If you’ve got a video production in the pipeline and you’re not sure whether you and your team have the skills or time to give it the finishing touches it deserves, it might be time to outsource video editing.

There are several ways to do this, and choosing the right one is a matter of identifying your needs and weighing up the strengths of each. 

Video editing outsourcing can save you time and increase the value of your work, ultimately leading to more powerful content and recovery of the costs of outsourcing in the first place.

But, only if you know what to look for in a video editor. Luckily, we’ve got you covered!

Here’s a short guide on why you might want to, what you’ll need to keep a look out for, and where to look… 

Some of the Reasons you Might Want to Outsource Video Editing

Let’s get straight to the point, video editing can be a nightmare for the unprepared. If it happens to be what you’re good at and you enjoy doing it, you likely wouldn’t be here reading this article. So let’s break down the three main reasons you might want to outsource video editing on your project:

• Time – Obviously, regardless of your skills and available technology, your time is valuable, and you might not have a lot of it. Outsourcing your editing means you can spend your time getting the perfect shots, and when you hand them over, you know they’ll be pieced together to tell your story with as little intervention from you as you like.
  
  This may even mean you have more time to collect the raw footage or design the storyline or work on other elements of your business entirely.  

• Quality – Even if you put the time into the editing work, you might not be rewarded with the quality you were hoping for. Editing is a tricky skill that can take years to get good at; at least to the level of professionalism that many business-related media departments expect. Choosing to outsource video editing could guarantee you the high caliber work you’re looking for. 

• Talent – This is usually an afterthought, but the perspectives of the video editor come into play too. Outsourcing to someone who shares your vision is a great way to make your project come alive in the way you want it to, and talent plays a huge role in this. Of course, skills make the video a quality piece of content, but the talent is what shape the way it plays out in the eyes of the audience. 

Finding the right editor for your needs means you’ll be benefitting from a wealth of experience as well as a fresh mind who may be able to impart some magic to your work. At the very least, it’ll take countless hours of work off your hands.

There’s also the fact that you’d be supporting a team of struggling video editors who desperately need the work in a post-pandemic environment, but that’s more of a bonus than a motivation. 

So, if you’ve decided to go ahead, what are you going to be looking for in a video editor?

What to Look for when Considering Video Editing Outsourcing

This is going to depend on the details of the project at hand. A lengthy and detailed product demonstration video is going to have some very different requirements to a dazzling sales letter or TV advertisement. To know what to look for, you’re going to have to know what you want. Here are some examples of what to consider when looking to outsource video editing work:

• Price – This is an obvious one. Does the cost of the work match your budget? Consider that it may take at least one hour for each minute of the finished project, so factor this time into your calculations to get an estimate of the lower end, and weigh it against the level of skill needed for your particular project. Obviously, the more advanced the job, the more it’ll cost you.  

• Style – You’ll have a vision in mind, and you’ll want reassurance that this vision is going to be respected by the editor. This is something that will take time to translate to a person, and if you’re shopping around for a video editor, you’ll probably come across many who just don’t get it. Make sure to find someone who understands the story you’re telling.  

• Speed – If you’re paying by the hour, this one is doubly critical. Look for someone with the right balance of skill and speed, and who is transparent and honest about how long things take. Watch out for people who promise to work in unrealistic timeframes. 

If you’re expecting ongoing projects of a similar nature, then you’ll also want to look for an editor or team of editors who will be able to form a reliable and comfortable working relationship with you, which will help when it comes to learning your vision. 

Example Platforms for Video Editing Services

With all that in mind, we’ve shortlisted three approaches you can take to outsource video editing work. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and the right one for you will depend on your requirements.

Take a look:

• Video Production platforms – Platforms like EditMate can be a great option if you want quick access to professional video editors when you need them. Choose between a single project or a package deal and get access to a dedicated video editor, a streamlined system for managing your project, and multiple revisions. EditMate can also help you with collecting additional footage sourced from your customers, fans, or employees.  

• Freelancer – Freelancers are another option for single or multiple projects but they may be limited in how quickly they can work, and you may have to shop around. When looking for the right freelancer, make sure they have a portfolio for you to look at, and be sure they understand your vision before you commit. 

This approach may work well for you if you have time to shop around, but won’t be suitable if you’re in a hurry.

• New Hires – If you have a particularly gargantuan project, or you’ll be making ongoing video productions for the foreseeable future, it might be a good idea to hire an editor for your in-house team. A new hire will be expensive (base salaries average around $48,000 per year in the US), but less costly for long-term work and can learn exactly what you want as they gather experience from working with you. You’ll also be able to shop around for someone with your desired skill set.
  
  This approach may be the one that takes the longest, however, as hiring top talent is very time-consuming. 

So, each option has its pros and cons and will serve you best depending on your budget, time constraints, and the specific skillset required to finish your work. 

Conclusion

Over the last several years, video has gone from being a want to a need for businesses all over the world. Video is booming as an online medium and has become the way all brands communicate, advertise, market, and stay connected with both their external community and internal team.

Video editing outsourcing is a timesaver that could vastly improve the effectiveness of your visual media. If you’re not a professional editor and your video is important, it’s probably better to send that work to someone who is. 

A qualified editor can craft your raw footage into content that tells a story, that gets a message across, and that resonates with your audience in the way you imagined it would. To figure out if outsourcing is the right path, weigh up your budget with your expected return, and then scout for the talent it takes. 

Whether this means hunting for freelancing, onboarding a permanent editor, or making use of the range of video editing services online, is up to you, and the specific needs of your project.

Do you need help with video editing? Contact Us to learn how EditMate can help.