UGC 101 - Build Your Content Creation Business

Ready for the wildest first-year stories you'll hear in this space?Less than 40 days into UGC, still living with his parents, Antoine Boado walked into his boss's office and put in his notice. No safety net, no proven system, and barely 15 deals under his belt. Host Nate Flake sits down with Antoine to walk through the whole unfiltered journey, from landing his first $1,000 Fiverr gig to hitting a $10K month, crashing hard, and slowly rebuilding with real systems and a sharper business mindset. Antoine holds nothing back about the burnout, the low-paying retainer traps, and the moment he finally started valuing his work the way brands actually could.Chapters:00:01:05 - Broke on 82K and moves back home00:02:48 - Quits job with no real proof00:04:00 - First full-time month jumps to 10K00:09:45 - The uncomfortable move that accelerates growth00:12:00 - When cringe turns into momentum00:15:08 - Why getting deals is the easy part00:16:22 - Burnout hits right after the breakthrough00:19:10 - Rebuilding after the crash00:21:00 - The trap most new creators fall into00:22:00 - Why “retainers” can quietly drain you00:24:00 - Fake success vs real revenue00:27:00 - Why AI won’t replace real creators00:34:30 - The negotiation mistake costing you money00:35:30 - One sentence that triples your rate00:44:00 - What this actually builds beyond moneyIf you're stuck in a cycle of undercharging, overworking, and wondering whether going full-time is even possible, this episode is going to hit close to home. Antoine's story is a honest, step-by-step look at what the climb really costs and what it takes to make it stick.Press play and learn how one simple negotiation move turned a $500 offer into a $1,500 deal without a single back-and-forth.  Connect with Antoine: https://ugcbyantoine.my.canva.site/ UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

What if you could run a thriving UGC business from a beach in Mexico?  Host Nate sits down with Alexandra Page to hear how she built a full-time UGC business from one of the most beautiful, most distracting places on earth. Alexandra moved to Tulum five years ago and had no plans to become a UGC creator. But when the music industry stopped fitting her life, she had to figure out a new way to make money from paradise. The problem? Most brands won't ship to Mexico. Chapters:00:04:30 — Leaving Music Behind00:06:15 — Shipping Nightmare Reality Check00:11:10 — Why Pitching Beats Platforms00:14:45 — The Discipline of Paradise00:18:30 — Is UGC Actually Saturated?00:22:00 — Finding Your Niche Naturally00:26:30 — Locking In vs Chasing Freedom00:30:00 — Handling Rejection 00:34:30 — When Content Finally Clicks00:38:30 — Why Imperfect Content Wins00:42:30 — Building a Life Through UGCShe shares the exact shipping workaround she found that changed everything, why she pitches brands directly instead of using platforms, and how repeat clients became the backbone of her business.This one's for you if you've ever wondered whether UGC can actually fit around your life instead of the other way around. Alexandra's story is proof that your location, your lifestyle, and even your season of life can work for you in this space, not against you.Press play and learn how Alexandra's husband went from 100 followers and zero brand deals to 25,000 followers and consistent inbound work.Connect with guest: https://vayda.studio/alexandrapage UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

Is UGC actually saturated or is that just the excuse keeping you stuck?Host Nate Flake sits down with Sophia Morris, a 22-year-old who started UGC with no following, no clients, and no clue what she was doing. Four months later, she went full-time.Sophia breaks down exactly how it happened. Her first four-figure month. The platforms that landed her first deals. And the pitching strategy that eventually replaced them.Chapters:04:03 – Do You Even Need College Anymore06:01 – The First Month That Changed Everything09:02 – How She Actually Got Started in UGC11:42 – Is UGC Really Too Saturated12:56 – Why She Stopped Relying on Platforms17:27 – The Simple Change That Gets Replies20:18 – The Hidden Problem With Bento29:36 – The Mistake That Slowed Everything Down33:03 – When She Stopped Creating34:42 – The Shift That Changed Her Results36:12 – Why Her Content Was Attracting the Wrong People41:58 – What She’d Do Differently Starting TodayIf you've been told you're too young, too late, or too unknown to make real money as a creator. Sophia gets honest about the mistakes that almost derailed her, from outsourcing, chasing the wrong audience, and losing herself in the process.But the moment she stopped treating UGC like a side hustle and started treating it like a business, everything changed. Fast.Press play and learn what separates creators who go full-time from ones still waiting to feel ready.Connect with Sophia: https://thesociallysoph.com/ Platform mentioned: https://www.onbento.com/ UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

