Whether it’s Anna Schiano’s frisson-producing ASMR clips or Tyler Reyes’ fierce fitness photos, user-generated content (UGC) has become a cornerstone of authentic marketing. Brands are increasingly turning to everyday creators to craft relatable and engaging content that resonates with audiences. Sound like you? Let’s delve into nine examples of standout UGC portfolios, with actionable tips to craft your own collection.
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A UGC portfolio is a curated digital collection that demonstrates your ability as a creator to market a product or service. Unlike traditional artist résumés, which focus on professional and educational experience, these portfolios highlight social media users’ brand work, including interactions, reviews, testimonials, and creative expressions. They serve as a testament to your ability to engage audiences and build community with relatable content.
How to Become a Content Creator1. Anna Schiano
From product unboxing videos to aesthetic vlogs, Schiano maintains consistent quality across different contexts and collaborations. Her work examples with brands such as New Balance and Mecca Cosmetica illustrate her marketing capacity within the lifestyle and fashion industries. By asking, “Feeling a little lost on how to get your TikTok to drive more sales?,” Schiano makes a strong argument for her value as a UGC creator.
2. Amie Carr
Positioning herself as a “regular-shmegular millennial girl mom,” Carr strategically focuses on budget-friendly personal products, such as e.l.f. Cosmetics, and family-oriented offerings, such as KiwiCo activity boxes. Her portfolio is a comprehensive overview of her industry specializations (food, wellness, children’s products, and parenting services) and specific content capabilities (voiceovers, testimonials, and ASMR). The inclusion of testimonials from established brands like Socialike and Little Mystic School helps validate her effectiveness in the parenting and family lifestyle sector.
3. Janel Steeper
Steeper’s homepage is broken up into clear sections that prove her worth as a UGC creator: the big-name brands she’s worked with, such as Shapermint and Aura; video and pictures answering why brands should choose her; multiple positive client testimonials; the industries she’s created content for, such as pets, beauty, and travel; and the various types of content she offers, from product demo and unboxing to paid ads and photography.
4. Elliott Stafford
Stafford demonstrates she’s nothing if not adaptable by including a diverse range of content from partnerships with major brands like Minute Maid and Build-A-Bear. Her portfolio blends high-energy adventure posts with stylish product placements, making her particularly attractive to perfume and home industry brands looking for dynamic, action-packed content.
5. Tyler Reyes
A master class in versatility, Reyes includes everything from daily routines and vlogs to motivational videos and trend-driven posts in his portfolio. His genuine approach to collaborations with major names like Dove, Hard Rock Cafe, and Wicked Protein shows he can tailor content to different industries while maintaining his signature relatable style.
6. Eyum Priscilla
Priscilla presents herself as a “multi-niche creator” who offers “authentic ads and organic UGC for your brand.” She includes her social links, client reviews, a graphic depicting what she offers, and multiple examples of UGC content across industries and brands (Holland & Barrett, anyone?). There’s even a link to her photography portfolio and videos of her acting/theater content.
7. Judy Thomas
Thomas’ portfolio stands as the ultimate restaurant and travel content showcase. Examples of work for hotel and travel clients demonstrate her ability to transform stunning photography and engaging vlogs into compelling stories that inspire action. Her UGC portfolio is a powerful example of how focusing on a specialized niche (and demonstrating true mastery within it!) can make a creator infinitely more valuable than a jack-of-all-trades approach.
8. Joshie Houlahan
Houlahan allows his core expertise in style, personal care, and accessories to shine in his UGC portfolio. He presents a wide range of samples, from polished product showcases to casual lifestyle videos, and collaborations with brands like Bumble and Billie Jo. His portfolio is designed to encourage potential clients to envision their brand in his hands.
9. Juliana Silva
The integration of interactive elements—clickable links, embedded videos, and product tags—in Silva’s portfolio transforms passive viewing into an immersive experience. Her showcase of work with brands like Happy Hour and the Raspberry Farm is both visually engaging and effective, communicating to potential clients that she brings both creative vision and technical execution to the table.
1. Choose a platform.
Your portfolio needs to live somewhere. Here are some of the best options:
- Beginner: Beacons, Canva, Google Sites, Milkshake
- Intermediate: Notion, Airtable
- Professional: Adobe Portfolio, Wix, Squarespace
Pro tip: If you’re just starting out, Beacons and Canva are ideal for quickly building a professional-looking portfolio with minimal effort. Both are user-friendly and allow you to showcase your work in an aesthetically appealing way without the need for extensive design skills.
2. Include key components of a UGC portfolio.
A strong UGC portfolio should include:
- Name and bio: a short introduction that explains what you do, the type of content you create, and your niche(s)
- Best work: a mix of testimonials, unboxings, demos, voiceovers, and whatever else you feel proud of
- Contact info: email, social media, and/or a booking link to make it easy for brands to reach you
- Social proof: positive feedback from brands (particularly big-name brands) you’ve worked with
- Pricing: a list of your pricing options (or a note that you prefer to discuss it with brands directly)
3. Get your portfolio seen by brands.
Once your portfolio is ready, it’s time to promote it and hopefully start getting those sweet, sweet brand collaborations.
- Post it online. Brands often scout for UGC creators on social media platforms, so link to it on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and any other pages. Use hashtags such as #UGCcreator, #UGCcommunity, #UGCportfolio, #contentcreator, or ones directly related to your specific industry and niche.
- Pitch it to brands. Reach out to brands on social media or over email and include a link to your portfolio. For example, you might say: “Hi [Brand Name], I’m a UGC creator specializing in [niche]. I’d love to collaborate and create engaging content for your brand. Here’s my portfolio: [link]. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!” You can even pitch in person at relevant industry events by providing representatives with your link.
- Add it to your profile. Add your portfolio link to your Backstage profile so that brands can see it when you apply to the UGC casting calls listed in our comprehensive database.
