UGC 101 - Build Your Content Creation Business

From "I Can't Do This" to Brands Begging to Work With You with Kessa from @ContentByKessa, UGC Creator & Coach | EP 39

Ever dreamed about making money with content but kept telling yourself you're not the right type?Host Nate welcomes Kessa, a full-time UGC creator from Canada who started chasing her content dreams in her early teens. She didn't get here because of a big following or a perfect plan. She got here because she refused to quit, and her story is proof that you don't need either one to make this work.They break down the moves that actually work, not the fluff you see everywhere else. They talk about how to handle rejection without flinching, why staying open to every niche will make you more money, and how to get brands coming to you instead of chasing them down. Kessa also shares her exact approach to pricing and whitelisting that keeps everything simple and profitable.Chapters:04:30 – Grinding on Gifted Collabs With No Pay07:55 – Betting on UGC and Making the First $2K11:20 – Why Canada Is an Underrated UGC Market14:30 – Turning DMs Into a Coaching Business17:10 – The Biggest Fears New Creators Have19:55 – Why Faceless UGC Doesn’t Scale22:30 – Filming in Public Without Caring25:10 – Embarrassing Brand Deals Everyone Starts With28:20 – Niches, Acne, and Why Flaws Sell31:40 – Posting to Attract Brands Not Followers35:10 – Whitelisting, Usage Rights, and Real Money39:00 – Negotiation Mistakes That Cost Creators ThousandsThis one hits different if you've been on the fence about starting. Kessa doesn't hide the hard parts. She talks about the goofy early gigs, the fear of hitting record, and why the things that feel scary right now are way smaller than they actually look. Listen and learn the one thing Kessa says about being on camera that's so simple you'll wonder why nobody told you sooner. It completely flips the script on how you think about showing up.  Her UGC guide: https://stan.store/contentbykessa/p/ugc-guide-65j1bTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contentbykessa?_t=8ZNqcZif522&_r=1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contentbykessa?igsh=MWVyb281dGx0amRnYw==YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ContentbykessaDownload FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

The UGC Strategy to Turn Every Brand Into Long-Term Clients with Comedian Alex Gettlin | EP 38

What if your "side hustle survival skills" were actually the exact training you needed to crush it in UGC?Host Nate Flake sits down with Alex Gettlin, a standup comedian and podcaster who went from touring comedy clubs and hustling through DoorDash shifts to building a thriving UGC business. Alex didn't come from the typical nine-to-five burnout story. He came from a world where every gig was uncertain, every paycheck was inconsistent, and learning to perform under pressure was just part of the deal. That background turned out to be his secret weapon.Chapters:04:45 – Losing Everything Overnight to COVID07:10 – The Podcast That Changed Everything09:30 – Discovering UGC Was a Real Business11:55 – Why Most Creators Quit Too Early14:10 – Spending Money to Make Money16:25 – The Power of Creator Meetups19:05 – Trading Free UGC for Real Opportunities21:40 – Why Talking Head Videos Win24:55 – When UGC Goes Wrong Fast29:10 – Turning Small Gigs Into Big Retainers34:20 – Comedy Skills as a UGC Superpower41:15 – How Consistency Creates Long-Term IncomeIf you've ever felt stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle, or you'rIf you've ever felt stuck in the "feast or famine" cycle, or you're wondering how to turn your creative skills into steady income without losing your authenticity, Nate and Alex break it all down. Alex shares how he built his first portfolio, why he treats every client like a long-term relationship, and the mindset shifts that helped him go from $100 gigs to retainer deals that actually pay the bills. Plus, he gets real about the importance of community, why over-delivering early creates momentum, and how thinking like an entertainer (not just a creator) can set you apart.By the end, you'll understand why your first gig matters way more than the paycheck, how to find opportunities hiding in plain sight, and what it actually takes to build a UGC business that works for you, not the other way around. Press play and learn how Alex landed his first podcast deal, turning a $100 Ball Buddy ad into a major retainer, and why he tells his students there's no "one right way" to do this.Alex's Atlanta Studio: https://www.skewedorbitstudios.com/Alex's podcast Highly Unlikely: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iMdab3eZjUQNV2zyIPZe0?si=rjNW8iX8RT2jrFegBrtAQQAlex's Portfolio: http://www.alexgettlin.com/Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

From $20 to $20K Per Month: Her Fiverr Strategy with Musician Turned Creator @TheUGCCreatorOlivia (Olivia Castriota) | EP 37