Are you keeping more of the money you're earning, or are you accidentally giving it away every April?Most UGC creators are so focused on landing the next brand deal that taxes become an afterthought. But that could be costing you thousands. Host Nate sits down with Steven Harward and Tommy Thornburgh, the CEO and President of Prime Corporate Services to break down what self-employed creators actually need to know about taxes, business structure, and protecting the income they've worked hard to build.These guys have filed over 40,000 tax returns and helped entrepreneurs save an average of $9,200 more when they start properly tracking expenses. That number hits different when it's your money.Chapters:00:04:18 — How Creators Can Legally Lower Their Taxes00:06:00 — Expenses Creators Can Deduct Right Away00:08:22 — Why Many Creators Are Afraid of Tax Season00:09:40 — The Simplest Way to Track Business Expenses00:11:05 — How to Reduce Your Tax Bill00:12:32 — What Counts as a Legit Business Write-Off00:15:50 — Costly Tax Mistakes New Creators Make00:18:10 — How Understanding Taxes Increases Your Profit00:20:48 — The 6 Financial Areas Every Creator Should Manage00:24:08 — Choosing Between an LLC or S-Corp00:36:20 — Networking Strategies That Lead to OpportunitiesSteven and Tommy cut through the fear with advice on tracking expenses, choosing the right business entity, and why the fourth quarter might be the most important season of your creator year.Press play to learn how to keep more of what you earn while building your creator business the right way.To book your FREE Prime tax consultation for UGC 101 listeners only, visit their site here: https://primepartner.info/ugc-podcast UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

What if you could land your first UGC deal this week with nothing but your phone and 20 minutes a day?Host Nate Flake gets honest about what a real day in the UGC life actually looks like, and what he'd do if he were starting from scratch today. He quit corporate in July and he's not here to make it sound glamorous. Some days are messy. But the work is his, the schedule is his, and that changes everything.Then mid-recording, a +$5K Fiverr deal lands in his lap and he walks you through the whole thing start to finish so you know exactly what to do when your moment comes.Chapters:04:10 - The One Video You Need07:30 - Write Scripts Faster Without Sounding Generic08:50 - Pick 3 Platforms and Start Applying10:17 - The X Strategy for Staying Low-Key13:53 - How to Stand Out in a Sea of Portfolio Drops16:21 - Why Old Replies Turn Into New Deals18:58 - Fiverr Deal Walkthrough From Ping to Paid27:00 - Inbound Deals and How to Price Higher31:30 - What a Full-Time UGC Day Really Looks Like37:10 - Involving Kids and Charging More41:55 - Two Tactics to Land More Deals This Week He's watched hundreds of creators sit on the sidelines overthinking gear, portfolios, and the "right time" to start while other people are out there landing $500 deals with nothing but a phone and a Canva template. You must stay until the end to hear the two pitch strategies Nate just started using himself. One of them involves sending a screenshot to a brand's actual marketing person. Sounds weird. Works like crazy.Press play and take the first step toward doing UGC on your own terms.Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from ScratchPlatforms Mentioned:Insensehttps://insense.proInflueehttps://influee.coUGC Shop (UGC Shop Marketplace)https://ugc-shop.com/Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: .  https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Billohttps://billo.appJoinBrandshttps://joinbrands.comCanva (for building your portfolio)https://www.canva.comX (formerly Twitter, for sourcing opportunities)https://x.com UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

Anna has a newborn, a corporate job, a master's degree at Penn State, and a growing UGC business… So what's stopping you?Nate sits down with Anna, one of his students who found UGC while on maternity leave. She broke into the space in a matter of weeks by using her corporate project management experience that actually makes the chaos of content creation feel manageable. Anna gets into the weeds on how she prioritizes her days when everything feels urgent. She explains why she doesn’t rely on batching. She talks about how building a simple B-roll library on her phone changed the game for her turnaround time. Chapters:00:06:00 – Stop Sounding Robotic on Camera00:07:20 – Comparison Trap: Seeing Only Other Creators’ “Best Clips”00:08:00 – Cultural Pressure: Looking Polished vs “Messy” UGC Style00:10:00 – Portfolio Build + Reddit/X Outreach Grind00:12:30 – Corporate Frameworks, Simply: Waterfall vs Agile00:14:45 – How She Runs Her Days00:16:20 – The Moscow Method00:21:35 – Build a B-Roll Library to Buy Back Time00:24:50 – Revisions Don’t Mean You Failed00:27:15 – Going From Corporate Expert to UGC Beginner00:37:20 – Avoiding Conflict of Interest With Corporate00:38:00 – No Sundays and Create More Than ConsumeShe also gets refreshingly honest about the imposter syndrome she had to push through. About the rude client she had to keep her cool with. And about what it actually felt like to go from being a senior manager in corporate to being the newbie all over again. That part alone is worth the listen.Here is the thing though. Anna is not some productivity robot. She is a new mom running on limited sleep, figuring it out one day at a time, just like you. What makes her story land is that she is not pretending it was easy. She is showing you it was worth it anyway.Listen and learn the moment Anna stopped treating revision requests like failures and started treating them like proof she was growing. That one reframe changes everything.Connect with Anna: https://thehollandedit.com/ UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

