Free beginner UGC starter kit

Want to start UGC but have no idea what to do first?

You do not need a huge following, fancy equipment, or years of experience. Start with a simple 7-day plan and a Canva portfolio template you can actually use.

Get the free UGC Starter Kit

A phone on a small tripod beside a skincare bottle, notebook and coffee on a sunny desk

Start with the basics — without trying to learn everything at once.

7-Day Action Plan

Understand UGC, choose practice products, create samples, and build momentum one day at a time.

Beginner Sample Ideas

Learn simple UGC formats you can practice using products you already own.

Portfolio Guidance

Know what to include in your first portfolio without making it complicated.

Canva Portfolio Template

Use the included Canva template to organize your samples and creator information.

UGC does not mean you have to become an influencer.

UGC stands for user-generated content.

Brands hire creators to make natural, customer-style videos and photos they can use in their marketing.

The value is the content itself — not necessarily the size of your audience.

1Learn the skill
2Create practice samples
3Build a portfolio
4Find opportunities
5Pitch or apply
6Keep improving

Paid work is never guaranteed. This starter kit is designed to help you learn the basics and create a clear starting point.

See what a beginner UGC portfolio can look like

You do not need a giant media kit or dozens of examples to get started.

A simple portfolio can show who you are, the types of content you create, a few sample videos or photos, and an easy way for a brand to contact you.

Inside the free UGC Starter Kit, you’ll also get access to the Canva portfolio template so you can create your own version.

Preview of a nine-page beginner UGC portfolio: cover, about me, content types, videos, photos, brands and contact pages

Usually, learning what UGC is is not the hardest part.

It is everything that comes next.

Where do I find UGC opportunities?

What should I put in my portfolio?

How do I pitch brands?

What should I charge?

What are usage rights?

How do I know whether an opportunity is legitimate?

Is my content good enough yet?

That is why I like having somewhere to keep learning instead of trying to Google every next step by yourself.

Amanda smiling while working on her laptop at home

A little about me

Why I’m sharing this

I didn’t start because I wanted to become an influencer.

I started because I wanted a way to build income online that could actually fit around real life.

I didn’t want to be on camera every day. I didn’t want to go live constantly. And I definitely didn’t want to feel like I had to turn my whole life into content just to make this work.

I started using simple content, B-roll, text on screen, and faceless-style posts because that felt more realistic for me.

The more I learned, the more I realized there isn’t just one way to build online.

That’s why I share beginner-friendly options like UGC, digital products, affiliate marketing, and tools that make the starting point feel less overwhelming.

A New You is really about that — helping you find a path that fits you instead of forcing yourself into someone else’s version of success.

I’m learning and building too — I just want to make the next step clearer than it felt when I started.

My recommendation

Why I recommend Made From Zero

The free starter kit can help you get moving.

Made From Zero is for the person who wants more structure, ongoing training, support, community, and places to keep finding opportunities.

UGC Training

Beginner-friendly training to help you improve your content and understand the business side of UGC.

Daily UGC Opportunity Listings

MFZ regularly shares UGC opportunities so members are not left wondering where to look next.

UGC App + Company Opportunities

Members can also learn about opportunities connected to UGC apps and companies through the MFZ ecosystem.

Portfolio + Pitching Support

Help with the things beginners often get stuck on after making their first samples.

Coaching + Community

Ongoing support and a large community instead of trying to figure out every step alone.

More Than One Income Path

UGC may be the starting point, but Made From Zero also teaches additional online-income paths.

Explore Made From Zero

Affiliate disclosure: If you purchase through my link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Want a smaller place to start?

Made From Zero also offers Core 4, a smaller beginner training focused on four online-income paths:

UGC
Print on Demand
Digital Affiliate Marketing
Creating Digital Products with Canva

Learn about Core 4