Outsourcing Video Editing Services: Advantages & What To Do

Video content now plays a crucial role in reaching more customers, boosting engagement, and generating leads and sales for many brands. Its role in marketing is even more important now that TikTok has become a dominant short-form video platform with over one billion monthly active users worldwide. But it does not matter whether you are on TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook because videos are a great way to connect your brand with your target audience on any platform. And if you are serious about getting noticed, you must produce and distribute compelling, high-quality videos. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done if you do not have a team or department dedicated to creating stunning content.

There is a particular process in video creation—editing—that is a ton of work and quite demanding, especially if your video editing skills are far from perfect. But the good thing is you can skip this part and channel your energy toward other important aspects of your business by outsourcing the entire video editing process. This article will show you how to do just that.

In this article, you will learn:

• the benefits of outsourcing video editing services;

• where to find professional video editors;

• how to assess job applicants; and

• ways to manage your video editor.

Benefits of Outsourcing Video Editing Services

But why outsource? Good question. Let me dive into the perks of outsourcing video editing before I move on to helping you find a good video editor.

Saves you time

Outsourcing the video editing process saves you a massive amount of time which you can spend focusing on other aspects of your business. Content creators and small businesses can outsource all post-production work and use the extra time to create the best promotional strategy across platforms or start planning for their next project.

Improves quality and speed

When you are not an experienced editor yourself, hiring a professional video editor to do the work for you will increase the number and quality of your output. You get the content in the shortest amount of time possible without having to worry about the video quality.

Saves you money

Lastly, you can also save money when you allow someone to handle the editing for you. This could be the number one reason for outsourcing, especially to small business owners or individuals who cannot afford to hire a full-time video editor located nearby. You can significantly reduce your cost when you hire a freelance video editor from top countries for business process outsourcing such as India, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

You can find a good editor in these countries for as low as $10 per hour, which goes up depending on the skills and experience of the editor. Don’t fret, because lower fees do not necessarily translate to a crappy output as long as you know where to look for and how to assess the right person for the job.

In addition, when you outsource video editing, you can expect your contractor to provide the necessary software and equipment so you do not need to buy them yourself.

Outsourcing is an option used not just by small business owners. In fact, many large companies practice business process outsourcing for various reasons—the number one being to reduce costs for often repetitive and costly services.

Where to Find Video Editor Candidates

Now that you know the advantages of outsourcing video editing, the next thing to do is figure out where to look for the best individual who can deliver the results that you want. These are three options for you.

Freelancer platforms

One is to go talent hunting on freelancer platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. These two are among the largest and most popular marketplaces that connect businesses with independent professionals and agencies. The talent pool is undoubtedly huge and you can receive hundreds of offers. However, it is your responsibility to scrutinize these proposals and avoid giving the job to the wrong person. Stay away from scams and suspicious freelancers by always paying attention to red flags.

Video editing agencies

Alternatively, you can opt for professional video editing services that offer project-based pricing or subscriptions like WerxmartPH and Video Husky. WerxmartPH's uses Wrike as their project management tool and that is what sets them apart from other services because its hassle-free platform centralizes the entire workflow of ordering a video edit—from submitting your requests to communicating with editors and checking out drafts. Meanwhile, Video Husky also has a project management feature and is one of the most affordable video editing services online.

When comparing different agencies, find social proof of their expertise and know the extra features they are offering on top of video editing. Whatever you choose, make sure that the agency can serve your purpose best.

Philippine-based professionals

Finally, if you are running your business on a shoestring budget, it is best to find your candidates from the Philippines. Filipino independent contractors and agencies offer their services for a fraction of the price that you would normally pay US-based video editors. And the best part? You would still get excellent value for your money.

Start your search at OnlineJobs.ph, the largest job marketplace for Filipino virtual workers. Here you can post up to 3 job ads every month for free or pay $69 per month to communicate with workers and enjoy more features. This platform not only allows you to hire the perfect contractor tax-free but also lets you manage work hours and make secure payments.

How to Assess Candidates

If you decide to outsource video editing to a freelancer or independent contractor, this is the part where you need to know what to look for in a prospect.

Just like in any other job hiring process, ask for the applicant’s resume and portfolio to conduct an initial screening and shortlist promising candidates. When it is time for the interview, focus on these things:

Previous work experience

You have seen the applicant’s resume and portfolio, so use the interview to ask relevant follow-up questions regarding his skills and experience. You are looking for something he has done in the past that would make him the ideal video editor for your business. Ask questions based on what skill sets and level of knowledge you are specifically looking for in an editor.

Technology capacity

Aside from the applicant’s skills and previous accomplishments, make sure that he passes the check on hardware requirements. His computer, operating system, internet speed, and even the editing software should be powerful enough to handle the workload. Ideally, you want a candidate who already has everything he needs to create your video, so you don’t have to shell out for tools and related software subscriptions.

English proficiency

This is not a problem if you are hiring someone whose native language is English. But if you are cutting costs and hiring someone overseas, it is imperative that you also assess a candidate’s English communication skills, especially in writing. The reason for this is some of your videos may require subtitles or extra text, so you want to hire a video editor who can compose sentences without any Grammar mistakes.

If you still cannot decide which candidate deserves the position, ask the remaining applicants to complete a paid test project. You can also consider an unpaid test project as long as the scope of the work is reasonable enough. But if it is a demanding output and one that you will actually use in your business, pay for it. The last thing you want is to see a promising candidate run away from you because of unreasonable requests.

Managing Your Selected Editor

Assuming that you have already chosen the successful candidate, negotiated the payment terms with him, and signed a contract, the next step is to have a system that allows an efficient workflow and effective communication between you and the editor at all times.

Communication channel

The first thing you need to do to manage your editor is to pick your primary communication channel. Skype and Slack are two good options that you can try, but if you already have an existing messaging tool with your entire team, just stick with it.

Asset-sharing folders

Next, set up folders on a file-sharing platform such as Dropbox and Google Drive that will serve as storage of drafts and any other assets you and your editor will be sharing with each other. If you are working with extremely large uncompressed video footage and massive amounts of other files, you might need more than cloud storage as downloading and uploading can get very slow.

Detailed instructions

When giving your instructions, provide as many details and context as possible about the project or task. Make sure that your editor completely understands what it is that you are trying to achieve and see in the final product. Your editing requests should include information about the target audience, the platform on which the video will be published, similar examples for inspiration, the outline, length, file format, and resolution. Lastly, set realistic deadlines that work both for you and the editor.

In case of revisions, you also need to be very specific about which part or element of the video needs to change.

Conclusion

The entire process of outsourcing your video editing to a freelancer can take up to several weeks, depending on where you will source your editor and how responsive you are to applicants. When you are finally convinced that outsourcing is your best option to pull off your project, share your job posting and accept applications for at least two weeks so you can get as many candidates as possible. Then, spend the next week conducting interviews and tests for those who will make it to the shortlist.

If you are in a hurry and have to make the hiring decision as soon as possible, you can consider our cost-effective video editing services. At WerxmartPH, you don’t have to worry about posting a job ad and interviewing applicants because we will do it all for you. We can match you with a professional video editor within a week so you can start your post-production work in no time.

Schedule a free quote now.