The influencer marketing landscape is continuously evolving, and User-Generated Content (UGC) has become one of the most effective tools for brands. Even if you’re just starting out as a small creator, you can successfully secure UGC deals that help grow your platform, build meaningful partnerships, and earn compensation for your work.
Brands today prioritize authentic content from creators who can connect with niche audiences, making it an exciting time to dive into UGC collaborations. Whether you’re a new mom juggling motherhood and creativity or a small creator seeking more brand partnerships, learning how to secure UGC deals will open doors to lasting opportunities.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into:
- Approaching negotiations confidently to secure UGC deals.
- Understanding your value as a small creator.
- Setting your rates to reflect fair compensation.
- Building long-term relationships with brands to maximize your opportunities.
1. Know Your Value: You’re More Than Just a Follower Count
One of the first and most important steps in learning how to secure UGC deals is understanding your value as a creator. Many small creators feel that without a large following, they cannot command deals or negotiate fair rates, but that’s simply not true.
Check out this helpful resource on understanding engagement rates to see how your engagement can be leveraged when pitching to brands.
Engagement Over Followers
The good news is, brands today are looking for more than follower numbers. Engagement is often more important, as it reflects how much your audience interacts with your content. Whether it’s comments, likes, shares, or saves, these metrics tell brands how invested your followers are in what you post.
Small creators frequently have higher engagement rates than influencers with large followings because their audiences tend to be more niche and highly engaged. When trying to secure UGC deals, emphasize the strength of your engagement and the loyalty of your audience.
Unique Perspective
Your personal experiences, passions, and stories bring a unique perspective to your content. As a small creator, you might be a new mom sharing your day-to-day life, fitness routines, or self-care habits, making your content relatable to other moms in your audience. That connection can be especially attractive to brands targeting specific demographics.
When pitching yourself to brands, explain how your content aligns with their target market and why your personal experiences make you the ideal partner for their UGC campaigns.
Example Pitch: “Although my following is still growing, my audience is highly engaged with content about motherhood and family life. I believe my authentic approach can help your brand connect with moms who trust recommendations that seamlessly fit into their busy lives.”
By focusing on your engagement and relatability, you can secure UGC deals even with a smaller audience. It’s about demonstrating the quality of the connection you have with your followers.
2. Do Your Research: Understand the Brand’s Needs
Before you can confidently approach brands and secure UGC deals, it’s essential to research each brand thoroughly. The more you understand the brand’s goals, audience, and previous campaigns, the stronger your pitch will be.
Check Previous Campaigns
Start by reviewing the brand’s past UGC campaigns. Have they worked with small creators before? What type of content performed well for them? By understanding their preferences, you can tailor your proposal to demonstrate that you’re the right creator for their next project.
Check out the brand’s social media and website to get a sense of their visual and messaging style. For example, if the brand typically promotes family-oriented or eco-friendly products, make sure your content aligns with their brand voice. Showing that you’ve done your homework can significantly improve your chances of securing UGC deals.
Highlight Shared Values
Many brands are looking to partner with creators whose values align with theirs. Whether it’s a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, or family-friendly products, brands want creators who genuinely believe in what they’re promoting.
For example, if you’re a new mom who values sustainability and you’re reaching out to a brand that offers eco-friendly baby products, emphasize your shared values. This makes your collaboration feel authentic and relevant to both your audience and the brand’s goals.
Example Pitch: “I’ve noticed your brand’s commitment to creating eco-friendly, family-oriented products. As a new mom who values sustainability, I believe we could collaborate to create UGC that resonates with like-minded moms looking for sustainable options for their families.”
By demonstrating that you align with the brand’s mission and values, you increase your chances of securing UGC deals that lead to long-term partnerships.
To find brands aligned with your values, you can explore these eco-friendly products posts, which gives great insight into brands that are currently focused on sustainability.
3. Set Your Rates: Confidence Is Key
Setting your rates is one of the most important aspects of securing UGC deals. As a small creator, you may feel hesitant about charging for your content, especially if you’re just starting out. But it’s essential to recognize that your work has value, and brands are willing to pay for high-quality UGC.
Consider the Work Involved
When determining your rates, consider the time and resources it takes to create the content. From planning to filming, editing, and promoting, UGC requires significant effort. If you’re creating multiple pieces of content for a campaign—such as photos, videos, or stories—be sure that your rates reflect the total amount of work involved.
For instance, if you’re shooting and editing videos for Instagram Reels or TikToks, that’s more time-intensive than taking a simple photo. Make sure your rates account for this.
Create a Rate Card
Even as a small creator, having a rate card is an effective way to streamline negotiations and show professionalism. Your rate card should outline prices for different types of content, such as Instagram posts, Reels, TikTok videos, or YouTube content. It provides a starting point for negotiations and gives brands clarity on what they can expect.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to bundle services together. For example, offer a package that includes an Instagram post, story, and Reel at a slightly discounted rate. This can incentivize brands to choose larger campaigns with you.
