I know, I know… another side hustle that’s going to require me to build a massive following, dance on TikTok, or sell my soul to the algorithm gods? Hard pass.
But what if I told you there’s a way to create content for brands, get paid anywhere from $300 to $10,000+ per month, and you don’t need a single follower to get started?
Yeah, I had the same reaction. Which is exactly why I went down the rabbit hole and invited UGC expert Megan Collier onto the Grown-Ass Women’s Guide to break it all down.
What the Hell is UGC Anyway?
UGC stands for User-Generated Content. And before your eyes glaze over at another internet acronym, let me explain why this matters to you.
Here’s the truth: Brands need content. Like, a LOT of content. They need videos for their Instagram reels, their Facebook ads, their TikTok accounts, and their website. And they’ve figured out that the polished, overly-produced content isn’t converting like it used to. You know what is? Real people, in real homes, talking about products they actually use.
Is This the Same as Being an Influencer?
Absolutely not. As an influencer, brands pay you to post content to YOUR social media, leveraging YOUR followers and engagement. With UGC, brands pay you to create content that THEY post on THEIR channels. Your follower count literally doesn’t matter.
This means:
- No building an audience required
- No nosy neighbors seeing your content
- No judgment from your sister who “doesn’t get social media”
- Just you, creating content, getting paid
Why Brands Specifically Want Gen X and Boomer Women
Here’s my favorite part:
For years—decades, even—we hit a certain age and became invisible to marketers. You turn 40 and suddenly you’re not the target demographic for anything except retirement planning and sensible shoes.
But something’s shifted. Brands are finally waking up to the fact that Gen X and Boomer women have purchasing power, authenticity, and life experience that resonates with their actual customer base.
Megan shared a story that perfectly illustrates this: She pitched to a cat litter company. They looked at her portfolio, saw videos she’d done with her 60-something mom, and literally told her, “We want to work with you, but we don’t want you in the videos. We just want your mom.”
Let me say that again: They chose the Gen X woman over the millennial. When does that ever happen?
Real Women, Real Results
This is a real life possibility for grown-ass women. Megan’s students are seeing real results:
- Heather, in her 50s, was running an antique business in Minnesota. She started doing UGC, shut down her antique business, and had her first $10,000 month in October.
- Megan’s mom, a nurse with zero social media experience (her Instagram had one photo and was only used to send funny reels to her kids), went from never filming herself to landing brand deals.
- Two women in their 60s got deals with L’Oreal and ended up on actual television.
- Jolene made six figures in her first year of UGC.
The range is huge. Some people are just trying to eliminate their dog food bill (yes, pet UGC is a thing). Others are covering their entire mortgage. Some are making this a full-time gig.
“But I’m Not Comfortable on Camera…”
Yeah, I hear you. I may or may not still cringe every time I see myself on camera. It takes practice. Most of Megan’s students have never filmed themselves before starting this.
Here’s what she told me: “It’s a muscle. You’re going to be rough at the beginning. Give yourself grace. But the ones who are willing to have fun with it and just persevere? Those are the people that end up absolutely crushing it.”
Her mom’s first video? Megan says is was a little rough, not gonna lie. Her second video, filmed the same night? Night and day difference.
And here’s the thing about our generation that Megan really understands: We grew up when everyone on TV looked perfect. The “girl next door” in commercials was still a supermodel. So we’ve internalized this idea that we have to look a certain way to be on camera.
But brands don’t want that anymore. They want authenticity. They want real kitchens with real lighting (or lack thereof). They want people who look like their actual customers.
What Does the Work Actually Look Like?
Here’s what might surprise you: The editing isn’t some complicated, technical nightmare.
Megan’s videos—the ones she gets paid quite a bit for—are simple. She’s taking clips, putting them into CapCut (a free editing app), moving them around, and maybe adding a voiceover. That’s it.
And get this: Some brands don’t even want you to edit. They’ll ask for 15 raw clips of you using their product, and they’ll edit it themselves.
The Mindset Shift You Need
Full disclosure: I’m in Megan’s course. And you know what I’ve noticed? The biggest thing holding people back isn’t the technical skills. It’s the self doubt.
“What if people think I’m vain?”
“What if I’m not good enough?”
“What if brands reject me?”
Here’s what Megan says about rejection: She still gets way more nos than yeses. And she’s been doing this for over three years and makes great money. The difference? She doesn’t take it personally. She either moves on or sets a reminder to reach back out in 30-60 days.
It’s a numbers game. And a no just means the timing isn’t right—it’s not about you.
The Part That Made Me Say “Hell Yes”
You know what sold me on this? Two things:
First, the professionalism. Megan teaches about usage rights, contracts, and negotiation tactics. You’re not just giving away your likeness for $300 so a brand can make millions. You’re learning to value your work and get paid what you’re worth.
Second, the community over competition. There’s no scarcity mindset here. If someone gets a deal with a brand you want to work with, it’s not “damn, they got it instead of me.” It’s “amazing, that means I can get it too.”
We’ve been programmed to think there are only a few seats at the table for women, especially women our age. This space proves that’s complete nonsense. There’s room for everyone.
Is This For You?
I’m not in the business of convincing anyone to do something that’s not right for them: UGC isn’t for everyone.
Don’t do this if:
- You have zero desire to ever be on camera (though faceless UGC exists, it’s much more limited)
- You’re looking for a get-rich-quick scheme
- You’re not willing to put in the work to pitch and connect with brands
Do consider this if:
- You need extra income and have a few hours a week
- You’re open to trying something new
- You’re willing to get a little uncomfortable
- You want flexibility and control over your schedule
- You’re tired of being invisible to brands and want to own your age and see your life experience as an asset
Here’s What I Want You to Know
Whether or not you decide UGC is your thing, here’s what I hope you take away from this:
You can show up exactly as you are and create value. You don’t need to be perfect, polished, or have it all figured out. The world has shifted, and there are opportunities out there specifically looking for women our age.
Megan went from scrolling on TikTok to landing her first UGC deal in 10 days to now teaching thousands of women how to do the same. Her mom went from zero social media experience to getting chosen over her millennial daughter for brand deals.
If it’s not UGC, maybe it’s something else. Maybe you have a skill you could teach. Maybe there’s a problem you could solve. Maybe there’s a whole online business waiting for you to just show up and claim it.
We’re grown-ass women. We’ve raised kids, navigated careers, survived decades of challenges. Creating a 30-second video about a product we actually like? We can handle that.
Ready to Learn More?
Follow Megan on TikTok and Instagram. Go watch her in action. See if it resonates with you. And if it does? Lean into that good feeling and take action.
Here’s the link to check out her course.
Get Megan’s UGC Creator Checklist
Because at the end of the day, we’ve got a short time on this earth. We deserve to do things that make us happy, pay our bills, and bring joy into our lives.
And if that means getting paid to talk about cat litter or shoes or skincare in our real homes with our real faces? Hell yes to that.
Want to connect?
Find me on Instagram [@grownasswoman.guide] and let me know if you’re diving into the UGC world. I want to cheer you on.
Until next time, remember: You’re a grown-ass woman. Act accordingly.
