How I Made My First $500 During Nap Time Creating UGC (With No Followers or Fancy Gear)

I used to think you had to be an influencer with a massive following to work with brands and make money online.

Spoiler: you don’t.

What I did have?A toddler. A nap-time window. And a phone.

And that was enough to make my first $500 creating UGC (user-generated content) — all without showing my face on camera, having a blog, or being "TikTok famous."

What Even Is UGC?

UGC stands for User-Generated Content — photos or videos that everyday people (like you and me) create for brands to use in their ads, websites, or social media.

You don’t need to post it to your own followers. Brands are paying you to create content they can use.

Think:

• Unboxing videos

• Try-ons or product demos

• “How I use this at home” reels

• Simple product photos on your kitchen table

  
  

Why I Chose UGC Over Traditional Influencing

As a mom with very limited time and no public social media presence, UGC was perfect for me.

Here’s why:

• I didn’t need to grow an audience

• I didn’t need to show my face (though it helps with some brands)

• I could work with brands directly or through platforms

• It was fun, flexible, and could be done during nap time — or with my kid in the background

  
  

How I Got Started (For Free)

I kept it simple and free to start:

1. Created a UGC Portfolio using WIX and Instagram

   I used photos and mock-ups of things I already owned (no paid products needed yet)

2. Filmed a couple of “fake” UGC videos with stuff around my house

   Example: me making coffee, organizing with a label maker, or talking about my planner

3. Signed up for UGC platforms and reached out to brands

   
   

   UGC Platforms I Used to Land My First Brand Deals

   • WeSponsored App – quick video/photo gigs, no posting to your socials required

   • JoinBrands – marketplace for paid UGC deals, some social media posts, some are no posting required and some are just photos of the product!

   • Insense– higher-paying campaigns

   • Cold pitching via Instagram DMs or email

     
     

What I Used to Create the Content

• My phone (no professional camera!)

• A window with good natural light (I eventually bought a ring light so I could record at night... but not at first!)

• Canva - free version (for making my portfolio and simple video covers)

• Capcut- a free app I used to edit my videos

That’s it. No studio. No expensive tools. Just creativity, consistency, and coffee.

What Helped Me Land Gigs Faster

• Having a portfolio ready — even just 3 example clips/photos that I made from products I already had laying around the house. These were unpaid but I made them specifically for my portfolio before I landed any real gigs.

• Being responsive and professional (yes, even via DMs)

• Following directions carefully in briefs and making changes to videos and photos that the brand requested

• Overdelivering — offering an extra photo or a few thumbnails

  
  

What I’d Do Differently If I started Today

• Start pitching brands sooner (I waited way too long! You just need some sample photos and videos)

• Offer packages (e.g., 1 video + 3 photos) to increase value

• Add testimonials or stats after my first few clients

  
  

You don’t need to be an influencer. You don’t need a huge following. You just need:

• A phone

• A few hours a week

• A willingness to try something new

If I can do this during nap time with goldfish crackers stuck to my sweatshirt — so can you. Let’s build income on your schedule!

Want help getting started? Download my UGC Starter Kit — includes content planner, pitch scripts, platform list, and pricing cheat sheet. Only [$9] and it’s beginner-friendly. [Click here to grab it!]

There may be some affiliate links in this article- meaning I make a commission with no extra cost to you!

I still only recommend great products and websites I actually love and use!