Could taking on more brand deals be the very thing holding your UGC business back?

In this episode of the UGC Industry Podcast, Brandon Hien sits down with Andrew Shin, founder of the Creator Blueprint and co-founder of GOOD Marketing, to discuss landing brand deals, creating videos that perform, and approaching UGC like a business, not just a side hustle.

Andrew shares his journey from working with brands like Nike and Adidas to going all in on UGC after being fired from AT&T. He breaks down what he calls the “$10K prison,” why he encourages creators to focus on fewer retainers, and how testing different formats can uncover opportunities for performance bonuses.

We also explore his three-bullet-point approach to brand applications, the habits that get creators hired or dropped, and how to move past the fear of what other people think when you start posting online.

Contact Andrew:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewcshin/
DM him "UGC" to get in touch

Follow Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/brandoncollabs.ugc/

Apply to Join Content Economy UGC Mentorship: https://contenteconomy.app/brandon

What happens when you stop chasing followers and start creating videos that brands will pay for?

In this episode of the UGC Industry Podcast, Brandon Hien sits down with Colin Madden, a Content Economy coach who built a seven-figure agency at just 22, to discuss his journey from aspiring influencer to full-time UGC creator and agency owner.

Colin shares how a TikTok opportunity he initially thought was a scam led to a $10,000 first month, how existing brand relationships helped him land his first agency client, and why some of his best-performing creators started with no experience. We also explore the earning limits of stacking retainers, the trade-offs of performance-based deals, and how creators can build a business beyond making every video themselves.

Follow Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/brandoncollabs.ugc/

Apply to Join Content Economy UGC Mentorship: https://contenteconomy.app/brandon

What separates a UGC video that gets ignored from one that takes off?

In this episode of the UGC Industry Podcast, Brandon Hien sits down with Sidney Brant, the queen of viral tech UGC, to discuss natural on-camera delivery, storytelling, consistent experimentation, and building relationships with brands.

Sidney shares how one video generated roughly $41,000 in performance pay across three platforms, what her early low-view months taught her, and why a higher retainer doesn’t always mean greater earning potential.

About Sydney:

Sidney is the founder of CreatorEra, a Tech UGC education and creator community helping creators build income working with tech brands. After building her own career creating content for tech startups, she launched CreatorEra to teach creators how to find opportunities, create high-performing content, and turn UGC into a sustainable income stream. Today, CreatorEra has helped hundreds of creators break into the growing Tech UGC industry.

Join Sidney's community CreatorEra: https://creatorera.io/

Follow Sidney: https://www.instagram.com/byysid/

Follow Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/brandoncollabs.ugc/

Apply to Join Content Economy UGC Mentorship: https://contenteconomy.app/brandon

What separates a UGC creator who lands a few deals from one who builds a lasting business?

In this episode of the UGC Industry Podcast, Brandon Hien sits down with Owen, founder of Content Economy, to discuss the rise of organic UGC, what he’s learned from training over 1,000 creators, and the skills that help creators earn better opportunities.

Owen shares how he went from creating content for WHOOP to connecting creators with apps hiring at scale, why a lower per-video rate doesn’t always mean lower earning potential, and how monthly retainers and performance bonuses change the equation. We also break down the hooks, natural delivery, and willingness to learn that help content perform.

Follow Owen: https://www.instagram.com/owennurminen/

Follow Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/brandoncollabs.ugc/

Apply to Join Content Economy - The Premier Mentorship: https://contenteconomy.app/brandon

Follow Brandon: https://www.instagram.com/brandoncollabs.ugc/

Apply to Join Content Economy UGC Mentorship: https://contenteconomy.app/brandon