UGC portfolio glow-Up: 7 fixes that will get you hired in 2026

Hi creators 👋

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It’s that time of year again: January. The month of fresh starts, new routines, and the “okay this is my year” energy. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably going into 2026 thinking: right, I want consistent UGC work this year.‍

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But if you’ve been applying to briefs on Twirl and it’s still feeling a bit… quiet, it’s not always your content that’s the issue. A lot of the time, it’s your portfolio.

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Brands on Twirl scan fast. They’re comparing a lot of creators at once, and they’re making decisions based on what’s easiest to understand in the first few seconds. So one of the smartest things you can do early in 2026 is give your portfolio a quick glow-up, so your best work is immediately obvious.Let’s get into it.

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1) Start with an intro video that screams you

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On Twirl, your intro video is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It’s your first impression, and brands decide quickly whether they want to keep watching or move on.

Keep it 20–30 seconds, and think of it as a highlight reel that shows your full skill set:

• talking to camera (so they can see confidence + clarity)
• voiceover (so they know you can carry ad messaging)
• b-roll (so they can see clean filming)
• editing (so they know you can deliver ad-ready pacing)

Most importantly: pin it right at the top of your Twirl portfolio. Don’t bury it.

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2) Make your best work impossible to miss

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This is one of the biggest reasons creators don’t land Twirl jobs: their strongest videos aren’t visible straight away.

Brands aren’t scrolling your portfolio like they’re casually browsing TikTok. They’re scanning it like they’re trying to make a decision before their next meeting.

So do this:

• put your best 6–10 videos right at the top
• don’t start with “filler” content
• don’t lead with clips that are just “fine”

A good rule: if a brand only watches your first three videos, would you still feel confident they’d book you?

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3) Choose videos that show style and range (without looking random)

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Twirl briefs can be all over the place, skincare one day, apps the next, then food, then fitness. So you want your portfolio to show you can adapt.

But range doesn’t mean chaos.

Aim for a portfolio that feels like: “This creator clearly has a style… and they can apply it to different brands.”

That usually looks like a mix of:

• testimonial/review
• problem/solution
• routine-style content
• educational “here’s what I learned”
• plus a couple of strong b-roll moments to show visuals

If you’re multi-niche, that can actually help you on Twirl, just keep the thread consistent: your delivery, your pacing, your vibe.

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4) Use the “Can you hear me, can you see me?” test

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This is the checklist I always come back to when deciding what belongs in a Twirl portfolio:

• Can you hear me clearly?
• Can you see me clearly?
  

And not “it’s fine”… I mean genuinely good lighting and clean audio.

Then ask:

• Does something happen in the first 2–3 seconds that makes it engaging?
• Do the visuals feel professional (framing, product shots, background, clarity)?

On Twirl, this matters even more because brands might only watch a few seconds before they decide whether you’re a contender.

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5) Prioritise VO and TTC (because that’s what wins Twirl briefs)

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Aesthetic clips with music can work, but on Twirl, brands are usually hiring for ad-style content. They want creators who can communicate naturally, deliver a message clearly, and hold attention.

So the majority of your portfolio should be:

• voiceover ads
• talking to camera
• testimonial-style
• problem/solution storytelling

If you include aesthetic-only videos, keep them as a bonus, and only include the ones that look truly premium.

Also: a basic unboxing with no story usually doesn’t help you win jobs. Brands want to see that you can sell the narrative, not just show the packaging.

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6) Keep it tight: less is more on Twirl

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This might sound counterintuitive, but more videos doesn’t always make you look more experienced. On Twirl especially, too many clips can dilute your best work and make your portfolio harder to judge quickly.

A strong Twirl portfolio is often:

• 8–10 great examples
• updated regularly
• with your best work placed first

You can always rotate clips depending on what kind of briefs you want more of.

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7) Make your “About Me” section easy to skim, but actually memorable

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Your About Me isn’t just there to be polite, it’s there to help a brand justify choosing you. Try to avoid generic lines like “I’m passionate about content.” That doesn’t differentiate you.

Instead, make it specific and skimmable. Bullet points are totally fine here, as long as the content feels like you:

• what you’re known for (your style or your “thing”)
• what formats you’re strongest in (crazy editing, high energy content, comedy?)
• what niches you genuinely understand
• anything that makes you easier to book (fast turnaround, bilingual, couple content, a pet?)

If you want to get Twirl jobs consistently, your USPs matter. A brand should instantly know what makes you a better fit than the next creator.

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Final reminder

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Your Twirl portfolio isn’t there to prove you can make content. It’s there to make a brand think: “This creator will deliver ads-ready UGC that actually performs, and they’ll be easy to work with.”

That’s what gets the yes in 2026 ✨

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