UGC Portfolio: What to Include (and What to Leave Out)

Your UGC portfolio is your storefront. It’s the link you send in every pitch, the thing brand managers open between meetings, and often the deciding factor between “let’s book them” and “maybe later.”

The good news: a winning portfolio is simple. It doesn’t need dozens of videos or a fancy website. It needs the right few pieces, arranged so a busy person can say yes quickly.

The 60-second test

Imagine a brand manager opening your link on their phone, in a hurry. Within about a minute, they should know:

• Who you are and what niche you create in
• What your work looks and sounds like (one great video, right at the top)
• What kinds of content you can make
• How to reach you

If your portfolio passes that test, you’re ahead of most.

What to include

1. A short intro

Two or three sentences, written like you talk. Your name, your niche, where you’re based (brands shipping products need to know the country), and what you love making. Add a friendly photo of you if you appear on camera.

Example: “Hi, I’m Maya. I make skincare and wellness UGC from my bathroom in Austin: honest routines, real textures and calm, clean edits.”

2. Your 3–6 best videos

Quality beats quantity. Lead with your strongest video, then show range. A good mix covers a few classic formats:

• Testimonial: you talking to camera about why you love the product
• Demo or tutorial: how it works, step by step
• Unboxing or first impression: genuine reactions and close-up details
• Problem and solution: a relatable pain point, then the product
• Hands-only or voiceover: great if you prefer not to be on camera

New and no clients yet? Spec videos are perfect here. Film them with products you already own and label them clearly as spec work, for example “Spec ad, not a paid partnership.” Honest labeling builds trust.

3. Short context for each video

Under each video, add a line: the format, the goal and anything you did beyond filming. For example: “Testimonial, 30 seconds, 3 hook variations, captions and B-roll edited by me.” This shows brands how you think, not just how you look on camera.

4. What you offer

A simple list of the services you provide. For example:

• Short-form vertical videos (TikTok, Reels, Shorts)
• Hook variations
• Product photos
• Voiceovers
• Raw footage on request
• Editing

5. Brands you’ve worked with (only real ones)

Once you have real collaborations, paid or gifted, list the brand names or show their logos, with permission where needed. Never imply a partnership that didn’t happen. A small, honest list is far more powerful than a padded one.

6. Kind words (optional)

A one- or two-line testimonial from a brand contact is gold. Ask for one after a project goes well.

7. Rates or a “rates on request” line

Some creators publish starting rates; many prefer “rates on request” so they can price based on usage and scope. Either is fine. If you publish numbers, make it clear they’re starting points and that paid-ad usage and exclusivity are priced separately. (Our UGC rates guide rounds up public estimates.)

8. Contact details

A professional email address (your name, not a nickname), your social handles and, if you like, a simple contact form. Make it effortless to reach you.

What to leave out

• Everything you’ve ever made. Curate hard. Five great videos beat twenty average ones.
• Videos with music you don’t have the rights to or with another brand’s watermark.
• Long walls of text. Brands skim.
• Personal details like your home address or phone number on a public page.
• Anything false: invented clients, made-up results or borrowed footage.

Where to host it

Pick something that opens fast on a phone and plays video smoothly:

• A simple one-page website from any free builder
• A clearly organized shared folder (name files like “Maya_Skincare_Testimonial_30s.mp4”)
• A PDF one-pager with links to the videos
• Your creator profile on a platform brands already browse

Test the link on your own phone, logged out, before you send it anywhere. A broken link or a “request access” wall can cost you a reply.

Keep it fresh

Your portfolio is a living thing. Every month or so, swap in your newest, best work and retire anything that no longer represents you. Your tenth video will be better than your first, so let your portfolio show that growth.

Quick portfolio checklist

• A 2–3 sentence intro with niche and location
• Best video at the very top
• 3–6 videos showing different formats
• A line of context under each video
• A list of services
• Only real brand names
• Professional email and handles
• Tested on a phone, logged out