In today’s competitive environment, having a well-rounded marketing strategy is a must. Videos are one of the most powerful weapons in a marketer’s arsenal, helping them engage and convert their target audience. According to data, videos with professional editing have a 20% higher retention rate than poorly edited videos. If you’re running a business, you should spend your time on activities that matter most, and let experts take care of marketing. If you’re not sure how to hire a video editor, this post is all you need. Let’s get started.
Understand Your Video Editing Needs
The first thing you should be doing is understanding your video editing and marketing needs. See if you can use video editing software to automate some of your tasks, then hire someone who’s good with that software. This will depend on your style, budget, and desired editing features. Capcut, for example, is a simple yet powerful tool that helps you create and edit video content with ease. You also don’t need to have a supercomputer to use CapCut smoothly.
Some important questions you need to ask yourself before hiring a video editor are:
- How many videos do you need per month?
- What’s your budget per month or per project?
- Do you want to create short-form videos, long-form videos, or both?
Key Skills to Look for in a Video Editor
Not all video editors are worth working with. Plus, not everyone is going to be a good fit for your video marketing needs. Here are the top skills you need to evaluate before hiring one.
Technical Skills
There are plenty of video editing platforms out there. You don’t need someone who’s good at all of them. The more important thing is that they’re able to tackle your video projects. You can check their video editing skills by looking at their past projects or asking for a small test task. The audio is a crucial part of any video, so make sure they know how to clean the background noise and enhance the audio for better clarity.
Creative Skills
Video editing isn’t always about trimming and putting together clips. It’s also about pacing and adding transitions to help you tell your stories more effectively. In addition to that, a good video editor pays attention to the details. Do their videos have smooth transitions? How do they use overlay text to hook and engage viewers?
Soft Skills
One of the most important soft skills an employee or a freelancer can have is effective communication. Even if they’re excellent at the technical stuff, ineffective communication can lead to confusion and inefficiencies. Also, you want to hire someone with a good track record of on-time delivery to make sure they’re reliable.
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Where to Find Video Editors
There’s no shortage of digital platforms to find a video marketing specialist, which is why it can be tricky to look in the right places. Let’s talk about the most prominent and safe ones.
Freelance Platforms
Freelance platforms are probably the most natural choice for hiring, whether you’re hiring long-term or project-basis. According to Upwork, freelancers can save up to 30% by hiring freelancers over agencies. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork provide a safe and professional environment for companies and freelancers to conduct business. There’s a lower chance of fraud since the interactions are regulated and standardized. However, you still need to be cautious.
Job Boards
Job boards like Indeed and Social Media Jobs are great places to hire for a long-term role. And, LinkedIn is a professional social media platform where many companies hire talent with confidence. Lastly, you can explore Facebook groups related to video editing to find someone who can help you with your video marketing projects.
Referrals and Networking
Many companies and businesses hire people purely based on referrals because of a trust factor attached to them. Look around in your circle, such as fellow professionals or business partners, and ask them if they know a good video editor. In addition, start networking in relevant online communities to build your trust as an employer. As you interact and engage with the right people, more prospects will reach out to you to offer their services.
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How to Evaluate Candidates
As soon as you have a potential candidate, it’s time to evaluate them for the role. Here are the things you should do before making the final hiring decision.
Review their Portfolio
Look at the projects they’ve done for other people in the past. See if they’re experienced in creating and editing the type of videos you need for your projects, and if they’ve worked with businesses in your industry.
Conduct an Interview
Once you’ve identified a few prospects, it’s time to ask them a few questions face-to-face. This doesn’t have to be a 45-minute interview. A short interview with the most important questions is enough since you already know about them before the interview.
Onboarding a Video Editor
Onboarding involves setting clear expectations right from the start so that there’s no confusion or misunderstandings down the road. Also, provide all the resources the video editor would need to work on your projects. Lastly, provide consistent feedback to make sure they know your style and can align their workflows accordingly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s address some frequently asked questions about hiring a video editor.
What Should I Look for in a Video Editor’s Portfolio?
Look for the quality and diversity of video editing projects. Make sure their skills and experience match your needs.
Should I Hire a Freelancer or an Agency?
Freelancers tend to be cost-effective for smaller projects, whereas agencies are more appropriate for complex and long-term projects.
What Questions Should I Ask in the Interview?
Ask about their video editing process, preferred software, experience with similar projects, and how they take feedback. Also, inquire about their revisions policy.
Conclusion
87% of video marketers say video has increased traffic to their website. Hiring the right video editor is more than filling a role. It’s about finding a partner that understands your video marketing needs and long-term vision. Whether you want to work with a freelancer or an agency, taking the time to hire the right resource will pay off in the long-run.