Who messages a UGC creator, and what do they want?
A UGC account has two audiences in the same inbox. Brands and their marketers write "do you have a portfolio", "what are your rates for three videos", "do you offer usage rights" and "can you film by next Friday". Aspiring creators comment "how did you get your first brand deal", "what camera is this" and "do you have a pitch template".
The brand messages are the income. The creator questions are the reach that makes brands find you. Both deserve a fast answer, and both pile up when you spend two days filming and editing a batch of deliverables.
Which automations should a UGC creator build first?
Public reply
Portfolio sent to your DMs.
DM
Thanks for reaching out. Here's my portfolio, sorted by category (skincare, kitchen, tech): [portfolio link] Tell me about the product and what you need, and I'll send a quote within one working day. My booking form is here if you're ready: [inquiry form]
DM
My rate card covers single videos, three-video bundles, raw footage and paid usage rights: [rate card link] Usage terms and turnaround are priced per project, so the card is a starting point. Reply with your brief for an exact quote.
Public reply
Sent you my starter guide.
DM
Here's the free guide I wish I'd had: building a portfolio with no clients, what to film first, and the email I use to pitch brands. What's your email? I'll send it there with my monthly UGC tips.
Follow up
Did you get the guide? The portfolio section is the one to do first. Reply GEAR if you want my under-$200 filming setup.
DM
My filming kit: phone on a $25 tripod, a clip-on mic, one LED panel and a white foam board. Full list with links: [gear list]
How do you set it up so brands get a clean first impression?
- 1
Connect your account through Meta
It takes about four minutes, and ReplyRep never sees your password.
- 2
Add a welcome opener with buttons
First-time messages get a greeting with up to four buttons: Portfolio, Rates, Work with me, I'm a creator. Brands self-sort in one tap, and you can see who is who at a glance.
- 3
Set PORTFOLIO and RATES as Global Triggers
As Global Triggers they work in DMs, on every post and in story replies, so a brand that types "rates" anywhere gets the card.
- 4
Gate the starter guide behind an email
The email collector builds a list of aspiring creators, which is an audience you can later sell a course or template pack to.
- 5
Keep negotiations human
Automation sends the portfolio and the rate card. Scope, usage rights and deadlines are a conversation you have yourself.
Which ReplyRep features matter most for UGC work?
- Instagram auto DM for first messages, so a brand manager at 9am gets a reply before your first coffee.
- Comment to DM on behind-the-scenes reels, where the START and GEAR comments come from.
- DM flows that ask a brand for product category, deliverables and deadline before you reply in person.
- No ReplyRep branding on messages, from Boost up. When the person reading is a brand deciding whether to pay you, that matters more than it does for most accounts.
What should a brand get in the first reply?
Brand marketers send the same inquiry to several creators and shortlist from the replies. The first message decides whether you make the list, so it should do three things: show work in the brand's category, set a price expectation, and make the next step obvious. A portfolio sorted by niche beats a general reel link, because a skincare brand wants to see skincare. A rate card that names usage rights shows you know how paid social works. A short inquiry form, or a DM flow that asks for the product, deliverables and deadline, means your personal reply can include a real quote.
Keep the tone of these messages the same as your emails to brands. If your content is playful, the DM can be warm, but it should still read like a business that answers on time. The Instagram auto DM examples guide has more message shapes to borrow from.
What etiquette applies to UGC DMs?
- Automation cannot pitch brands for you. ReplyRep only messages people who commented, replied or messaged first, so cold outreach to brands stays a manual job, and it should.
- Quote usage rights separately. Organic-only, paid ads and whitelisting are different prices, so never let an automation send a single flat price as if it covers everything.
- Ask before posting client work on your own feed. Some brand contracts restrict it, especially before a campaign launches.
- When you post sponsored content on your own account, disclose it. The FTC's influencer guidance applies whenever you are paid or gifted the product.
Let the portfolio answer first
Set PORTFOLIO and RATES once, and every brand that asks gets a fast, professional first reply.
Which plan should a UGC creator choose?
Brand inquiries are low volume, so DM count is rarely the constraint. Free covers 2,000 DMs and is enough to test PORTFOLIO. Lite adds email capture for the starter guide and follow ups, with 10,000 DMs on 1 account. Boost is the one many UGC creators pick for the branding alone: 40,000 DMs, 3 accounts and nothing in the message that is not yours. MAX is for agencies running UGC rosters.
For growing the creator side of the account, see how to grow followers with follow-gated DMs.