Landing your first UGC client is a milestone. Turning prospecting into a steady weekly habit is what pays the rent. In Brazil, where brands of every size are pouring budget into short vertical video, the opportunity is real, but it does not knock on your door by itself. Ongoing outreach is a system: a list of brands worth contacting, a reason for them to reply, and a follow-up rhythm that stays warm without turning into spam. Here is how to run it in the Brazilian market.

Build a target list worth working

Random outreach burns your energy. Start with a living list of 30 to 50 Brazilian brands you could genuinely help, kept in a simple spreadsheet with the brand name, the Instagram handle, the decision maker if you can find one, and a one line note on your angle. Prioritize brands that already run paid social or post creator style content, because they understand UGC and have a budget line for it. Look for these signals when you decide who goes on the list:

  • Brands running Reels or TikToks with a "Patrocinado" or "Parceria paga" label, proof they already buy media.
  • Growing e-commerce stores on Shopee, Mercado Livre or Nuvemshop that ship products people film easily.
  • Brazilian DTC names in beauty, fitness, food and pet care, where authentic testimonials convert.
  • Businesses posting stiff studio footage, because your natural UGC is an obvious upgrade.
  • Agencies and brands that recently hired other creators, a sign the budget already exists.

Add a few names every week so the list never runs dry, and archive anyone who says a hard no.

Warm the ground before you pitch

A cold message lands better when you are not a total stranger. For a week before you write, engage with the brand like a real person: a specific comment, a reply to a story, a share of a post you genuinely like. In Brazil relationships carry weight, and this quiet warm up means your name is familiar when your message arrives. Warm intros beat cold ones every time, so ask your clients and creator friends whether they know anyone at the brands on your list. A line like "a mutual friend mentioned you work with creators" opens more doors than any clever hook. WhatsApp and Telegram creator groups are full of people who can introduce you, so be useful there and referrals will come back.

Write cold messages that actually get replies

The mistake most creators make is talking about themselves. Flip it. Open with the brand, name one specific thing you would make for them, and keep it short enough to read on a phone in ten seconds. On Instagram, a good DM is a warm opener referencing their latest launch, one concrete idea ("a 20 second unboxing Reel for your new serum"), and a single link to your portfolio. On LinkedIn, which reaches marketing managers and founders at bigger Brazilian companies, stay a touch more formal and lead with the business outcome, more conversions from paid social. Whatever the channel, write in Portuguese unless the brand clearly operates in English, personalize every message, and never paste the same block to everyone. Use one clear call to action: ask if you can send two spec ideas, not "let me know your thoughts."

Follow up without becoming annoying

Most deals live in the follow up, and most creators quit after one try. Silence is rarely a no, it is usually a busy inbox. Wait three or four business days, then send a short, friendly nudge that adds something new rather than repeating yourself: a fresh idea, a clip you just made, or a note tied to their latest post. Two or three follow ups over two weeks is a healthy rhythm. If there is still nothing, send one polite closing message that leaves the door open, then move that brand to a "later" column and re-approach in a couple of months. Track every touch in your spreadsheet so you know who is due for a nudge and who to leave alone. Persistent and respectful is the balance that wins in Brazil.

Turn a reply into a paid job

A reply is not a booking, it is an opening you can lose by fumbling. Respond fast, within a few hours if you can, while their interest is hot. Ask two or three quick questions about the goal, the product and where the video will run, then send your packages with clear prices, deliverables and turnaround. Put usage rights in writing, because a video the brand runs as paid traffic for months is worth more than an organic post. Suggest a small paid test as an easy yes for a first time buyer. Handle money like a professional: offer a MEI invoice if they need one, and take payment through Pix tied to your business or a marketplace that holds funds until delivery, never a vague promise of exposure. Deliver on time or early, then ask for the next job before you leave the conversation.

Prospecting is not a lucky strike, it is a weekly loop: refresh the list, warm the ground, send sharp messages, follow up with patience and convert replies into signed work. Do it every week and your pipeline stops depending on luck. If you are still setting up the foundations that make brands say yes, our guide on how to become a UGC creator walks through everything that comes before the pitch.

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Sources

Checked on 26 August 2026. Thresholds and rates change: where this guide and the official source disagree, the official source is right.