How & Where to Outsource Video Editing – Complete Guide

No matter how big or small your business is, you need to have quality video content to cater to your target audience. But video editing is an art. It requires experience and expertise to create videos that can engage your audience.

The problem? Hiring a full-time video editor is expensive and may not be feasible for small businesses and startups.

The solution? Outsource your video editing needs to experts who can do the job at a fraction of the cost.

But outsourcing is easier said than done. You need to keep a lot of things in mind before handing over your video editing project to someone else.

This outsourcing guide will show you everything you need to know about how to outsource video editing. We’ll also introduce you to some of the best places to find quality video editors for your business.

Platform	Description
Fiverr	Largest digital services marketplace; offers video editing services starting at $5.
Upwork	Vetted freelancers; post jobs or search the database for video editors that meet your criteria.
PeoplePerHour	UK-based platform; post jobs or search the database for video editors that meet your criteria.
LinkedIn	Largest professional network; post freelance video editing jobs and receive proposals from candidates.
Facebook Groups	Access job boards within relevant groups focused on video editing jobs and freelance video editing.
Agencies	Outsource to agencies for a streamlined approach to finding and managing video editors.

Outsourcing Video Editing – What Does It Mean?

Outsourcing simply means handing over a task or project to another person or company. This person isn’t on your payroll but is contracted to do the work you need.

In the context of video editing, it refers to hiring someone outside of your company to edit your videos. That is, you’ll shoot and produce the video, but you’ll hire someone else to put it all together and make it look amazing.

How To Outsource Video Editing?

Of course, you don’t just want to hand your videos off to anyone. You want to ensure you’re working with a professional who can take your vision and turn it into a reality.

But before that, you need to determine exactly what you want from the final product.

So, we’ve come up with a series of steps for you to follow when outsourcing your video editing needs:

Define The Scope Of Work

Before you even start, know what final product you’re aiming for. This means having a clear idea of the video’s purpose, your target audience, the overall tone and style, and what kind of call-to-action you want at the end.

The more specific you can be about what you want from your video, the better. This will help ensure that you and your editor are on the same page from the beginning and will make the editing process much smoother.

Start by creating a creative brief outlining all of the above information. This will be an invaluable resource for you and your video editor, and will help keep everyone focused on the same goal.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• What is the purpose of this video?
• Who is my target audience?
• What tone and style do I want to convey?
• What should be the length of the video?
• What’s my budget?
• How soon do I need the final product?

Answering these questions will give you a good foundation to start from and make it easier to find a video editor that is a good fit for your project.

Understand The Contracts

Even outsourcing doesn’t have a one size fits all solution. Different businesses have different specific requirements, and this means that the contract for your project will be unique. When you’re ready to start working with a video editor, it’s important to understand the terms of the agreement before you sign anything. This way, there are no surprises down the road and everyone knows what to expect from the project.

Here are a few contracts you can get into with your freelancer video editor:

• Time and Materials Contract: This model involves billing for the time spent working on your project and any materials used. This could be an hourly rate or a day rate. For example, if you wanted to hire a video editor for 10 hours of work at $50/hour, the total cost would be $500 plus the cost of any paid licenses (like music) or other materials used.
• Fixed-Price Contract: In this case, you and the freelancer agree on a set price for the entire project before work begins. Here, you pay for the final product, not the time it takes to make it. This could be a great option if you clearly know what you want and don’t need (or want) to pay for extra time spent on revisions or changes.
• Retainer Contract: A retainer is a type of contract where both parties decide on a certain amount to be paid at fixed intervals (weekly, monthly etc.) for an ongoing project. This is often seen in cases where you need regular work to be done, such as social media posts or blog content.
• Pain Share/Gain Share Contract: An uncommon yet interesting contract where the service provider agrees to share a certain percentage of the profits (or losses!) made from the project. This could be a good option if you’re working on something with high potential but are struggling to afford traditional rates.
• Task-Based Contract: If you have a project with a very specific goal, this type of contract can be a good option. You (the client) agree to pay a certain amount for each task that is completed, making it simple and straightforward.

Sound knowledge about these contracts is important to help you make the best decision for outsourcing your video editing needs.

But before signing the contract, you need to find the right video editor for the job!

Find Freelance Video Editors

Sourcing talent for your project can be daunting, but there are plenty of great outsourcing platforms to look for video editors.

Fiverr

Fiverr is the world’s largest marketplace for digital services. The best part of using Fiverr is that you can find video editors to do just about anything starting at just $5!

