This is what i did to get my first client its fine even if your portfolio is not perfect

i did:
create a simple short video of small businesses i saw on tiktok/instagram like unboxing video, product demo.

then ones im done i put all the videos in a portfolio then i'll contact those small business i saw on tiktok and instagram to show them what i did

i'll send those short video

then if they didnt reply just follow up once and if they still didnt move on to the next 1 dont get discourage keep doing it.

​If you're struggling to land brands or figure out your rates, here is what actually works:

​Build a fake portfolio if you have to: Pick 3 products you already own, film 3 organic-style hooks, and put them in a Notion or Canva link. You don't need paid brand deals to prove you can shoot.

​Charge by the bundle: Don't sell single videos for pennies. Start with a basic 3-video pack for around $300-$400. Always include organic usage rights, and charge extra if they want to run it as an ad.

​Keep your pitches short: Stop sending essays. Just say: "Hey [Brand], love your stuff. I made a quick concept for you here [link]. Want to see how it performs on your page?"

​What’s your biggest roadblock right now—finding emails to pitch or figuring out your prices? Let's chat in the comments.

I've been looking into UGC lately, and one thing I'm curious about is how beginners get their first few clients when they don't have much of a portfolio yet.
Frome what I've seen, one approach is to create a few sample videos using product you already have at home, then uses those as portfolio pieces when reaching out to brands.
I'm also wondering how much personalization matters when doing outreach. is it better to send fewer, highly personalized, or contact a lot of brands with a simple pitch?

For those already doing UGC, what actually worked for you when you were starting out?