Sharlene Mariano
📷 UGC Creator
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📍 Toronto, ON
Sharlene is a wife and mom of two. She studied Kinesiology and Occupational and Physiotherapy Assistance. After spending seven years in sales, she decided to pursue UGC full-time.
Why did you choose a UGC path instead of being employed?
Being self-employed has been one of the biggest blessings for my family and me. I’m able to work my own hours, anywhere and at any time, which allows me to spend more time with my family.
Is UGC a good career path for moms of small children?
Yes, 100%! I always encourage pursuing UGC, even if it’s just a side hustle. I was able to make my yearly corporate salary within just 8 months of creating UGC, with lots of hard work and dedication. Because of my flexible schedule, I can cater to my little one's needs at any given time and spend true quality time. It means the world to me to have this privilege because I know how quickly moments become memories.
What sets you apart from other UGC creators? Is it difficult to be unique in this space?
While many people are pursuing becoming UGC creators, it can be tricky to get noticed by brands or agencies. I believe what sets me apart is my work ethic, dedication to content creation, and meeting deadlines ahead of time. I also receive a lot of feedback from brands that I have a “face-time-like” camera presence, which helps capture their target audience. Underpromising and over-delivering has been my bread and butter, allowing me to land more deals and recurring work. I believe everyone can offer a unique delivery in the UGC space, whether it’s excellent editing skills or a different style of storytelling; it’s all about finding and mastering what YOU are really good at and showcasing it.
Do clients find you, or do you have to actively seek them out? Or is it more like 50/50?
Clients usually find me on X (Twitter) and reach out by email, but most of the work I receive is from previous collaborations I’ve done.
How do you come up with content ideas that resonate with the audiences of your clients?
I like to dive deep into the brand’s social media pages, landing pages, products or services offered, and previous content they’ve posted to get a feel for their vibe. I also like to browse through TikTok Creative Center or Meta Ads catalog to see what’s reaching an audience similar to the brand’s target audience. The comment sections and review pages can also be great areas to find real users sharing their feedback, which helps me find a problem-solution combo to create a video about.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far?
Taking breaks is key in avoiding burnout and allocating time efficiently to meet deadlines, without feeling overwhelmed.