How to Create a UGC Portfolio (A Guide for UGC Creators)

Want to learn how to create a UGC portfolio so that brands take you seriously?

This guide will show you precisely what is required.

From understanding which types of content should be included to finding tools and resources to keep your work up-to-date with current trends while showcasing authenticity.

Let’s dive right in.

What Is a UGC Portfolio?

A UGC portfolio is a curated collection of the best content showcasing your capabilities to brands. This helps them decide if you will be a good fit for their next campaign.

Consider it a pitch deck you send to brands or feature on UGC platforms.

It convinces them why they should work with you and can come in the form of a simple PowerPoint presentation or PDF.

However, that’s so basic…

Some UGC creators take it one step further and host their portfolios on their websites. More about this later.

What Content Should You Put in Your UGC Portfolio?

A professional portfolio should always showcase your best work and demonstrate your skills as a UGC creator.

You need to be selective when deciding what pieces of content to include so that potential clients can get an accurate picture of the following:

Please don’t include selfies just because you felt cute that day. Nobody cares.

A common misconception is that UGC consists of only videos and images.

False.

It can also be text, testimonials, and audio posted by authentic users. It’s your job to make it appear as such.

Here is what you want to include in your UGC portfolio:

1) Videos

Insert at least 6-8 of your best videos. More, the merrier.

Ideally, each video should showcase a different style, angle, and concept.

Examples include:

Brands want to see how you perform in various settings and the vibe you are giving off.

If you struggle to find inspiration, look up some Instagram or TikTok UGC creators’ videos to get your creative juices flowing.

2) Images

Images aren’t as important as videos, but you should still include around 3-4 to showcase your photography skills.

Here are some photo ideas you can consider:

3) Written Content

Let’s not forget about written copy.

Having some examples on hand shows off your writing skills and gives brands an idea about how well your copywriting skills would be if commissioned through yourself.

Try adding snippets from past blog posts or articles and headlines or captions for social media posts.

These will show off just how creative and witty you can be when crafting engaging copy for social media.

4) Reviews and Testimonials

Having positive feedback from previous clients can make all the difference when it comes to securing new ones.

This is pretty obvious, right?

If you don’t have any yet, you might have to bite the bullet and potentially offer your services for free to build it up.

It also certainly helps if you already have a decent social media following or a decent library of User-generated content.

5) A Short Biography

Please don’t write about your life story, but it’ll be nice to give a short write-up about who you are and how long you have been creating UGC.

Feel free to mention any qualifications or certifications you may have. It’s not a priority, though.

It doesn’t hurt to flex slightly if you have decent achievements that can increase your credibility.

6) Social Media Profiles

Just list them all out.

However, ensure that those are your main social media platforms where you already have some content.

Don’t also forget to drop your email address so that potential brands can contact you easily

7) Your Rates

Finally, you can include a ballpark range of your rates.

But in my opinion, it’s best to offer a menu style with fixed prices based on the type of content.

For example:

You want to provide the least amount of friction between conversations. This is so you don’t waste each other’s time if the price is not agreeable.

What Tools Do You Need To Create a UGC Portfolio?

There are many software tools and resources available that can help you create a professional-looking portfolio quickly and easily. Here are some of my recommendations:

1) Video Editing Software

Most social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have native video editing features.

However, they are quite limited in their offerings.

Video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, or iMovie gives you way more flexibility to add special effects, transitions, titles, music, and more to your videos.

They also have features like color correction and audio mixing, which will help make your videos look even better.

2) Image Editing Software

Image editing software such as Photoshop, GIMP, or Affinity Photo can be used to edit photos for your portfolio.

With these programs, you can adjust the brightness or contrast of images, crop them into different shapes, add text or logos, etc.

3) Graphic Design Tools

Using a graphic design tool like Canva is your best option if you are building a slideshow-style portfolio.

It’s a free cloud-based solution that has a crazy number of tools that make graphic design easy.

Choose from various templates and graphic elements to make your pitch deck professional.

How To Turn Your UGC Portfolio Into a Website

Turning your portfolio into a website is the icing on the cake for UGC creators.

Here are some reasons why you might want to make a website:

• Stand out from the competition.
• Show brands initiative and technical expertise.
• Take advantage of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and appear on Google SERP (Search Engine Results Page).

Here are some tips on how to get started:

1) Choose a Domain Name

Your domain name should be memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to what you do.

If possible, include keywords related to your niche in the domain name.

E.g., brendanunboxings.com

Alternatively, using your actual name works fine.

You can purchase domains through domain registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains.

2) Set Up Hosting

Once you have chosen a domain name, you will need hosting for your website.

There are many different options available depending on what type of website you’re creating and how much traffic it receives.

Popular choices include shared hosting plans from companies such as Bluehost or SiteGround.

Or my personal favorite, Cloudways.

The setup process is more technical but well worth the trouble.

3) Design Your Website

I know… “ah darn, code…”

It might seem daunting at first, but nowadays, there are plenty of website builders that make it super simple, even if you don’t have any coding experience.

Drag-and-drop website builders, such as Wix or Squarespace, have everything you need on a single platform to design your UGC portfolio in just a few hours.

They offer plug-and-play templates, so you don’t have to start from scratch when designing your website.

Just pick one that looks good and customize it with your brand colors, fonts, and images.

You don’t have to touch a single line of HTML, CSS, or Javascript code.

Alternatively, if you also intend to work on a blog, WordPress is one of the most popular CMS platforms used by content creators due to the wide range of themes and plugins.

However, using WordPress has a steeper learning curve, and some technical knowledge is required to use the software efficiently.

4) Set Up Your Core Pages

Once everything is set up, all that’s left is populating your site with your best content on the appropriate pages.

Here are the 5 pages you should include:

• About
• Portfolio
• Services (Include your price menu here too)
• Contact
• Blog (Optional but highly recommended)

These steps should provide anyone looking into turning their portfolio into a website with enough information to get started on this process successfully. Good luck.

How To Create a Ugc Portfolio (FAQs)

Conclusion

Whether you’re just starting out or already have experience creating UGC content, having a well-crafted UGC portfolio is necessary if you want to work with brands.

Curate your best content and put them in a well-organized document or website with all your contact information before doing outreach.

So take some time to think about what kind of content you want to include in your portfolio and how best to present it.

I hope you found this article useful.

Do me a favor and share it with other aspiring UGC creators!