I’ve been creating UGC content for about two years now, and I’ve noticed something frustrating: getting brand deals feels almost random. I’ll land one collaboration, then radio silence for months. I started wondering if I was missing something obvious.
Recently, I realized the issue wasn’t just my content quality—it was my approach. I was waiting for brands to find me, or blindly pitching to ones I thought fit my niche. But what I started doing instead was actually building relationships across different markets. I found that by tapping into a network of creators and brand managers who work both in the US and internationally, I could access way more opportunities than just hunting through my email inbox.
The key shift was understanding that brands are looking for consistency, not just one-off viral posts. They want creators who can deliver results across different regions and audiences. When I started positioning myself that way—showing how my content could work for both US and European audiences—suddenly I had multiple conversations happening at once.
That said, I’m still trying to figure out how to navigate the negotiation side better. Deal structures, fair pricing, contract terms—these things still feel like a minefield sometimes.
How do you guys approach brand outreach? Do you have a process for vetting which brands are actually worth your time?