routinely out-perform the first — that’s where a huge share of deals actually come from. And track your pitches. Every time I ask a student to actually count, it’s way fewer than they thought — “hundreds a day” turns out to be 30–50. My serious students send 300 a week. Tracking also gives you pattern recognition: which subject lines get opens, which intros get replies.
How to turn a gifted collab into a paid one
Gifted requests will always land in your inbox. You don’t have to say yes for free — and you don’t have to burn the bridge. This is the exact script I use:
Hey [contact name]! Thank you so much for reaching out — I’d love to help with your UGC campaign. At this time, due to demand, I’m only accepting paid collaborations so I can focus my energy on creating the best content for the brands I work with. That said, I’d be open to a discounted rate of [X] since it’s our first time collaborating. Do you have any budget available for this? Best, [name]
Thank them, state you’re paid-only, offer a flexible first-time discount (never below what you’re comfortable with), and close with a direct question to force a reply. This exact script has taken gifted requests to multi-video paid deals for me.
How to spot a high-paying brand before you pitch
| High-paying brands | Low-paying brands |
|---|---|
| Reply in 24–48h | Leave you on read for weeks |
| Send a clear brief (examples, messaging, goals) | “Figuring it out as they go” |
| Want 3–10 videos | Want one and done |
| Ask for usage rights upfront | Hide rights in the contract |
| Care about conversions & strategy | Only care if the lighting looks nice |
| Pay on time (invoice paid ≤30 days) | Startups on a shoestring |
| Offer retainers / ongoing work | Disappear after one video |
Turn one deal into repeat income
One-off deals are worth hundreds. Repeat clients are worth thousands. After you deliver, ask to work together again — if you never ask, the answer is always no. It’s entirely possible to make five figures from a single brand. That’s when UGC stops being a hustle and becomes a business.
Frequently asked questions
How many pitches should I send to land a brand deal?
More than you think. Track them — many creators sending “a ton” are really sending 30–50. Volume plus a researched, concept-led pitch is what works.
How long until my first UGC deal?
For me it was four months of daily pitching. That’s normal — most people quit before the breakthrough.
Are UGC apps worth it?
For income, not really — they’re oversaturated and underpay. They’re fine to build a portfolio with gifted work while you cold-pitch for the real money.
What do I say if a brand only offers gifted?
Use the gifted-to-paid script above: paid-only, a flexible first-time discount, and a direct closing question.
Ready to actually get paid to make videos?
Join Sydney’s free live UGC masterclass and get the exact system to land your first paid brand deal.