Brands do not hire spreadsheets — they hire link pages that look like agencies

UGC creators compete in a market where brands compare dozens of portfolios per campaign. Your TikTok metrics matter, but the brand manager's first click is almost always your link-in-bio. If that click lands on a messy Linktree with no rates, no samples, and no contact path, you lose the deal to a creator whose hub looks like a micro-agency.

In 2026, UGC creators who earn consistent brand deals maintain one professional hub: portfolio samples, niches, rates or inquiry form, testimonials, and social proof — all on an indexable page that ranks on Google when a brand searches "[your name] UGC."

LinkForge provides the portfolio infrastructure: indexable /u/slug pages, custom seo_title and seo_description, automatic sitemap, Open Graph previews that look credible in brand Slack channels, and SEO that helps you rank on Google for branded and niche queries.

What brands evaluate in 8 seconds

Evaluation criteria	Brand manager action	Your hub must show
Niche fit	Scan top links	Category tags in bio text
Production quality	Click portfolio link	Best 3–5 samples, not 30
Social proof	Look for brand logos	"Worked with" section
Response path	Find contact	Clear "Book me" or email link
Professionalism	Judge URL and preview	Custom domain or clean `/u/slug`

You have eight seconds. Link order and OG preview determine whether you make the shortlist.

The UGC portfolio link stack

Link 1 — Portfolio / reel: Link to TikTok playlist, Google Drive reel, or Notion portfolio. Label with niche: "UGC Samples — Beauty & Skincare."

Link 2 — Book a collab: Typeform, Calendly, or direct email. One click to inquiry.

Link 3 — Rates / media kit: PDF or Notion page with packages. Transparency wins deals faster.

Link 4 — Testimonials: Brand quotes or screenshot reviews.

Link 5 — Social proof: Instagram, TikTok profiles with follower counts visible on platform — not duplicated on hub.

Keep the hub focused on business. Personal links dilute professional positioning.

SEO for UGC creators: get found by brands

Brands search Google before they search TikTok. "UGC creator beauty," "[city] UGC creator," and "[your name] portfolio" are real queries with commercial intent.

Query type	Example	LinkForge setup
Branded portfolio	"Jess UGC portfolio"	seo_title with "UGC Portfolio"
Niche + service	"UGC creator supplements"	Bio paragraph with niche keywords
Local	"UGC creator Los Angeles"	City in seo_description
Comparison	"[name] rates UGC"	Indexable rates/media kit link

Configure SEO fields:

seo_title: "Jess Morales | UGC Creator Portfolio — Beauty, Wellness & Lifestyle"
seo_description: "Professional UGC creator for DTC beauty and wellness brands. View samples, packages, and book your next campaign. Based in LA, ships worldwide."

LinkForge's indexable pages, sitemap, and Open Graph tags ensure brand managers who Google you land on a page you control — not an outdated Instagram highlight.

Building a portfolio that converts

Sample selection: quality over quantity

Show five videos maximum on your primary portfolio link. Brands want range within niche, not a dump of every product you have filmed. Structure samples by category:

Hook style A (problem-solution)
Hook style B (testimonial/unboxing)
Hook style C (tutorial/how-to)

Media kit essentials

Your rates link should include:

Section	Content
About	2 sentences, niche focus, years creating
Packages	3 tiers: single video, bundle, whitelisting
Turnaround	Standard delivery timeline
Usage rights	Organic vs. paid ad usage
Contact	Email + expected response time

Host on Notion or PDF. Link from hub. Update without changing bio URL.

Testimonials that close deals

One quote from a recognizable DTC brand outperforms ten generic "great to work with" lines. Ask past clients for a one-sentence quote with brand name permission.

Platform strategy for UGC creators

TikTok and Instagram bio

Your bio line should state niche + CTA: "UGC for beauty brands | Portfolio ↓" The link goes to LinkForge hub, not a raw Drive folder. Drive links look unprofessional in brand evaluation and carry no SEO value.

LinkedIn for B2B UGC

Many UGC creators miss LinkedIn. Brand managers live there. Mirror your hub URL in LinkedIn bio. Post case studies linking back to hub portfolio section.

UGC marketplaces vs. owned hub

Billo, Insense, and similar platforms bring inbound leads — but brands still check your independent portfolio. Your LinkForge hub is the canonical professional presence; marketplaces are acquisition channels.

Pricing and inquiry optimization

Package tier	Typical range (2026)	Hub presentation
Single UGC video	$150–$350	"Starter — 1 video, 1 hook"
3-video bundle	$400–$900	"Campaign bundle — most popular"
Whitelisting add-on	+30–50%	Separate link or FAQ section

Label your most popular package in button copy. Anchoring increases average deal size.

FAQ

Should UGC creators use Linktree for their portfolio?

No. Linktree pages are not optimized for professional evaluation — limited SEO, generic OG previews, and no indexable content that ranks when brands search your name. LinkForge provides indexable /u/slug pages with custom seo_title, sitemap, and Open Graph.

How many portfolio samples should I show?

Three to five on your primary link. Additional samples can live on a secondary page linked from the hub.

Can my UGC portfolio rank on Google?

Yes. With LinkForge's indexable pages, niche keywords in your bio paragraph, custom seo_title and seo_description, and sitemap inclusion, most creators rank for "[name] UGC" within 4–8 weeks.

Should I list rates publicly?

Transparency accelerates deals. Brands with budget constraints self-select; you waste less time on mismatched inquiries. If you prefer private rates, use "Request quote" as Link 2.

Do Open Graph previews matter for UGC creators?

Yes. When you email a brand manager your link, OG tags display your name and niche in the preview — first impression before the click.

Brand deals go to creators who make the first click effortless. Build a portfolio page that closes before the discovery call.

Create your UGC portfolio hub on LinkForge — free →