05/30/2026
When I first started creating content, I genuinely thought I needed a huge audience before brands would take me seriously.
I was so focused on getting more followers, more views, higher engagement & a perfectly curated feed and it was honestly exhausting!
And while those things *can* help, they are NOT what got me paid.
Once I learned how to create content that brands actually wanted to use, everything changed.
Because brands are not only paying creators for followers & reach - they’re paying for high quality content that helps them sell, educate, or build trust with their audience.
I’ve worked with 200+ brands and I can tell you this:
A creator with 2,000 followers who makes strong, brand-ready content will often outperform a creator with 100K followers who creates pretty content with no strategy.
So if you’re a smaller creator, here are a few things I wish someone told me sooner:
1. Stop obsessing over followers and obsess over *quality + clarity* instead!
Can someone understand the product in 3 seconds? Is your lighting clean? Is the hook strong? Would a brand feel confident reposting this?
2. Make the content about your audience, NOT yourself.
Ask yourself: What problem is this product solving? Why should someone care? What would make someone stop scrolling?
3. Learn how to create strong hooks
This alone changed my content. Most videos fail before they even start because no one sticks around long enough to watch.
4. Stop waiting until you feel “ready.”
I started with an iPhone, basic editing, and learned along the way through repetition. I got better by posting, learning, testing, and improving.
You do NOT need 100K followers to start UGC.
You need consistency, strategy, and content brands can actually use.
If you’re a small creator trying to break into paid UGC, comment “UGC” and I’ll make more advanced tips like this 💗
