Did you know that 61 percent of marketers think that video is an integral part of their marketing strategy? The reason for this is simple–more audiences online are interested in video than ever before.
Although there are plenty of opportunities out there to draw attention and engagement through video, this doesn’t mean that every video you produce will be a winner. You need to learn specific editing techniques and strategies in order to keep people’s attention till the very end.
Read on to learn our top six video editing tips so that you can begin producing high-quality, engaging videos!
Table of Contents
1. Choose the Best Software
When it comes to editing videos, it all begins with choosing the right video editing software for what you want to do. Here are some of the top choices:
- DaVinci Resolve
- After Effects
- VEED
- Premiere Pro
- Final Cut Pro
You’ll want to choose one that has a UI that you feel the most comfortable with and one that matches your editing style. You may find that you just want a simple, no-frills video editor to use occasionally for social media. If this is the case, iMovie on the Mac may meet most of your needs.
On the other hand, software such as DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro gives you the most options and are perfect for commercial applications. Keep in mind that each software comes with a free trial, so take time to try them all out before making a final decision.
2. Focus on Tight Cuts
If you want to know how to edit videos so that they’re more engaging to your audience, focus on making tight cuts. One of the biggest mistakes that beginner video editors make is letting scenes run on for too long or allow uncomfortable pauses.
Keep the estimated running time for your project in mind. Don’t let scenes linger after the viewer has already gotten the information they need. By keeping each edit tight, you can build anticipation for your audience–they’ll look forward to what’s coming next instead of feeling bored.
3. Use Split Edits For Smooth Transitions
A split edit is when the transition of audio and video happens at separate times. Consider some of your favorite soap operas.
You’ll find that when a new character begins talking, the scene also changes at the same time to focus on them. Done over and over again, these transitions can feel clumsy and jolting.
A split edit means that another character will begin talking, but the scene remains the same for a few seconds before transitioning. Not only is this smoother, but it keeps your audience guessing.
4. Pay Attention to Color
The look of your video is almost as important as the transitions. There are two different aspects in video when it comes to color: color grading and color correction.
Color correction refers to ensuring that all of your clips look consistent throughout the video. If the color isn’t consistent, the transition from one color to another can appear jarring–viewers will be distracted and disengaged.
Color grading is the overall look and feel of the video. For beginners, the easiest way to apply color grading to your videos is to use LUTs. These are preset styles that are easy to apply to your videos.
5. Story-First Mentality
One of the hardest parts about video editing is the number of choices that you have at your fingertips. From choosing the right audio to how long a certain scene can run, it can become hard to decide which choice is the best one for your viewers.
You can make editing easier for yourself by adopting a story-first mentality. This means that all of your choices should benefit the story in some way.
For instance, you may want to apply a LUT to your video because it looks cool. However, if it’s a dark and grungy app and the video contains positive messaging about meditation, you can see how that preset would take away from the message.
Similarly, failing to balance audio and including music that drowns out a speaker would also be a detriment to the overall project–even if you love the music.
6. Export and Back Up Your Work
Once you finish with your project, consider the places where you’ll want to publish the video before you export it. You’ll find that whether you want to add it to YouTube or Instagram, the video editing software of your choice may have export presents in place to make it easier.
If you want to deliver it to a client, you may find that you’ll need to reduce the file size in order to make it easier for them to use. These reduce video file size mac tips are great to use if you’re a Mac owner.
Remember to back up your work by exporting it to an external hard drive as well as cloud storage.
Video Editing Tips to Learn Today
Although video editing may seem complicated at first, like any new skill it takes practice. Luckily, you can begin practicing today through free software such as iMovie and even smartphone apps. Since video is becoming more accessible, you’ll find that these free apps provide plenty of tools for you to begin to learn the basics.
If you’re stuck on video editing ideas, remember to pay attention to your favorite creators next time you open YouTube. Ask yourself why you enjoy their content so much and consider the way they edit their videos.
Ready for more video editing tips in order to boost your engagement and reach? Keep reading the blog for more tips and strategies!