Upwork

Upwork is a great option for finding quality talent because all freelancers on the site have been vetted by the Upwork team. You can post a job and receive proposals from interested freelancers, or search the Upwork database for video editors that meet your specific criteria.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is a UK-based freelancing platform that’s similar to Upwork. You can post a job and receive proposals from interested freelancers, or you can search the PeoplePerHour database for video editors that meet your specific criteria.

LinkedIn

The world’s largest professional network is also a great place to find freelance video editors. Simply post a job on LinkedIn and you’ll receive proposals from interested candidates.

But ensure that you select the ‘Freelance’ job type so that only freelancers will be able to apply.

Facebook Groups

Today, Facebook is used for much more than just posting photos and staying in touch with friends. There are literally millions of Facebook groups dedicated to every topic imaginable, and many of them have job boards where you can post openings for freelance video editors.

To find relevant groups, simply do a search on Facebook for “video editing jobs” or “freelance video editing” and see what comes up.

Agencies

You can outsource your video editing to an agency if you don’t want to deal directly with freelancers. This can be a great option because it takes a lot of the legwork out of finding and managing editors.

To find agencies, simply do a Google search for “video editing agencies” and you’ll get a long list of results.

Assess Your Candidates

Posting the job is just the first step. Once you start getting applications, you need to assess the candidates to see if they’re a good fit for the job.

When looking at a candidate’s portfolio, pay close attention to the following:

Previous Work

Since you’re hiring a professional and not a student, you should expect to see a portfolio of their previous work.

If they don’t have a portfolio, that’s a major red flag.

The Quality Of Their Work

90% of your decision should be based on the quality of their work. If they don’t have a strong portfolio, it’s probably not worth your time to interview them.

The Scope Of Their Work

Ideally, you want to find an editor who has experience working on videos similar to the ones you’ll be asking them to edit.

For example, if you need someone to edit product videos, finding an editor with experience working on them would be ideal.

If you can’t find an editor with the exact type of experience you’re looking for, look for someone who has a diverse range of experience. The more types of videos they’ve edited, the better.

Communication Skills

This is one of the most important factors to consider when hiring a freelance video editor. You need to be able to communicate your vision for the video to the editor, and they need to be able to understand it. If you’re not on the same page, the video will suffer.

Ask them questions about their process and see if they’re able to explain it in a way that makes sense to you. If they’re not, you may want to look elsewhere.

Pricing

Of course, you’ll need to consider the editor’s pricing when making your decision. Communicate the type of contract you’re looking for and see what they’re able to offer.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate, but also don’t lowball them. You want to find a fair price that works for both of you.

Punctuality

When you’re working with a freelancer, punctuality is important. You would need to ensure they can meet your deadlines; otherwise, you’ll be left in the dark.

For that, you can start with a smaller project to see if they’re able to deliver on time.

Reviews and Referrals

The best thing about online platforms is that you can see the reviews and referrals of freelancers before working with them.

This will give you an idea about their previous work and if they can meet their clients’ expectations.

You can also ask for a referral from a friend or colleague who has worked with a video editor before.

Benefits Of Outsourcing Video Editing

With the gig economy on the rise, you can find a highly professional and skilled video editor without breaking the bank.

Here are some benefits of outsourcing your video editing needs:

• Cost-effective: You don’t have to invest in expensive software or hardware when you outsource your video editing needs.
• Flexibility: When you work with a freelancer, you can easily scale up or down depending on your needs.
• Access to a global talent pool: When you post your video editing project on a freelancing platform, you can receive proposals from video editors worldwide.
• Get the job done quickly: Freelancers are highly motivated to deliver your project on time to get good reviews and win more work in the future.

Challenges Of Outsourcing Video Editing

You should be aware of a few challenges before you outsource your video editing needs.

• Language barriers: If you’re working with a video editor who is based in a different country, there may be some language barriers. However, this can usually be overcome by clearly communicating your expectations and giving specific instructions.
• Time zone differences: Depending on where your freelancer is based, there may be a time zone difference that could make it difficult to communicate in real-time. Again, clear communication and setting expectations can help mitigate this issue.
• Quality: When you’re outsourcing video editing, you’re essentially handing over the creative reins to someone else. While most freelancers are professionals and will do their best to meet your expectations, there’s always the possibility that the final product won’t meet your standards. To reduce the risk of this happening, be sure to view the freelancer’s portfolio.
• Data Security: When you outsource video editing, you’re also handing over sensitive company data like footage, customer information, etc. Be sure to only work with freelancers you trust and have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Bottom-Line?

Outsourcing your video editing needs is a great way to ensure that professionals edit your videos without breaking the bank. However, it’s important to do your research and vet the freelancer before handing over your project.

Also you need to be clear about your requirements and the budget before starting to work with a freelancer, this will help avoid any miscommunication and misunderstanding later on.

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