🏔 Ready to start hitting consistent 4-figure months? Sign Up For UGC Basecamp—podcast listeners get 25% OFF your membership: https://app.heartbeat.chat/ugcmastermind/invitation?code=4AFJA2&promo_code=SAVE25#landing-page

Today we’re getting real about what actually went down in Q1 of my UGC journey—and the mindset shift that kept me from spiraling.

If you’re trying to land paid brand deals, become a UGC creator, or build a content creator business that lets you travel for free—this episode is a MUST listen.

✨ What We’re Getting Into:

• The behind-the-scenes mistake that tanked my pitch response rate (like… 2% 😅)
• Why I didn’t spiral—even though I easily could have
• The truth about landing deals (spoiler: perfection is NOT required)
• A mindset exercise that will literally change how you show up in your business

The Situation (aka what went wrong)

In Q1, I wasn’t landing as many UGC deals from pitching.
Which was weird… because pitching is usually a big part of how I land paid stays and brand deals.

So I dug into the data and realized:
👉 My VA had been sending ~1,000 pitches
👉 But ONLY to hotels, tourism boards, and experiences
👉 Using a pitch meant for product-based brands

Yeah… not ideal, so I am going to help you today with a 3 step mindset change to keep you positive and going in your UGC journey.

Because real talk, being a content creator is not just about aesthetics and brand deals, it’s about resilience.

The difference between people who “make it” and people who don’t?
👉 They don’t spiral over every setback.

They adapt. They adjust. They move.

🎧 Loved this episode?
Share it with a friend, screenshot it, and tag me—let’s normalize the real side of building a UGC business.

See you next Monday 💋

For Talented A.F. Podcast Production:

Follow: @yourgirlmedia

Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com

🏔 Ready to start hitting consistent 4-figure months? Sign Up For UGC Basecamp—podcast listeners get 25% off for life: https://app.heartbeat.chat/ugcmastermind/invitation?code=4AFJA2&promo_code=SAVE25#landing-page

Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach

3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator

Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclas

FREE 50+ UGC Ad Examples Library

🏔 Ready to start hitting consistent 4-figure months? Sign Up For UGC Basecamp and save 25% OFF: https://app.heartbeat.chat/ugcmastermind/invitation?code=4AFJA2&promo_code=SAVE25#landing-page

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down my full Q1 income as a content creator—every deal, every brand, where it came from, and how much I charged. And the best part? I did this working part-time hours.

We’re talking UGC, brand deals, paid stays, inbound leads, and how this all adds up to a $10K+ quarter… without grinding 24/7.

Let’s get into it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How I made $10,420 in Q1 as a UGC content creator
• The exact breakdown of brand deals, deliverables, and pricing
• Where my deals came from (inbounds, returning clients, pitching)
• How I structure ad usage + monetization in my contracts
• Why I don’t do UGC full-time—and how I still make great money
• The role of paid stays + gifted experiences in your income
• My average hourly rate (this might surprise you 👀)

Let’s Talk Numbers (Because I Know You Want Them):

• January: $2,870 (+ a gifted resort stay)
• February: $3,175
• March: $4,375
• Total Q1 Income: $10,420
• Avg. Hourly Rate: ~$110/hour

Working ~8 hours/week.

🎙️ 👉 Want real travel creator strategies (not viral fluff)? Check out the Travel Creator Podcast with Laura Haley.

For Talented A.F. Podcast Production:

Follow: @yourgirlmedia

Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com

🏔 Ready to start hitting consistent 4-figure months? Sign Up For UGC Basecamp: https://app.heartbeat.chat/ugcmastermind/invitation?code=4AFJA2&promo_code=SAVE30

Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach

3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator

Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclas

FREE 50+ UGC Ad Examples Library

If you’ve ever wondered how the hell creators actually make money without having 100K followers and are able to do this full time? This episode is your cheat code.

Today is a episode swap with Laura Haley from the Travel Creator Podcast to talk about monetization as a content creator — UGC, affiliate, influencer partnerships, group trips, digital products… all of it.

And she’s here to tell you exactly what works right now — especially if you’re a travel creator trying to make this your full-time thing.

We dive into:

• The REAL ways content creators make money

Maddy breaks down every single path she’s used over the years:

• UGC (user-generated content)
• Micro-influencer partnerships
• Affiliate marketing
• Hosting group trips
• Digital products + coaching

If you’ve been thinking you need a massive audience to monetize — this episode will change your mind.

• Why UGC is the BEST place to start (especially for travel creators)
• Growing into bigger monetization as content creators
• Are group trips worth it for travel creators?
• Why Digital products are the most underrated monetization tool

Connect with Laura:

• Travel Creator Podcast
• Follow her @travelcontentwriting
• Check our her membership: Travel Content Business Plan to get one step closer to quitting your job to become a full time content creator

For Talented A.F. Podcast Production:

Follow: @yourgirlmedia

Find us: www.yourgirlmedia.com

🏔 Ready to start hitting consistent 4-figure months? Sign Up For UGC Basecamp—podcast listeners get 25% off for life: https://app.heartbeat.chat/ugcmastermind/invitation?code=4AFJA2&promo_code=SAVE25#landing-page

Follow Me on Instagram: @maddyoutdoors.coach

3-Month UGC Accelerator Program: https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator

Free UGC Masterclass: I've distilled my 3-month process into an easy-to-understand training that will give you clarity on your next steps to becoming a successful UGC creator, so you can work less and travel more! https://maddygarrett.myflodesk.com/accelerator-masterclas

FREE 50+ UGC Ad Examples Library