A Creative Strategist’s Guide to TryBe: Sourcing Creator Videos for Brands and Agencies
By Sammy Rodrigo, founder of Sammy Jane Marketing
Why It Matters
Sammy Rodrigo breaks down TryBe, a commission-based creator UGC platform, for brands and agencies looking to build a repeatable creator-sourcing pipeline instead of one-off influencer outreach.
No subscription cost structure: brands pay 1.5% of attributed GMV, 1.25% of ad spend, or 1.5% of creator earnings, depending on the program type, so cost scales with results.
The brief structure matters most. A master brief with 5+ tested personas and hooks lets creators self-select the angle that fits them, producing more authentic content than top-down scripting.
Practical workflow details carry real performance weight: prioritizing creators with 60%+ approval ratings, maxing daily invite credits early, requesting re-films instead of denials, and tagging every video with a unique ID for Meta attribution.
Launching video ads from TryBe directly into Meta (vs. manual upload) improves attribution, and stacking TryBe's video ID into both the landing page URL and Meta's tracking field increases tracking reliability.
Expect a 2-4 week runway from account setup to first video, so this is a pipeline to build ahead of a creative refresh, not a same-week fix.
Who This Is For
This practical playbook is a valuable resource for Foxwell Founders members who are running or expanding a UGC creator program. Whether you're deciding between TryBe and other sourcing platforms, or still handling creators manually, this guide offers helpful insights. If you're a media buyer or creative strategist working to keep a whitelisting or partner ad pipeline filled, you'll find detailed advice here on invite management, pay structures, and Meta tracking setup. It's the kind of operational knowledge that Founders members love to share and discuss within their community.
If you’re just getting started on TryBe or want a friendly, practical introduction, you’re in the right place. This blog will walk you through setting up your brand or agency account, building creator programs, managing relationships, and launching successful ads, all from an e-commerce creative strategist's real-world experience.
1. Account Creation
Brands:
Sign up for a commission-based account. You only pay when you see results, with no monthly subscription fees to worry about.
Fees: 1.5% of attributed GMV (Gross Merchandise Value) for sales-based programs, 1.25% of ad spend for ad performance, or 1.5% of creator earnings for flat-rate payments.
You can work directly in a brand account, or invite agency partners to manage your programs.
Agencies:
Set up a partner account and invite brands to collaborate.
This structure allows you to take a commission from brand revenue generated by TryBe creator videos.
If your payment structure is different (e.g., a retainer), it’s currently easiest to manage videos through the brand accounts.
2. Creating Programs & Uploading Briefs
Once your account is live, go to the “Creators” tab and click “Programs.” Here’s where you:
Create a program for creators to apply to
Pro tip: Create one program per product or pay structure since you can only upload one brief per program.
Set up your pay structure
Upload your creative brief
Creative Briefs:
Make a master brief: Include your brand overview, key product features, and 5 proven personas with hooks or angles to test.
Instruct creators to choose the angle/persona that fits them best. This generates authentic, high-performing content.
List up to 10 angles or personas with descriptions. The more detail you provide, the easier it is for creators to pick the one that fits them best.
For specific scripts or angles, chat directly with creators after they’ve joined.
3. Pay Structures That Work
TryBe is commission or asset-based. You decide how to pay:
Commission only (e.g., 10% of GMV)
Per video (e.g., $60 per video + 15% of GMV, max $7k)
Flat fee per order or submission
Meta ad performance
Pro Tip: Some creators prefer at least a partial upfront payment. If you want to test different payout methods, create separate programs for each. Note: If a creator rejects your invite, TryBe doesn’t share the reason, but pay structure is often a factor.
4. Inviting & Managing Creators
Use the “Discovery” tab to filter creators by approval rating, age, submission rate, commissions, and interests. I recommend prioritizing those with >60% video approval.
Max out your daily invite credits (10-12/day, maybe more with payment) for the first 1-2 weeks to build your creator pool fast.
Under “Inbox,” see who requests to join your program (often newer creators). Track invites, acceptances, and rejections in the “Invited” tab.
5. Communication is Key
Set up a chat for approved creators. This is a great place to share brand values, creative briefs, and examples of winning ads.
Make new creators feel welcome and take time to build genuine relationships. These connections will really pay off over time.
Use chat to request new videos with specific hooks or scripts after reviewing initial submissions.
You could figure this out alone, or you could ask the people already running it. Foxwell Founders is where agency and brand owners compare notes in real time.
6. Product Approvals & Video Submissions
Creators must request a product sample after joining your program. Approve or deny requests under “Creators – Samples.” This syncs with your Shopify store for order fulfillment.
Review submitted videos under “Submissions.” You can approve, deny, or request revisions. Each video gets a unique ID for accurate attribution in Meta ads.
If you spot minor issues in a video, request a re-film rather than denying it. This approach helps keep your creator relationships strong.
7. Editing & Uploading Videos
If you need to edit a submitted video, download it, edit it, and re-upload it as a new asset. This assigns a fresh video ID and helps creators understand your editing preferences.
8. Launching Ads: TryBe vs. Meta
Launching from TryBe:
Download approved videos or launch them directly into Meta from the platform for better attribution.
Only use one primary ad copy or headline. Adding more turns the ad into a flexible format, which can affect engagement tracking.
Launching from Meta:
Ensure the video has its unique TryBe video ID.
Add ?trybe=[video ID] to your landing page URL for tracking, or use Meta’s tracking field with trybe=[video ID]. Adding both increases tracking reliability.
9. Whitelist / Partner Ads
Request partner access to creator accounts under “Creators” to launch videos as partner ads directly from your Facebook ad account.
Approved requests show the creator’s IG handle for easy collaboration.
10. Optimizing & Scaling
After 1-2 months, you’ll identify top-performing creators. Consider sending them specific video ideas or scripts and try different payment structures for ongoing partnerships.
Track every video and its ID in a spreadsheet, including details like persona, hooks, edits, launch status, and results.
Regularly check Facebook and TryBe data to ensure tracking and attribution are aligned.
Plan for 2–4 weeks from setting up your account to receiving your first video. This gives everyone time for invites, approvals, shipping, and any needed revisions along the way.
Final Tips & Support
Stay patient and proactive as you grow your creator pool. Investing time and energy early on will set you up for long-term success.
If you need a walkthrough or want full management support, reach out for help!
TryBe can be a game-changer for creative strategists, brands, and agencies willing to invest in the process. Happy creating!
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