We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Pfirrman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.
Melissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.
As a content creator, my goal was always to get paid for my work, but in the beginning, I accepted lots of free products in exchange for content to build my portfolio and improve my skills. This helped me understand what works, what doesn’t, and how to build relationships with brands. While some creators debate whether or not we should accept products for content without payment, I saw it as an opportunity to hone my craft, gain experience, and build confidence to eventually pitch myself to brands. Plus, I didn’t mind getting tons of my favorite products for free!
When I felt ready to start outreach, I started messaging brands I already used and believed in because I figured it would be easy to talk about how much I love them and how great they are. I quickly realized that securing contracts involves more than just sending a message— so many factors come into play like brand budgets, marketing goals, if they already have in-house creators, etc. I started paying attention to ads on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and made a list of all the brands I wanted to pitch myself to. My first client was an app that summarizes audio books for you so you can essentially hear all the key points in under 15 minutes. They were looking for new creators to test Facebook ads, so it just so happened to be great timing. I pitched them a bundle of three video ads with different hooks, which ended up landing me the contract. From there, I expanded my portfolio, working with a variety of amazing brands across industries like fashion, tech, and even dog food, and I absolutely love it.
Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been creating content for fun for years because I’ve always loved seeing my creative ideas come to life through video. I started creating outfit videos on Instagram in 2020 and built a community of women who also love fashion, which was a lot of fun and I still love to post my latest finds. It wasn’t until I dove into UGC (user-generated content), that I started turning my creative ideas into a business and securing clients. To put it simply, I make ads for brands’ social media accounts. This is different from being an influencer, where you’ve built a following that trusts you and you promote products on your own feed. UGC, on the other hand, is content made to feel more organic, like an everyday person sharing why a product is great and how it can make your life better. One thing I love about UGC is that you don’t need a large following to create content that makes an impact, because you aren’t posting your videos to your own feed, you’re contracted by the brand to create ads exclusively for them to use on their own accounts.
Some brands provide a brief with ideas, some send a full script, and others leave the creative process entirely to me—which is my favorite! I love having the freedom to bring my own ideas to the ads, and many brands appreciate that. Especially when you have a portfolio that proves you understand how to create content that’s not only engaging, but also converts.
Most UGC creators often offer packages, whether it’s a single video, a bundle with different hooks for A/B testing, or long-term contracts to create multiple videos per month. It’s a flexible way to partner with brands and create impactful content. 4 years later, and I still absolutely love what I do. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my creative ideas contribute to helping my favorite brands achieve their marketing goals through the content I create.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My main goal as a creator is to help brands connect with their audience in an authentic and engaging way. My focus has always been to create content that feels real, relatable, and ultimately drives results for the brands I work with. If they’re happy, I’m happy! Building long term relationships with brands has been so beneficial for me and my business. One day, I fall in love with a new shampoo, and the next, I’m creating content for their latest campaign. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to turn my genuine passion for a product into something that helps brands reach more people. Seeing my work come to life and being a part of their growth feels very “full-circle” for me, and I’m so excited that I get to do it. I’m constantly striving to improve my craft, and a big part of that is experimenting with new ideas, keeping up with trends, and pushing myself outside my comfort zone. It’s very rewarding to be able to say my job is to literally help brands tell their stories through creativity.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a UGC creator, the most rewarding aspect for me is seeing my creative ideas come to life in a way that genuinely connects with people and helps the brands I work with reach their marketing goals. Knowing that the content I create not only resonates with audiences but also makes a tangible impact on the success of the brands I work with is so incredibly fulfilling. Plus, with every project, I’m constantly learning and improving my skills, which keeps me inspired and motivated to keep growing in my craft. It’s the perfect balance of creativity and strategy, and I love getting better at what I do with each new experience. I also love that my job gives me incredible variety—one day I might be creating content for a makeup brand, and the next, I’m working on a campaign for dog food. The range of industries I get to explore keeps things fresh and exciting, and it challenges me to adapt my creativity to different audiences and products. That flexibility is one of the things I enjoy most about what I do, safe to say, I’m never bored!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymelissxo
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bymelissxo
