We’ve all been told over and over again to create videos to use in our marketing, to help grow our business, and to get ourselves out there.
Realistically though, who can say it’s at the very top of our priority list? Even though we know we should do it, we have plenty of other things to be focusing on in our business. The very fact that there are just so many hurdles when it comes to video creation sometimes makes us throw it all into the “Let’s learn to do it later” basket.
All of us are experts in our own fields. We know how to answer the FAQs that come into our inbox daily, or when a customer rings up… I’m sure a lot of us are sick of answering the same questions over and over again. Right?
So it’s not like there’s a lack of knowledge. We all have the content in our heads to create videos. I’d say the main hurdles to video creation are:
- Organising the content that’s floating around in your brain, into consumable bite-sized pieces for video
- The actual filming part – knowing what equipment you should have, setting it all up, or finding a videographer who understands what you are trying to achieve and doesn’t cost the earth
- The video editing part – do we really have hours and hours free… as well as the patience to figure out how to edit our own videos? And if not, then how do we communicate our goals to a video editor effectively?
Video editor? What video editor?
How do you even get a video editor?
Then when you get them… how do you know they’re going to be any good?
Here are the 5 steps to finding a video editor to help you get your content done.
1. Determine Your Budget
How much are you willing to spend on a video editor? This is the first place to start. Depending on your answer, you’ll probably find yourself in one of the following categories:
- Don’t have anything to spend right now – need to do it myself
- I have a little in the budget – find an offshore video editor
- My time is more valuable than money, and I want editing done professionally with as little input
- from me as possible – find a local editor or use an agency
If you find yourself in Group A or C, reach out on www.joyceong.com/contact and I can point you to the right resources, or introduce you to the right people to help along your video journey… but read on anyway, as the following points will still be helpful for you!
If you find yourself in Group B, then the rest of this article is just for you!
2. Create A Video Editing Brief
What you’ll need to do next is create a brief for your video editor, so they’ll know what you’re trying to achieve. Include a description of what you want done, as well as any assets you have that you want in the video, such as your logo files, or a link to videos you’ve got from the past.
Also make sure to include links to other videos that you like, so they have a reference for your style. For example, if you want a light hearted video with upbeat music, find videos that are light hearted and have upbeat music. The last thing you want is for a video editor to spend hours and hours creating a dramatic, emotional, moving video that makes you want to cry (unless this is what you’ve requested, of course!)
3. Post Your Job Online
There are several platforms you can use to find video editors offshore, such as freelancer.com, fiverr.com, and upwork.com. They’re all ‘same-same, but different’… but my personal preference is upwork.com , which I’ve been using specifically to hire video editors for the last decade.
You’ll need to create an account, post your job and editor’s brief along with your allocated budget, then wait for the applications to roll in. You have the option to choose what countries you want to hire from as well.
4. Conduct Interviews & Choose An Editor (or two!)
Now comes the fun part! Don’t be surprised if you suddenly have 30 applicants to filter through. Go down the list, take a look at some of their past work and create a shortlist of applicants to interview.
Reach out to them via message and have a chat to see if they’re a good fit. I always like to ask if I can meet them over video, as I find I can connect with them better and the interviews flow a lot faster than back and forth messages. Just keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable chatting on video.
Another thing I always do in this stage is hire two editors and give them the same project (a small project). While this may seem counterintuitive to spend double the money on the same project, you’ll gain valuable insights into not just their editing style, but how fast they work, and how well they communicate and follow instructions.
One time, I give two editors the exact same brief, asking for a very simple video to be edited. I’d even stated that the maximum amount of time I wanted them to spend on this project was 3 hours.
Editor #1 wanted to really impress. He went all out and created this full blown, dynamic video that took him 14 hours to make. Yes, he made an amazing video, but it was definitely not what I asked for, and cost me an extra 11 hours of time. Not happy, Jan!
Editor #2 followed the brief exactly, created a simple video and only took 1 hour. He was more expensive than Editor #1, but followed the brief exactly. I delivered this video to the client, who was very happy with the outcome.
Creating videos is like creating art. You’ll be surprised at how different the results are, from exactly the same brief.
5. Manage Your New Editor!
After testing a few editors, you’ll find someone who is a good fit. The next step is to manage them effectively. Ensure you are very clear with your communication, especially with deadlines. Always factor in buffer time for things that may go wrong along the way. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to getting your content created with your new editor!
Written by Joyce Ong
Joyce is an international photographer, video producer, best-selling author and educator.
When she’s not working with her industry leaders such as Virgin Unite, Johnson & Johnson, OzHarvest and Sony Music, Joyce is passionate about wildlife and has filmed documentaries in Africa. Joyce also enjoys running workshops around Australia and online, to share her skills with others.
If you’d like more detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to create a job description and hire someone on Upwork, plus a pre-made video editor’s brief where you just need to fill in the blanks, and a list of the exact questions to ask when conducting interviews, then head to www.joyceongcreative.com/hiring-toolkit and grab ‘Your Essential Toolkit For Hiring A Great Video Editor.’
