Free UGC pitch template

How to pitch brands for UGC

A UGC pitch is a short email or DM offering to make videos a brand can post and run as ads. The six steps below are our advice for writing one: name the product, offer one specific video and link to proof. We haven't measured reply rates, so treat them as a sensible starting point and keep what works for you. New to this kind of work? The UGC creator guide covers samples, platforms and pay first. Pitching a post on your own account instead? The brand deals guide has the follower rules and a rate card for that.

1. Pick brands you'd really use

   Your strongest line is a true one: you use the product, or you're exactly its customer. Start with brands already running creator ads in your niche.

2. Find the right person

   Look for a creator, influencer, social or growth role on the brand's site or LinkedIn, and write to that person by name. If you can only find a social account, a DM can get you their email.

3. Lead with one video idea

   Skip “I'd love to collaborate” and describe the exact video: the format, the length and the moment you'd show, so they can picture it with their product.

4. Link two samples

   Pick the two videos closest to their product. A portfolio link at the bottom covers the rest.

5. Keep it short, with one ask

   Under 150 words for an email, under 80 for a DM. End with one easy question, such as offering to send a script.

6. Follow up once or twice

   Wait five to seven business days, reply in the same thread with something short and new, then leave it. Two follow-ups is plenty.

UGC pitch examples

Three pitches made with the builder above, for fictional creators and everyday products. Reuse the structure, and write the line about why you yourself: it's the one line that has to be true. The starting rates are the rate calculator's beginner defaults for one edited video with no paid usage: $175 at 15–30 seconds and $149 under 15 seconds.

• Cold email to a skincare brand

  Subject: UGC video idea for the daily SPF Hi Jordan, I'm Maya, a UGC creator who makes skincare videos for brands to post and run as ads. I have oily skin and SPF has always been the step I skip, so I'm exactly who you're trying to reach. I have an idea for your team: a 30-second get-ready-with-me that shows the SPF going on clear, with no white cast, in daylight. Two recent videos: - maya.example/spf-demo - maya.example/routine My rate for a video like this starts at $175, with paid ad usage quoted separately. Would it help if I sent a short script first? Thanks, Maya maya.example If you'd rather I didn't email again, just reply and let me know.

• After a free product

  Subject: Thank you for sending the travel blender Hi Priya, Thank you for sending the travel blender. I've been using it for [how long]. It's the first portable blender I've used that crushes ice. I filmed a short video with it: sam.example/blender Would your brand like to run videos like this as ads? I'd love to make three 15-second smoothie recipes made at my desk, each with a different hook to test, with usage rights for paid ads agreed up front. Happy to send my rates if the idea fits. Thanks, Sam If you'd rather I didn't email again, just reply and let me know.

• TikTok Shop seller

  Subject: Videos for your listing: the magnetic phone mount Hi there, I found the magnetic phone mount on TikTok Shop. I drive for work, and it's the first mount that hasn't dropped my phone. I make car and tech videos that show the product working in the first few seconds and end on the cart. My idea for yours: a one-take demo of the mount holding the phone over a bumpy road, then the price on screen. Samples: - alex.example/demo-1 - alex.example/demo-2 I can work for a flat fee per video, on commission through your affiliate program, or a mix. My rate for a video like this starts at $149, with paid ad usage quoted separately. If it sounds good, send a sample product and I'll film a first video. Thanks, Alex If you'd rather I didn't email again, just reply and let me know.

When to follow up

Pitch mistakes to avoid

• A copy-paste opener

  “Hi, I love your brand!” with no detail reads like a mass email. Write one specific line about the product instead.

• Asking for free product first

  Lead with what you'll make for them. Bring up a sample product once they're interested in the video.

• Attaching big files

  Large video attachments can bounce or fill someone's inbox. Link to samples that play in the browser.

• Rates with no context

  If you give a number, say what it covers. The rate guides behind the UGC rate calculator price paid ad usage on top of the video, and the calculator prices extra hooks on top too.

Cold email rules (CAN-SPAM)

In the US, the FTC's CAN-SPAM guide says the law “makes no exception for business-to-business email”, so a pitch selling your services counts. Its basics: a subject line that matches the message, From details that identify you, a valid postal address, a clear way to opt out, and opt-outs honoured within 10 business days (FTC, CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business, checked on October 14, 2026). That's why the builder adds an opt-out line and an address field to email pitches. Other countries have their own rules. This is general information; ask a lawyer where you live for legal advice.

Source: FTC, CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business, checked on October 14, 2026.

Got a yes? Put the deal in writing with the UGC contract builder, and make sure the samples you link are in your portfolio.