UGC Pro

Comment SUBSTACK and I’ll add you to the waitlist so you’re the first to know when it launches in August and you can lock in the founding member rate before anyone else. 🍿

One of the biggest reasons bad client experiences keep happening is because most people are too afraid to talk about them, and I understand why because when you’re relying on your next invoice it’s scary to think that speaking up could cost you opportunities. I’m in a different position now, and I think that comes with a responsibility to be honest about what I’ve experienced over the last 12 years working with brands, agencies, startups, and clients across the creator economy. If sharing these stories helps even one creator avoid burnout, exploitation, or an unhealthy work environment, then it’s worth it.

I’ve worked 245 days straight without a day off, been promised compensation that never came, had my privacy violated, lost a job after a concussion, and pushed my body to the point where stress impacted my health in ways I wouldn’t wish on anyone. None of those experiences made me bitter, they made me realize that transparency protects people, and I don’t think the people telling the truth should be the ones worried about looking “problematic.” The conversations should be about creating better workplaces, better partnerships, and better standards for everyone.

That’s why I’m launching a Substack where I’ll be sharing the stories I’ve never fully told before, the lessons I learned the hard way, and the red flags I wish someone had taught me to recognize years ago. Some of these stories are genuinely unbelievable, but every single one comes with practical takeaways that can help you build a healthier, more sustainable creative career. Bring your popcorn, but also bring a notebook because there will be plenty to learn. 🎬✨

Comment SUBSTACK below and I’ll send you the waitlist so you can be notified first when it goes live and secure the founding member rate before it’s available to everyone else.

UGC example for B2B Sales Intelligence & GTM Data Software. The drama kid in me had way too much fun working on this. 🤭

Your body keeps the score. Yes, even in our line of work. Protect yourself, or your body will force you to stop mid-sprint for no other reason than it’s telling you: what you’re doing isn’t serving you. Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way more times than I can count. If you’re seeing this, use this as your reminder to protect your peace, your health, along with your body AND mind. Don’t ignore the signs like I did, or you’ll end up paying way more for it down the line.

One of the biggest mindset shifts that helped me become a better UGC creator was asking myself one simple question: if I were the brand spending money on this content, would I actually be happy with what I delivered? Would I feel confident running it as an ad, posting it organically, or putting more budget behind it, or would I immediately start pointing out everything I wish had been done differently?

Quality UGC starts long before you hit record!! If you want to land higher-paying UGC creator opportunities, build long-term brand partnerships, and consistently get repeat clients, start reviewing every deliverable through the eyes of the customer instead of the creator. That one habit will improve your content more than almost anything else.

Most creators do not realize that the majority of refilm requests are completely within their control because quality control starts before you ever hit record (& doesn’t end until you film your last shot), not after you upload the files.

I was reviewing a creator’s footage (Kait | UGC Creator & Strategist) when I noticed a tiny plastic string on the product, but before I could even think about it, she:

🛑 She stopped filming
🚮 Removed it
🗣️ Re-said her line

That clip never would have required a refilm, but that is exactly why it stood out because it showed me that quality control was already part of her process instead of becoming the brand’s job later. That single moment made me trust her even MORE.

The uncomfortable truth is that if you regularly submit content with preventable issues then you cannot be surprised when a brand requests a refilm because most of the feedback I see has very little to do with creativity and almost everything to do with attention to detail.

Wrinkled clothing, wrinkled towels or bedding, pet hair on your shirt, dust or fibers on the product, greasy looking skin, distracting flyaways, fingerprints on glossy packaging, clutter in the background, crooked labels, or anything else that makes premium content feel less premium than the rates you charge all add up.

None of these things make you a bad creator, but every preventable issue creates more work for the brand and quietly chips away at the confidence they have in hiring you again.

The creators who consistently build long term brand relationships are not the ones who never make mistakes. They are the ones who catch the small mistakes before anyone else ever has to.

Before you submit your next deliverable, ask yourself one question: If I were the brand paying for this content, what would I ask this creator to fix before approving it? That one habit will save you more refilm requests than almost anything else.

How many subscriptions are you paying for right now? 👀

I finally sat down and looked at mine… and realized I was subscribed to 100+ different apps, software tools, memberships, and services.

Even if they averaged just $5/month, that’s $500 every single month.

As a business owner, UGC creator, freelancer, or marketer, it’s so easy to justify every new tool because it’s a “business expense.”

✨ This AI tool will save me time.
✨ This editing app will make my videos better.
✨ This platform will help me land clients.
✨ This membership will help me grow.

Individually? They don’t seem expensive.

Collectively? They quietly destroy your cash flow.

For those of us with ADHD (or honestly… anyone who runs a business), this feels like one of the biggest forms of ADHD tax. We sign up with the best intentions, forget about half of them, and months later we’re still paying for tools we haven’t opened in forever.

I’m going to do a much deeper breakdown of exactly how I’m auditing my subscriptions, but I also had another idea…

What if we did a free accountability Zoom where we all log in together, pull up our bank statements, go through every subscription, cancel what we don’t use, and hopefully put a few hundred dollars back in our pockets?

Because honestly… community is accountability.

If you’d join something like that, comment “AUDIT” below and I’ll personally DM you the Zoom link when I pick a date. 💛