What if the career that's paying your bills is actually draining your soul BUT there's a way out that doesn't mean starting over broke?Host Nate Flake sits down with Sydney Mohni, a UGC creator who spent a decade climbing the network marketing ladder. She finally hit that $10K month everyone talks about, but instead of celebrating, she burned out completely. Add in a family crisis, mounting debt, and sitting on a curb in Tulum crying over a pizza bill and you've got the breaking point that led her to UGC. Four months of pitching with zero deals. Then one $150 gig changed everything.Chapters:00:04:01 - Four Months of Nothing, Then…00:05:42 - 10K: Burnout Money vs Freedom Money00:08:15 - Why “Good Money” Still Isn’t Worth It00:12:22 - Escaping the 5K Ceiling00:15:16 - TikTok Creative Challenge: Volatile Income00:18:48 - How Long-Term Brand Relationships Change Everything00:22:06 - Why Furniture UGC Sorta Sucks00:25:48 - The Contract Mistake00:27:22 - Meta Reaches Out00:34:30 - Her International Retreat Goal00:38:10 - Why You Don’t Need to Look Perfect to Win in UGC00:40:25 - The Mentor MomentNate and Sydney get real about what it actually takes to build a UGC business that doesn't just pay the bills but gives you your life back. They talk about the scrappy early days, why raising your prices feels scary but works, and how Sydney went from struggling to land any client to working with Meta for thousands of dollars per video. It's honest, funny, and packed with the kind of advice that only comes from someone who's been in the trenches.If you're stuck in a career that pays well but leaves you empty, or you're wondering if UGC is actually sustainable long-term, this episode breaks it all down. Sydney's story proves you don't have to choose between making money and being happy but you do have to be willing to go all-in and bet on yourself.Press play and learn why Sydney's wife talked her out of negotiating with Meta, and the one mindset shift that helped her students quit their jobs and build freedom on their own terms.Connect with guest: https://www.instagram.com/sydneymohni/ UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

Have you ever wondered if you could do UGC while working at a full-time job you actually love?Host Nate Flake sits down with his good friend Daniel Taylor, a full-time professional who started doing UGC completely under the radar. No UGC social accounts. No public announcement. He intentionally kept it separate from his day job.Dan came into this space cold, went through Nate’s early training before it was fully polished, and quietly built a repeat client base on Fiverr while showing up to his day job every morning like nothing changed. He is the guy Nate points to when people ask if you really have to put yourself out there to make this work. The answer is no.Chapters:04:20 – Quiet UGC While Working Full Time11:45 – Getting Past the On-Camera Cringe15:30 – Corporate Skills That Transfer Shockingly Well19:10 – Overdelivering Without Burning Out22:40 – Raising Rates the Right Way26:30 – When Success Becomes Overwhelming33:50 – Choosing Efficiency Over Volume37:40 – Tying UGC Income to Real Life Goals45:30 – The Long-Term Play for Quiet UGC CreatorsLearn how Dan pushed through the awkward early videos, how his corporate communication skills turned out to be a secret weapon with brands, and how he went from taking every gig he could get to being selective about what was actually worth his time.Nate and Dan also dig into the money side of things. When to raise your rates with repeat clients, why jumping your prices too fast on Fiverr can actually hurt your momentum, and how Dan landed more income by doing less but charging more. These are the kinds of tactical details that make a real difference when you are figuring this out on your own.And if you have ever felt weird about doing UGC because it seems too out there, too cringe, or just not something a serious professional would do, Dan has something to say about that too.Press play and learn Dan’s take on why the embarrassment fades fast and what you are really trading when you decide not to try is one of the most honest moments in this episode. Connect with Guest: https://dantaylorugc.my.canva.site/Dan's Utah Creator Studio: https://www.instagram.com/the_highland_studio?igsh=b2llYWNuanpxNnhl UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

