When you’re just starting out, it can be hard to find work as a freelance video editor. Where should you get started? How do you build a solid client base?Â
Here’s the full run-down on how to level up your profile and find work as a freelance video editor. (Also check out Tasty Edits’ career page! We’re looking for talented editors to join the team.)
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Craft Your Online Presence and Portfolio
As a first step, you need to set up a convincing online presence and showcase your portfolio and your skills.Â
Most people looking to hire freelance video editors hit the web first. Being discoverable as a freelance video editor for hire is therefore crucial.Â
There are many ways to do that.Â
Some freelance video editors choose to set up their own website to highlight their profile and past work, display testimonials, and let potential clients know their pricing.Â
One box you definitely have to tick, though, is social media. Set up a professional profile on LinkedIn and adjust your profiles on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Make sure to include the fact that you’re a freelance video editor in your bio and link to your work.Â
Next, it’s time to hit the job boards.
Hit the Job Boards
One of the easiest places to find gigs for freelance video editors are job boards such as Upwork, Fiverr, Jooble, and Indeed.Â
Here, you can set up a profile describing your skills, linking to your portfolio, and, in some cases, setting your rates.Â
Then, you can start to apply for gigs that clients post. On many platforms, clients get to review your work and leave testimonials. Once you have a number of satisfied clients under your belt, it’s also likely that new ones will start reaching out to you directly.Â
When you’re setting up your profiles, pay attention to detail. Make sure you have a professional headshot and that no typos are lurking in your bio or the description of your skill set.Â
One major downside of finding work through job boards, though, is that they usually take a cut of your earnings. Upwork, for instance, applies a service fee of 5% to 20% on whatever you get paid.Â
Follow Video Editing Companies
Another option is to aim for video editing companies. Many video editing services are happy to add freelance video editors to their rosters. Sometimes, those gigs even turn into permanent jobs on a remote basis.Â
Check out popular video editing companies and see which of their editing styles best aligns with yours.Â
Then, follow them on social media, and see if they have vacancies listed on their website or on platforms like LinkedIn.Â
Even if not, you can reach out with your CV to express your interest. You might not get a gig out of it straight away, but you’ll still be on their radar.
Reach Out to Potential Clients
Don’t want to work for an editing company, even on a loose freelance basis? Then you can reach out to potential clients directly and pitch your services.
Look for people posting video content that you think you can improve with your skills. This could be online course creators, influencers on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, or even companies launching themselves into video marketing.
Be direct and specific in your pitch. Refer to the content of theirs that you pinpointed, and include a sample of a similar video that you’ve edited. Make it easy for your target to see why it’s worth following up.
A word of caution: Cold pitching is often successful, but only if you invest the right amount of time and effort and refuse to be discouraged. As a rule of thumb, expect to hear back from 10% of your pitches, and to get a gig out of 1%.
Here’s a short neat overview of the most important aspects:
Harness Forums and Social Networks
Finally, you can also hit forums and social networks to find freelance video editing gigs.Â
Sometimes, HR reps will post directly on Twitter that they need a freelance addition to their team and ask for applications via DMs. Reddit, too, can be a treasure trove for video editing opportunities.Â
Plus, if you have an eye on a particular client, it’s always a good idea to follow them on social media and occasionally comment on their posts. That way, you’ll be familiar to them when you pitch your services or apply for a job.
The Bottom Line: How to find work as a freelance video editor
Finding work as a freelance video editor can be tricky in the beginning, but by persistently pursuing the right strategy, you’ll get there.Â
Polish your online presence and portfolio, hit the job boards hard, reach out to video editing services and clients, and harness social media. That way, you’ll be able to build a loyal client base and generate a steady income.
Start by polishing up your online presence and portfolio to impress potential clients. Sign up for job boards like Upwork and Fiverr, and reach out directly to individual clients and video editing companies.Â
Look for video content in your niche that you think you can improve with your editing skills. This could be content by YouTubers, video marketers, or online course creators. Then, pitch your services by referring to this content and what you could do to make it better.Â
One of the easiest ways to showcase your portfolio is to upload videos that highlight your skills to YouTube and link to them in your social media bios, on your website, and in your profile on job boards. These can be videos you edited for fun. If you want to get some industry experience, you can always offer your services pro bono to people in your professional network in return for letting you include the result in your portfolio.Â
