We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Jensen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.

Kelly , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My personality type has always led me to be a learner and wanting to dabble in new things. When I first heard about UGC as a career field, I consumed as much information as I possibly could online about what it was and how to be successful with it. I bought one or two small guides to help with the logistics of getting started but otherwise I really just dove in and wanted to learn by doing.

I had a background in content creation for both my own online boutique and for my marketing 9-5 job, , so that gave me a strong foundation, but those differed greatly from creating content specifically for other brands to use in ads so I still had a lot to learn.

My first move was to sign up for a lot of creator platforms (especially Billo) to start taking on as many projects as I could to learn the ropes. They didn’t pay great (I think my first project was $25 total before fees 😅) but it really helped me learn how to work with brands, how to follow a brief, and how to really hone my personality and skills as a creator.

My prior experience creating content helped me be comfortable already in talking to a camera which I think is one of the most essential skills a new creator can practice. Brands want to hire you to connect with their customer, not just to take pretty videos of their product, so figuring out how to feel super authentic and engaging (while often sticking to a script) is essential.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have pinged around many different fields in my career, but am currently a full-time freelance UGC (User-Generated Content) Creator. What the heck is that, you ask? Basically, I make ads for all kinds of brands to run on social media – from Facebook to Instagram, to TikTok. They send me their products and I get to put together compelling content for them that will hopefully incite potential customers to learn more and buy.

I got into doing UGC after owning my own online apparel boutique for many years as a side hustle. I created all the content for our platforms, and really enjoyed that aspect of being creative and creating something. I started noticing ads on my own feeds that featured “normal” people and came across someone talking about “UGC” on TikTok one day. I thought it was something I could definitely succeed at and enjoy, and that would offer more flexibility and stability than the retail world (IYKYK). 2 years later and business is busier and more lucrative than ever!

I love making content that is humorous or feels like you’re just chatting with a silly best friend. I do my best to infuse my personality while showing off why someone would absolutely love or benefit from the product, and to come off in an authentic and trustworthy way.

Consumers’ preferences and attention spans are constantly changing, so it’s been crucial to stay current on what types of content are resonating and to keep building that trust and authenticity with viewers.

I am so proud that I took the leap into being a creator full time, and that I’ve been successful beyond what I ever imagined. I tend to carry a lot of imposter syndrome in whatever I do, but seeing clients return again and again, and helping small businesses grow, has been so rewarding and validating that I landed in the perfect career for me at this time.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Ironically, before becoming a creator, I had never even used Twitter (now X). But I kept seeing other creators mention it as a powerful platform for connecting with clients, so I decided to give it a try – and it’s turned out to be my most effective tool for reaching new brands and agencies.

My core strategy on X has been to consistently share examples of my work (tagged with UGC-related hashtags), offer insights into what’s been working for me, and sprinkle in my personality. I’ve found that this mix not only showcases my skills but also gives potential clients a quick sense of who I am and how I work. If someone comes across my content, they can immediately tell whether I’d be a good fit for their brand.

Early on, I also made a point to actively apply to opportunities posted on the platform. I’d respond with my portfolio and a relevant example in the comments. Even if I didn’t land that specific project, it gave me visibility, and that exposure often led to future opportunities with other brands who had seen my work.

The great thing about UGC is that when you deliver solid results and are easy to work with, brands tend to come back again and again. At this point, I’m fortunate to have a steady roster of repeat clients – so much so that I often have to turn down new projects simply due to capacity. It’s been amazing to see how one platform and a little consistency can create that kind of momentum.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship, I carried a strong scarcity mindset with me. I believed that if I stopped working even briefly or turned down any opportunity, my client base would vanish and I’d ultimately fail—financially and professionally. The leap from the security of a corporate job to self-employment was daunting, and I compensated by working myself to the point of burnout just to ensure I had a steady stream of work.

Taking breaks was especially challenging. There’s no simple PTO request when you’re your own boss—you have to carefully time everything around client deadlines and wrap up projects before you can step away. As a result, I often just didn’t take breaks at all.

But over time, I realized that this mindset wasn’t sustainable—or productive. I started to see that when I actually gave myself space to rest, I came back more energized, more creative, and better at what I do. Clients didn’t disappear because I took a breather; if anything, being more selective with the projects I take on has led to better, higher-paying opportunities that are more aligned with my strengths.

It’s still a work in progress—especially for someone who tends to lean toward people-pleasing and perfectionism—but I’ve made it a real priority to embrace more balance. After all, flexibility is one of the biggest perks of self-employment, and I want to fully enjoy it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kellyjccreative.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-jensen-0b1b224b/
• Twitter: https://x.com/UGC_KellyJ