What if the skills you already have are exactly what you need to build a UGC business, you just haven't connected the dots yet?Host Nate Flake sits down with Olivia Castriota to break down how she went from being new to UGC to consistently making $20,000 a month by leveraging skills she already had.She didn't start as a UGC creator. She was a musician writing songs for TV shows, stuck in an industry where getting paid took eight months or longer. When she saw a TikTok about UGC, she realized her years of making music videos had already taught her everything she needed: how to be comfortable on camera, understand lighting, and tell a story visually. Within two weeks, she bought a course, set up her Fiverr gigs, and started landing clients at $20 a video.Chapters:00:04:45 - The Fiverr Switch That Skyrocketed Orders00:05:32 - 100 Reviews in 2 Months  00:06:00 - The $20 to $125 Rate Jump Panic00:06:31 - Ad Fees Changed Everything00:09:19 - The “Pitch 10 Brands” Myth Gets Called Out00:15:34 - Fiverr’s Biggest Problem: Zero Search, Too Much Chaos00:18:18 - Scam Reality Check and Why New Sellers Get Targeted00:24:38 - Camera Confidence00:34:05 - Why X Became Her Best Lead Source00:42:19 - Worst Gig vs Best Gig She doesn't sugarcoat it. She talks about doing a hundred videos in two months to build reviews, raising her rates even when it felt terrifying, and why your first three months are basically paid training. Olivia shares the production secrets most creators never think about like how matching your clothing to both the product and your skin tone can make or break a video, or why breaking a script into single-line takes with action beats makes everything easier. Press play and learn how tiny shifts that separate okay content from work that brands want to pay for again and again.Course she took (Use code OLIVIA for $100 off):  https://freelancebigsis.com/ugcfiverracademy-1220?am_id=olivia2330Olivia's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5VdTraeHBTaJhW9OZPnrPm?si=yXo-BLoORYCqP5snb-qOxgOlivia's portfolio: https://oliviacastriota.my.canva.site/Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

UGC Sidehustle: How Triplet Mom Makes Over $3,000 a Month Working Full-Time with “House of jen UGC” - Jen Cochnauer | EP 36

Ever wonder if your whole family could actually make money creating content together or if that's just internet hype?Nate sits down with Jen Cochnauer. She started UGC in July. She'd never even heard the term before. Five months later, she's pulling in $2-4k extra each month while working full-time in corporate healthcare and she's doing it with her husband and four kids, including triplets. You'll hear how she navigated Fiverr gigs, convinced her skeptical husband, got her kids comfortable on camera, and started landing inbound work from brands who can't resist the triplet factor. Chapters:04:02 - Family to a Fiverr  06:01 - Ditching the Teleprompter  08:30 - Landing the First Family Job with the Triplets11:18 - Raising Rates 19:30 - How X Replies Turn Into Email Inbounds20:50 - Working Full-Time While UGC Explodes22:00 - When to Pause Outreach and Start Saying No31:03 - The VA Problem: Follow-Ups Are Where Money Gets Lost33:30 - The Dream Gig vs The Nightmare Client41:30 - The 2026 UGC Family Expansion PlanJen's approach is refreshingly honest, she prints scripts, overshoots B-roll, and still struggles with follow-up. She's figuring it out in real time, just like you.If you've ever hesitated to involve your partner or kids in UGC because it feels complicated, this episode breaks down the practicalities: how much to pay your kids, how to price family work, and why raw footage jobs beat full edits when you're juggling a day job. You'll also get the uncomfortable truth about pricing, if brands aren't pushing back on your rates, you're leaving money on the table.Jen's story proves you don't need to be a content pro or quit your job to make this work. You just need to start, lean into what makes your family unique, and charge what you're actually worth. Press play and learn exactly how to turn family time into paid work without sacrificing your sanity.Connect with guest: https://www.instagram.com/houseofjenugc/Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/

Zero Followers, Zero Experience - How I Built a Six Figure UGC Business Starting on Fiverr | EP 35

Ever sat at your desk wondering if there's more to life than climbing the corporate ladder? Host Nate Flake gets it. He spent 11 years in tech, earned an MBA, and worked his way up to positions at companies like Intuit - only to realize the golden handcuffs weren't worth it.Nate pulls back the curtain on his entire UGC journey. From that awkward first video to crossing $140,000 on Fiverr alone, he walks you through the messy middle that most coaches skip over. Chapters: 04:55 – Feeling Invisible in Big Tech06:28 – Side Projects as Survival08:35 – The Corporate Breaking Point09:43 – The Bed That Changed Everything11:30 – First Steps Into UGC13:23 – Landing the First Brand Deal15:12 – Getting Comfortable on Camera17:21 – Why Fiverr Was the Entry Point20:30 – Raising Rates and Scaling Fast24:28 – Why Followers Don’t Matter31:30 – Buying Back Time With a Course34:56 – Choosing Freedom Over StabilityHe talks about the moment his friend Tammy convinced him to try UGC, the nine days of radio silence before his first client, and how he juggled a demanding corporate job while building a side hustle that eventually replaced his income.If you're stuck in a job that pays well but drains your soul, this episode gives you a practical roadmap. Nate breaks down how he validated UGC could work before quitting, why he started on Fiverr instead of pitching brands, and how he manages being a present dad while running a full-time creator business. He also challenges the myth that you need to match your corporate salary dollar-for-dollar - because freedom, flexibility, and unlimited PTO have real value too.The biggest shift happens when Nate explains what finally pushed him to quit. It wasn't just about money. It was about looking around at other UGC creators and realizing they had something he didn't: time with their families, control over their schedules, and genuine happiness. Press play if you've been waiting for a sign to start UGC or take it seriously, this is it. Download FREE GUIDE: 10 Steps to Becoming a UGC Creator from Scratch Join UGC Creator Connect — March 14, Park City UT → https://ugccreatorconnectevent.com MORE FROM NATE FLAKE Nate’s UGC Fiverr Pro Course + Community — use code PODCAST for 15% off: . https://stan.store/nateflakeugc/p/master-ugc-on-fiverr Connect with NateInstagram: @nateflakecreatesYouTube: UGC 101 Podcast Catch Nate on YoutubeContact / CollabsFor guest pitches, partnerships, or sponsorship inquiries.https://ugcbynate.com/