Free guide
How to pitch brands for UGC and get a reply.
Outreach stops being scary the moment it becomes a system. Here are the openers, the three-touch email sequence and the follow-ups — written so you can adapt them and send today.
Rules
Five rules that decide whether you get answered
- 1
Never open with 'Hi, I love your brand'
Lead with an observation, an idea, a problem you spotted or a useful asset. The first line should prove you looked at this specific product.
- 2
Sell the content, not your follower count
A brand buying UGC for its own channels or ads is buying creative it can publish. A small audience is not the objection you think it is.
- 3
Personalise the first one or two lines
Everything after that can stay reusable. Two genuine lines do more than a rewritten paragraph.
- 4
Be clear about scope from the first message
Deliverables, revisions, usage, raw footage, turnaround. Ambiguity costs you on every later email.
- 5
Trade value, not confidence
If they want a lower price, reduce scope or exchange the lower number for volume or a commitment. Never just cut it.
Positioning
If you're just starting, say this instead
Do not apologise for a small profile. Position yourself as a creator who produces usable content the brand can publish organically, test as paid creative, or reuse across channels. A line that works:
Positioning line
"I create native-style UGC for brands that need fresh creative to test across TikTok, Reels and paid social."
Openers
Three DM openers that get answered
Rule of thumb: don't sell in the first message. It should feel human, specific and easy to answer — a question, not a pitch deck.
1. A brand you genuinely like
Hi [Name/Brand]! I came across [product/campaign] and really liked [specific detail]. I create UGC/short-form content and I think [product] would work really well in a [video idea] format. Can I send you 2–3 ideas?
2. The short version
Hey [Brand]! I'm a UGC creator focused on [niche]. I came across [product] and already have an idea for a Reel/TikTok that could work well for you. Want me to send it over?
3. Ask for the right person
Hi! I'm [Name], a UGC creator. I really like the way you communicate [brand value/style]. I'd love to pitch a simple, natural piece of content for [product]. Who's the best person to send examples + an idea to?
4. The gentle follow-up
Hey [Name], just following up in case my message got buried. If you're interested, I'd be happy to send over a couple of specific concepts for [Brand].
The sequence
The three-touch email, with subject lines
Keep emails short, one call to action per message, and personalise at least one line for every brand. Silence after touch one means nothing yet — most replies arrive on touch two or three.
Touch 1 — first contact
Subject: UGC idea for [Brand]
Hi [Name], I'm [Name], a UGC creator specialising in [niche]. I came across [product/campaign] and had an idea for a short [TikTok/Reel] focused on [benefit/angle].
I create content designed to feel native to the platform rather than like traditional advertising.
Would you like me to send 2 concepts + a few examples?
Touch 2 — three or four days later
Subject: Re: UGC idea for [Brand]
Hi [Name], just following up in case this got buried. I had a very simple concept in mind for [product]: [one-sentence idea].
If you're currently considering new UGC, I can send examples and a proposal in one email.
Best, [Name]
Touch 3 — five to seven days after that
Subject: Last follow-up — [Brand]
Hi [Name], last message from me so I don't fill up your inbox. If you're not working with creators right now, no worries at all. If UGC becomes a priority for [month], I'd be happy to put together a few ideas specifically for [Brand].
Thanks! [Name]
Why touch three matters
Closing the loop politely does two things: it stops you from pestering the same inbox for six weeks, and it often gets the reply — because it is the first message that doesn't ask for anything.
Objections
'We only do gifted collaborations'
Don't force the deal. Protect your positioning and leave the door open — a brand with no budget today may have one next quarter.
Totally understand! Thanks for letting me know. At the moment I mainly work on paid collaborations, especially when the content is created for the brand's channels or used in advertising. If you have budget available in the future, I'd love to reconnect.
Or leave a smaller door open:
I understand. For simple gifted collaborations, I can consider them case by case. If you need UGC content for your own channels or ads, I'd be happy to send over my rate card.
I understand. We could also start with a single test piece of content, so you can evaluate the format without committing to a full campaign.
The system
Make it a weekly routine, not a mood
A fixed weekly slot
The same day, the same length. Consistency is what compounds here, not intensity.
A list you keep feeding
Brands you'd genuinely work with, added as you find them, so you never start from an empty inbox.
A note on every touch
Who, when, which message, next follow-up date. This is the difference between outreach and a mess.
A rate you can send
When a brand says 'what are your rates?', the answer should take ten seconds — that's what a rate calculator is for.
Common questions
How many brands should I pitch a week?
Pick a number you can actually keep up with and run it every week — a small, consistent list beats a burst of fifty messages and silence. Personalise the first one or two lines of each, keep the rest of the structure reusable, and track who you contacted and when you followed up.
What if I don't have followers or a portfolio yet?
Don't apologise for it. Position yourself as a creator who produces usable content assets the brand can publish organically, test as paid creative or reuse across channels. Your pitch should lead on hooks, product communication, reliability and commercial usability — not audience size.
A brand replied 'we only do gifted collaborations'. What now?
Stay professional and keep the door open: say you mainly work on paid collaborations, especially when content is created for the brand's channels or used in advertising, and you'd love to reconnect when budget exists. Optionally offer one small paid test so they can evaluate the format at low cost.
Is a DM or an email better?
Use a DM to start a conversation and email to send the proposal. A DM is easy to answer; email holds the scope, the examples and the numbers. Whichever you use, one clear call to action per message.
Keep reading
50 pitches, the DM scripts and a prospect list are already written
The kit ships 50 brand pitches, the cold DM and email scripts, the contract vault, 80 US brands to pitch and RateReady — $37 once, lifetime access.