Outsourcing your edits is a key strategy in scaling up your video production.
Instead of worrying about color grading, cuts, and transitions, you can focus on what you do best – creating more amazing content.
That said, hiring a video editor can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be.
Here are three strategies to avoid losing money on video editing.
Key Takeaways
- Start by pricing in your own time. This will help you develop a well-founded video editing budget.
- Go for quality editing services instead of budget ones. Most low-price editors are rookies who haven’t been in the game long. Their deliverables are mostly sub-par.
- Steer clear of unlimited video editing subscriptions. They trap you in the fine print and actually limit your monthly content output.
- Select pricing models that give you maximum flexibility and accommodate your content creation rhythm.
Keep reading for the full scoop!
Put a Price Tag on Your Own Time
To start with, develop a well-founded video editing budget. The easiest way to do this is by tracking your own time over a few weeks.
Then ask yourself: How many hours do you spend editing your own videos? And how many of them could you save by delegating to a professional video editor?
By putting a price tag on your own time, you’ll get a good sense of how much hiring an editor is worth to you.
There are two more factors to consider.
First, when you outsource your edits, you will still have to spend a little bit of time giving instructions to your editor and leaving feedback on drafts. The longer you work with an editor, the more they’ll attune to your personal style and the fewer revisions you’ll need, though.
Second, professional editors will be able to produce higher-quality work than you could yourself. They’ve spent years honing their video editing skills full-time and can produce high-level first drafts at quick turnaround times. You don’t just invest into saving time, but also into quality output.
Invest in Quality
Talking about quality: Don’t fall into the trap of trying to save money on video edits by going for budget services or $10/h freelancers off Fiverr.
While it’s possible to find someone with solid skills who offers their services at a bargain rate, it’s rare. Much more likely, you’ll spend hours chasing your editor, trying – and failing – to communicate your creative vision. And ultimately be left with a mediocre edit you could have done better yourself. If they don’t ghost you completely.
Instead, invest in quality – and peace of mind.
Opt for video editing companies rather than individual freelancers. Not only is it easier to check their service level thanks to reviews on platforms like Google Business and Trustpilot. They also hand-pick skilled editors from a large pool of applicants. Plus, they provide redundancies in case your personal editor is ever out of office.
Avoid “Unlimited Video Editing” Traps
Another key strategy in saving money on video editing is to avoid “unlimited” video editing traps.
These subscription video editing services boast a seductive pricing model – all your video editing needs covered in return for a monthly flat fee.
Except it’s not that simple.
Spoiler alert – they trap you with the fine print!
While you’re allowed to submit as many video editing requests as you like every month, they’ll only get edited one after the other. When you factor in five-day work weeks, 48h turnaround times, and a certain number of revision requests, this means that you realistically limit your content production to four or five clips per month.
Prioritize Flexibility
Instead, prioritize flexibility when picking a video editing pricing model. That usually means opting for project-based pricing.
When you’re locked into a video editing subscription, you’ll soon find yourself trying to adjust your content production to your subscription. After all, you want to get the most out of it! And if that means having four videos edited every month, then damn it you’ll do your best to hit that stride.
When really it should be the other way around.
To avoid losing money on video editing, pick a service that matches your content creation rhythm. Even if that means editing two videos one month and six the next.
With video editing subscriptions, you lose money if you produce too few clips. And you lose time if you produce too many.
Project-based pricing allows you to get the most out of your video editing budget – you pay only for the clips that actually get completed and can maximize time savings by having them edited in parallel.
The Bottom Line
In the long run, saving money on video editing doesn’t mean opting for budget offers.
It means being aware how much your own time is worth and strategically picking video editing services that offer high-quality output and maximum flexibility.
Time to get started? Tasty Edits offers all-round video editing services and YouTube channel management for professional creators. Check out our portfolio or start your first edit today!
FAQs
How to save money on video editing?
To save money on video editing, opt for top-rated, quality video editing services that provide maximum flexibility and transparent pricing. Avoid video editing subscriptions that trap you with the fine print and actually limit your content output.
What makes video editing expensive?
The most expensive kind of video editing are video editing subscriptions. While they promise you “unlimited” video editing, they only process the orders you submit one after the other, actually capping your monthly output.
Are video editing subscriptions worth it?
No. While “unlimited” video editing subscriptions can seem like a convenient solution, they trap you with the fine print. While you can submit as many orders as you like, they’ll only get processed one after the other. When you factor in turnaround times, business hours, and revision requests, that actually puts a cap of four or five videos on your monthly content production.