Ever dreamed about making money with content but kept telling yourself you're not the right type?Host Nate welcomes Kessa, a full-time UGC creator from Canada who started chasing her content dreams in her early teens. She didn't get here because of a big following or a perfect plan. She got here because she refused to quit, and her story is proof that you don't need either one to make this work.They break down the moves that actually work, not the fluff you see everywhere else. They talk about how to handle rejection without flinching, why staying open to every niche will make you more money, and how to get brands coming to you instead of chasing them down. Kessa also shares her exact approach to pricing and whitelisting that keeps everything simple and profitable.Chapters:04:30 – Grinding on Gifted Collabs With No Pay07:55 – Betting on UGC and Making the First $2K11:20 – Why Canada Is an Underrated UGC Market14:30 – Turning DMs Into a Coaching Business17:10 – The Biggest Fears New Creators Have19:55 – Why Faceless UGC Doesn’t Scale22:30 – Filming in Public Without Caring25:10 – Embarrassing Brand Deals Everyone Starts With28:20 – Niches, Acne, and Why Flaws Sell31:40 – Posting to Attract Brands Not Followers35:10 – Whitelisting, Usage Rights, and Real Money39:00 – Negotiation Mistakes That Cost Creators ThousandsThis one hits different if you've been on the fence about starting. Kessa doesn't hide the hard parts. She talks about the goofy early gigs, the fear of hitting record, and why the things that feel scary right now are way smaller than they actually look. Listen and learn the one thing Kessa says about being on camera that's so simple you'll wonder why nobody told you sooner. It completely flips the script on how you think about showing up.  Her UGC guide: https://stan.store/contentbykessa/p/ugc-guide-65j1bTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contentbykessa?_t=8ZNqcZif522&_r=1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contentbykessa?igsh=MWVyb281dGx0amRnYw==YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Contentbykessa UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

What if your "side hustle survival skills" were actually the exact training you needed to crush it in UGC?Host Nate Flake sits down with Alex Gettlin, a standup comedian and podcaster who went from touring comedy clubs and hustling through DoorDash shifts to building a thriving UGC business. Alex didn't come from the typical nine-to-five burnout story. He came from a world where every gig was uncertain, every paycheck was inconsistent, and learning to perform under pressure was just part of the deal. That background turned out to be his secret weapon.Chapters:04:45 – Losing Everything Overnight to COVID07:10 – The Podcast That Changed Everything09:30 – Discovering UGC Was a Real Business11:55 – Why Most Creators Quit Too Early14:10 – Spending Money to Make Money16:25 – The Power of Creator Meetups19:05 – Trading Free UGC for Real Opportunities21:40 – Why Talking Head Videos Win24:55 – When UGC Goes Wrong Fast29:10 – Turning Small Gigs Into Big Retainers34:20 – Comedy Skills as a UGC Superpower41:15 – How Consistency Creates Long-Term IncomeIf you've ever felt stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle, or you'rIf you've ever felt stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle, or you're wondering how to turn your creative skills into steady income without losing your authenticity, Nate and Alex break it all down. Alex shares how he built his first portfolio, why he treats every client like a long-term relationship, and the mindset shifts that helped him go from $100 gigs to retainer deals that actually pay the bills. Plus, he gets real about the importance of community, why over-delivering early creates momentum, and how thinking like an entertainer (not just a creator) can set you apart.By the end, you'll understand why your first gig matters way more than the paycheck, how to find opportunities hiding in plain sight, and what it actually takes to build a UGC business that works for you, not the other way around. Press play and learn how Alex landed his first podcast deal, turning a $100 Ball Buddy ad into a major retainer, and why he tells his students there's no "one right way" to do this.Alex's Atlanta Studio: https://www.skewedorbitstudios.com/Alex's podcast Highly Unlikely: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iMdab3eZjUQNV2zyIPZe0?si=rjNW8iX8RT2jrFegBrtAQQAlex's Portfolio: http://www.alexgettlin.com/ UGC CREATOR CONNECT DALLAS! Join the waitlist here to be notified when tickets become available for UGC Creator Connect in Dallas, Texas -  October 16-18th: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/waitlistAttend this week's FREE UGC webinar and learn how you can start today: https://ugcmasteryacademynate.com/webinarsignupMORE FROM NATE FLAKEFREE Call: Discover how to start UGC and land brand deals (even with 0 experience): Book a Call NowConnect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 PodcastCatch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/