She Made Brand Videos 15 Hours a Week Next to Her Marketing Job — It Brought In $142,000 in a Year
3 min read · RealCase summary
Kelly Rocklein worked in corporate marketing from August 2018 to August 2023, earning a six-figure salary. On the side she made user-generated content — short, authentic-looking videos brands use in ads and social feeds — after a failed startup in 2021 left her with $25,000 of debt, according to CNBC Make It.
Referrals kept bringing in clients, and by 2022 the side hustle brought in more than $142,000 in a year while she spent about 15 hours a week scripting, filming and editing. Intermediate creators like her, she said, charge about $500 to $750 per 20-to-60-second video.
When she was laid off in August 2023, she went full time on the business, now called UGC Pro, adding consulting, courses and mentoring. Combined revenue reached $233,000 in 2024 on 20 to 30 hours a week, at an 80-85% profit margin. 'I've actually never felt safer in my career trajectory and in my financial security,' the 30-year-old in Bend, Oregon, said.
Key takeaways
- ›About 15 hours a week on the side hustle while employed full time
- ›$142,000 in side hustle revenue in 2022
- ›$233,000 in combined business revenue in 2024, at an 80-85% margin
- ›Creators at her level charge $500-$750 per 20-60 second video
Original source
Read the original (CNBC Make It via NBC New York)
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