Example Rate Response: “Based on the scope of work, my rate for a sponsored Instagram post is $X. However, I’d be happy to discuss package deals or additional collaborations that align with your budget.”
Having a rate card and clearly communicating your prices will help you secure UGC deals while ensuring that your time and effort are fairly compensated.
For more insight into creating a rate card, check out this guide on setting UGC rates to get a sense of industry standards and how to position your pricing.
Negotiate for More Than Money
When negotiating UGC deals, keep in mind that compensation isn’t always limited to a paycheck. If a brand’s budget is lower than expected, there may still be room for negotiation. For example, you can ask for additional perks such as free products, increased exposure on the brand’s platforms, or a long-term partnership.
These benefits can be just as valuable as money, especially if they help you grow your platform or gain more visibility in your niche.
4. Negotiate with Confidence: Stand Your Ground
Negotiation is a normal part of the process when trying to secure UGC deals, and brands often expect it. However, it’s essential not to undersell yourself or feel pressured to accept every offer that comes your way. Knowing your value and standing firm during negotiations will help you land deals that are both fair and rewarding.
Have a Minimum Rate in Mind
Before entering any negotiation, decide on a minimum rate you’re willing to accept. This ensures that you don’t end up underselling your work. Be prepared to walk away if a brand cannot meet your minimum rate—it’s okay to decline offers that don’t align with your value.
Many creators make the mistake of accepting low rates simply to land deals, but this can lead to burnout and undervaluing your content in the long run.
Offer Alternatives
If a brand’s budget doesn’t align with your rates, be flexible in suggesting alternative ways to collaborate. This could include offering fewer pieces of content, bundling posts together at a reduced rate, or proposing a longer-term partnership where the rate is adjusted over time.
Offering alternatives shows that you’re willing to work with the brand while still maintaining your standards. It can also help you secure UGC deals that benefit both you and the brand.
Example Negotiation: “I appreciate the offer, but based on the scope of work, my rate for this collaboration is $X. I’d be open to discussing a package deal or alternative UGC options that align with your budget.”
Maintain Professionalism
Negotiations can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but it’s important to maintain a professional and friendly tone throughout. Brands will appreciate clear communication and confidence, which helps set the foundation for a successful partnership. Standing your ground with professionalism will establish you as a serious creator and increase your chances of securing UGC deals in the future.
5. Build Long-Term Relationships: Aim for Continued Partnerships
To truly succeed in the world of UGC, building long-term relationships with brands is key. One-off collaborations are great for exposure, but ongoing partnerships provide consistency and stability. By delivering high-quality content and maintaining open communication, you can secure UGC deals that lead to more frequent opportunities.
Deliver High-Quality Content
Always strive to exceed expectations when delivering UGC. Brands will take notice if you go the extra mile with creativity, engagement, and production quality. If a brand sees that you can deliver consistent, high-quality content that resonates with their audience, they’ll be more likely to work with you again.
For instance, if you’re collaborating on a product launch, make sure the content you create is visually appealing, well-edited, and aligns with the brand’s goals. Your work should reflect your professionalism and commitment to the partnership.
Maintain Open Communication
After a campaign ends, don’t let the conversation stop. Keep in touch with the brand, share any performance data (such as engagement rates or audience feedback), and offer suggestions for future collaborations. Brands love to see data-backed results, and this will position you as a valuable partner.
Showing initiative by following up after the campaign helps you stay top-of-mind for future projects, making it easier to secure UGC deals repeatedly.
Pro Tip: Share the success of the collaboration on your own platforms, tagging the brand and showing off the results. This not only highlights the success but also showcases your professionalism.
Be Proactive
If you’ve had a successful partnership, don’t wait for the brand to come back to you. Be proactive in pitching new ideas or campaigns. For example, you could suggest a collaboration around the holiday season or when the brand launches a new product.
Brands appreciate creators who take initiative and invest in their success, so offering fresh ideas can lead to more long-term deals.
Example Follow-Up: “I wanted to share how well my audience responded to our recent collaboration—your product was a hit! I’d love to discuss future campaigns, especially as we approach the holiday season.”
Mastering UGC Brand Negotiations as a Small Creator
Securing UGC deals as a small creator is not only possible, but it’s also a valuable skill that can lead to long-term success. By understanding your value, researching brands, setting fair rates, and negotiating with confidence, you can create opportunities for meaningful collaborations and grow your platform.
Remember, UGC deals aren’t just about landing one-off partnerships. They’re about building relationships and proving that you’re a reliable, creative partner who can deliver quality content. With these strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to secure UGC deals that help you thrive as a creator.
