In just ten months, Jhaneil “Jhan Chan” Smith transformed her social media hobby into a full-time career as user-generated content (UGC) creator, demonstrating that success comes from dedication rather than follower counts.

During the pandemic, Jhaneil began building a following on TikTok. Her path to monetization shifted when she discovered UGC through social media. 

“I was growing my platform on TikTok, but I was not monetizing my platform,” Jhaneil recalls. “Then I saw videos of persons doing UGC. The first time I saw it, I scrolled past. I didn’t pay any attention.”

The concept clicked when Jhaneil encountered content about JoinBrands, a UGC platform. “They were saying that you apply, you will get the product, and you make content. And I love making content,” she explains. This approach aligned with her existing skills.

“The good thing about UGC is you can take products from your home and take pictures to show off your skill set and your creativity, your editing skills, your photo editing skills,” Jhaneil adds. “While I had videos, I didn’t have any UGC pictures. And the good thing I appreciated was that when you make your profile, JoinBrands describes what the picture should look like.”

Early Challenges and Growth

The initial period tested Jhaneil’s determination. “Initially, it was discouraging because I was not getting approval for anything,” she admits. Instead of giving up, she conducted research and developed a strategic approach to building her profile.

“I went on Google and YouTube first,” Jhaneil explains. “There are people who make YouTube videos of the best UGC platforms. JoinBrands was in almost all of the videos that I watched. I wondered, ‘Why is this working for everybody else and not me?’ I realized I had to treat it like social media to grow the profile. The better your level, the more pictures and videos you have up, it increases your chances of getting approved.”

Financial constraints presented significant obstacles. “Some of the UGC clients want you to purchase the product, and they’ll reimburse you, but you would need some form of money to buy it,” Jhaneil explains. “Sometimes it takes long, especially if you need to have your video up for seven days before you can get your reimbursement and payment.”

Developing Professional Skills

As her work expanded, Jhaneil enhanced her content creation capabilities. “I’ve evolved a lot, especially with my editing,” she notes. “First, I would just put some clips together and use a sound. But then I realized you can do other things, like including certain dynamic transitions in your videos. A big thing now that everyone is doing is video transcription—so if you’re doing a voiceover or talking, whatever you’re saying is there in the subtitles.”

“Now I know I take things much more seriously, especially with proper lighting,” Jhaneil continues. “I was not using proper lighting at first, and that’s a big thing. You need proper lighting, and you need proper audio. And so I had to invest in a microphone, a light, and a better phone. It’s an investment.”

One project showcases Jhaneil’s creative development: “Actually, one of the favorite videos I’ve ever done was a Joint Brands video. I was doing a video for a snack box and was like, ‘What can I do?’ And it just so happened that I saw TikTok and learned how to make an image in your video stand out more—like you’ve seen at the beginning of a sitcom where they’re introducing a character, and they freeze the shot.”

Starting with Limited Resources

Jhaneil began with basic equipment. “When I just started, I had no microphone, no light, nothing,” she reveals. 

The creator found clever solutions using natural lighting and household items. “What I did was use my window sill as a tripod. You lift it to the height you need to be to your face and make your video. In the summertime, your window is an excellent place to go and make your video. You find places in your house—in front of me right now, it’s a shelf. You put your cell phone on top. You do what you gotta do.”

For newcomers considering equipment purchases, Jhaneil suggests starting with the essentials. “First, get a tripod,” she advises. “Even though I was creative and used things in my surroundings, there have been times when I wasn’t getting the angle I wanted. And a tripod is portable—you can go outside and make a video.” 

She points to affordable options like AI-enabled 360-degree tripods: “They have these AI 360 tripods. You can get it from Temu; you don’t have to go to Shein. And it’s affordable. You no longer need to ask anybody to record your videos.”

Staying Current with Industry Trends

Jhaneil monitors current creative techniques. “Many people are utilizing mirrors now,” she shares. “What they do is they would have a mirror; they would take some sand and put it on the mirror and make it look like it’s a beach when it’s really in their house.” 

She observes creators finding innovative ways to work with their environments: “I saw somebody who used a cute blanket—all she did was twist the blanket so it had a little spiral look, put the product in it, and take the pictures. Beautiful.”

Professional development remains central to her success. “YouTube is like at our fingertips,” she explains. “I had to do a lot of upskilling. I seek inspiration from people who make videos as they give you tutorials on doing a specific edit.” This commitment helps her maintain competitiveness in the field.

Building a Sustainable Business

Within a year, Jhaneil achieved full-time income through UGC creation. However, her transition required understanding both content creation and business fundamentals.

“When I started, I did not know what I was doing. I was just accepting anything that anyone offered,” Jhaneil admits. “But the more you do it, you realize, ‘Hey, $10 is not enough for the work you’re asking me for.’ You use many resources—your time, creativity, electricity. You might even need to go to a friend’s house if they have an excellent background. You’re traveling to get this, editing, and doing various things.”

Her approach to pricing developed with experience. She identifies three key factors: experience level, time investment, and potential engagement metrics.

Platform diversity proves crucial for maintaining a steady income. “You might be using one app, which is going slow this month. So you can’t depend on one thing. You need to be doing ten different things, apps, and platforms,” Jhaneil explains.

Industry Challenges

The UGC field presents unique obstacles, which Jhaneil describes as “cruel and draining.”

“Because UGC is becoming an oversaturated field, you must think outside the box and get creative,” she says. “Not everyone is a creative person. But right now, the pressure of trying to have an additional income, everybody is trying to hop on it now.”

Work consistency remains unpredictable. “You may have a really good month or a really slow month,” Jhaneil explains. “You must be doing ten different things, apps, and platforms. And sometimes, you get a little overwhelmed with remembering so many things. I’ve had dry spells when all platforms were just—nothing was happening.”

Jhaneil aims to create a distinctive presence in the UGC space. “I’m trying to see if I can branch off into being a travel UGC creator,” she reveals. “I want to be able to go to different countries, maybe even do some mini-documentaries about some of these products or brands. I want to go to their home country or state, wherever the product idea first came alive.”

Guidance for New Creators

For aspiring UGC creators, Jhaneil recommends thorough preparation. “Do some research before so that you’re entering with at least a base knowledge of what is expected from you,” she advises. “[In hindsight], I needed to be more intentional about my research. I would see a video and say, ‘Okay, fine, let me do this thing.’ My progress would have kicked up quickly if I had done prior research.”

“People are looking at you and feeling inspired by you,” she says. “Even when you don’t feel like you’re doing your best, you inspire somebody who wants to get into UGC. The video that I saw they didn’t know that I saw their video and would have been inspired. People admire your work, and you may not always hear it or see it, but it’s happening.”