In February 2023, I had a desire to go outside of my normal 9-5 job and explore side hustle opportunities. This led me to hear about UGC possibilities. At first, I had no idea what UGC was, what it meant, how to get started, or what it could possibly lead to. After looking into it in-depth, and after several late-night deep dives, I learned that User-Generated Content is the hired creation of organic content for brands or products.
Upon starting to dive into creating content for brands, I realized I would be able to combine my passion for photography and videography with my marketing skills and knowledge. My start in UGC has been slow, as to avoid increasing stress levels throughout my daily routine. Through content creation, I have been able to expand on my photography skills, video editing abilities, TikTok knowledge, and much more.
Originally, my plan was to only post on TikTok, as I was not confident in my ability to be successful in creating content. Fear of embarrassment by my peers affected how ambitious I was in posting. As I continued, I realized that I had potential to continue on this path as a fruitful side hustle. This confidence has both allowed me to be more assertive when making deals with brands and to take time off if needed. I enjoy UGC as a side hustle because if I am ever too busy or stressed, then I can always take a break and come back. This helps me to keep this going only while it is fun, so it doesn’t feel like work.
Mallory Tilson 