The techniques video editors use for editing their content can shape the success and failure of a project. Editors are keenly aware of how people think, remember and learn, and use this to create moving and powerful stories.
As an editor, you are a storyteller and should treat every cut or transition as precisely as a writer does with words or a composer does with music.
With that in mind, here are 9 effective and simple video editing tips that can help your video content become more impactful and meaningful.
- Choosing the right software: Picking the right software sounds blindingly obvious, but it is crucial for producing the best work. The majority of software is similar, but one may be better than another depending on your tastes and preferences be it Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or Avid Media Composer. Being comfortable with your editing will help the entire creative process.
- Learn and use keyboard shortcuts: One of the ways to differentiate new or budding video editors from experienced campaigners is in the use of their keyboard. Editors who have been in the game for a while know that every second adds up. Learning how to use keyboard shortcuts can really increase efficiency and productivity. If you really want to step it up, simply buying an keyboard designed for video editing could also be an option.
- Tell a story: When creating your video, make sure it has a well thought out structure. Storyboard it before starting anything. Viewers are much more likely to engage with an interesting and genuine story.
- Pick your stories hero: While you’re editing, ask yourself how each scene is progressing and adding to the story. The subject of your video should be considered the ‘hero’. For a corporate video, the hero might be an interviewee or the audience watching. Make your hero go on a journey – even if that is simply struggling until they find the right skin lotion.
- Use Square ‘1:1’ format: A study on Buffer Social shows that videos in a 1:1 outperform landscape videos by 30-35%, so editing videos in that format should help engage your customer base, especially on Facebook.
- Use high resolution: Use high-resolution of at least 1080p HD, or 720p if you are really concerned about load speed. It has never been easier to produce high-quality videos, so in order to stand out you must match the competition in order to better the competition.
- Add captions to your video: Regardless of where your videos will live, they need an attractive writeup to boost engagement. Whether the title, description or even in the thumbnail, don’t skimp on this last step.
- Make the first 10 seconds count: In this high-octane modern world of short attention spans, it’s critical to make the first 3-10 seconds impactful. A quarter of people will simply turn off after 20 seconds, so focusing on that time scale is a necessity.
- Take some space from edit: When focussing on any task in forensic detail, it is easy to get muddled and miss crucial details. Step back and take a break. Returning with a fresh pair of eyes can help the creative space.
The key takeaway from this video is that video marketing is a great way to engage a new and receptive audience while building a customer base. Now is the perfect time to figure out what your audience enjoys most and create video content.
If you are interested in video editing, please check out ReviewStudio, a top rated online proofing tool, which is ideal for viewing, markup and approving video, images and PDF files.
