Why 2025 Is the Year of the Creator (And How to Get In Early)

Your Work. Your Voice. Your Year.

AI is having its moment, but real content, the kind created by actual humans, is more valuable than ever. That’s why we’re building something for creators who lead with trust, not trends. At Monarch, we’re launching a new kind of UGC Creator Network, one that puts connection, creativity, and collaboration at the center of everything.

This year, we’re opening the door for creators who know how to tell a story, showcase a product naturally, and engage their audience with authenticity. It doesn’t matter if you have a million followers or a hundred. What matters is that you understand what makes content feel honest, relatable, and real.

We’re not just looking for polished influencers. We’re looking for the everyday storytellers who bring meaning to the feed. And if that sounds like you, keep reading.

Why We Start with Gifted Collaborations

There’s a conversation we often have when we reach out to new creators. We offer a gifted collaboration first. It’s an opportunity to receive a product in exchange for content and the immediate reply is, “Here are my rates.” Which, to be fair, we understand. Creators deserve to be paid for their work. But the reality is, when someone is brand new to our roster and hasn’t built a portfolio or shown what kind of results their content drives, we can’t always justify a paid campaign from the start.

Gifted collaborations are how we get to know you. Not just your aesthetic, but how you communicate, how you collaborate, and whether you can deliver what the brand actually needs. We’ve had too many experiences where creators were brought in at a high price point, only to miss deadlines, ignore briefs, or ghost entirely. It’s frustrating, especially when there’s real budget on the line and a brand relying on that content to perform.

So, here’s how we handle it. If we haven’t worked with you before, we start with a gifted opportunity. You’ll receive a product, create a piece of content based on a clear brief, and that gives us a window into how you work. No, we’re not asking for a cinematic masterpiece. We’re looking for effort, creativity, and a willingness to collaborate. Nothing more, nothing less.

And truthfully? The creators who are open to that process tend to be the ones our brands want to work with again and again. They’re flexible, easy to communicate with, and invested in building something that benefits everyone. If the content performs well, it often leads to paid opportunities. Brands will come back for usage rights, additional content, or full campaigns. That single gifted video might turn into a long-term relationship.

The Path to Paid

Once you’re in the network and have shown what you can do, paid campaigns follow naturally. We work with clients who run regular social proof campaigns (monthly and quarterly) and when we’ve seen that you can deliver, we’re quick to offer flat-rate or tiered compensation based on the scope of the project. Sometimes we even have affiliate opportunities with ad spend built in, where your influence directly contributes to your earnings. If your video drives conversions, your payout reflects that.

We know the value of good content. We also know that great collaborators make great campaigns. And that’s who we’re here to champion.

The Paid Monarch Brand Host Opportunity

We’re currently recruiting our next Monarch Brand Host for the fall season. If you’re not sure what a Brand Host is, read this blog and meet our current host, Christina.

Christina is everything we love in a creator. She’s grounded, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in what she shares. Her delivery is always on time (often early) and she brings her own creativity to the role, which has made every campaign feel fresh and impactful. Since she stepped in, we’ve already seen stronger results and deeper engagement across the board.

This is a paid, rotating role that we fill every three months, and we give priority to creators we’ve collaborated with before. That’s one of the reasons we often start with a gifted partnership. It gives us a clear sense of how you work, communicate, and create.

If you’re someone who takes pride in your content and values real connection, we’d love to get to know you. Let’s begin with one great piece of content and see where it leads.

Want In?

We’re growing a network that reflects the future of content. Creator-first, community-driven, and rooted in real relationships. If that resonates, we want you to be part of it.

Subscribe to our Creator Opportunities Email List to be the first to hear about new campaigns, exclusive projects, and casting calls for everything from one-off reels to recurring brand roles. You’ll find our signup link pinned across our platforms. 

2025 is the year of the creator. Not the algorithm. Not the trend cycle. The creator. And we’d love for you to be part of what we’re building next.