Video Editing for Social Media: Top Strategies

Strategies for Becoming a Masterful Video Editor for Social Media

Every journey to become a video editor has to start with a strategy. Doesn’t matter if it is video editing for social media or the film industry. You will always have to learn the basics and add new skills and techniques on top of that. One last thing that we would like you to understand every social media platform has its preferences, target groups, content type, etc. Therefore, in this article, we will focus on general strategies that could apply to every social media platform.

Now that you’re ready to dive into the world of social media video editing, it’s time to explore some tried-and-true strategies that will help you craft compelling content. Whether you’re an aspiring video editor or a seasoned pro looking to enhance your social media game, these strategies will be your guiding light.

1. Set Goals

Video Editing for Social Media: Igniting the Spark

Establishing a new marketing plan necessitates having specific objectives for your video content. To prevent feeling overburdened as a novice, concentrate on a small number of primary goals. Increasing brand recognition is a great place to start. However, your video marketing plan can go beyond just raising brand awareness with a well-written script and a splash of originality. It may help customers learn about recent purchases, support brand advocacy, and mentor prospects through the buyer’s journey. Your videos will be compelling at different stages of the client journey if they are matched with the five stages of the marketing funnel, which guarantees a holistic strategy.

2. Decide on Your Platforms

Navigating the Video Editing for Social Media Landscape

Utilizing video content is essential in the ever-changing social media marketing landscape, and each primary site provides a unique framework for thoughtful integration. It’s wise for novices in the development of video content to begin on platforms where a loyal following already exists. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are the top platforms for consumers and marketers in the future year, according to the Sprout Social IndexTM. Mainly, TikTok is noteworthy for being a significant factor in the rise in popularity of short films.

The index indicates that consumers find short-form videos to be 2.5 times more interesting than long-form videos, which highlights TikTok’s influence as a significant player in the social media space.

3. Select Your Video Types

Crafting Authentic Experiences

Choosing the right kind of video material is essential to creating an effective marketing plan. Realizing that only some videos can be used in the same way, the most important thing to do is ensure the format you select perfectly matches your main goals. Consumer preferences in today’s ever-changing digital environment place a premium on authenticity, especially when interacting with brands on social media.

Data shows an interesting pattern: 51% of consumers say they would like to see products or services included in videos. Furthermore, 39% think that customer testimonials or demos are valuable, highlighting the significance of authentic experiences that other people have shared. Moreover, 34% of consumers actively search for material that uses unpolished, more natural footage to capture the spirit of a company.

How to become a video editor? You must select video content that appeals to your target audience’s preferences if you want to communicate with them effectively. The secret is to create a genuine brand experience that connects with your audience, whether that means exhibiting your products, including client endorsements, or showing the human aspect of your company through unpolished films. This tactical coordination guarantees that your video material not only draws viewers in but also leaves a favorable and long-lasting impression on them.

4. Plan the Content Production

A Blueprint for Success

Long-term time and financial savings are possible with an effective content production strategy. Creating a clear plan for video creation is essential, regardless of whether you use a digital spreadsheet or the traditional pen-and-paper approach.

When contemplating an in-house production, there are a number of things to take into account: determining what tools and props are required, writing, editing, storyboarding, best practices for shoot scheduling, choosing talent, scouting locations, and post-production concerns. Whether you handle it in-house or through an agency, a solid plan guarantees that your video content strategy is implemented smoothly.

5. Know What Post-Production Entails

Elevating Your Videos

When creating videos for advertising or those requiring complex editing, post-production is an essential step in the process. It goes beyond simple scene trimming and music substitution; it includes a variety of components that are essential to producing a polished result.

During this stage, the incorporation of closed captions is crucial as it improves accessibility and serves a wide range of viewers. Text overlays enhance the story by adding background information or highlighting essential details. Call-to-action screens positioned well also aid in drawing viewers in and encouraging particular actions.

It’s critical to understand the particular post-production needs of your videos. Some might just need minor adjustments, while others—especially those aiming for sites like YouTube—need careful attention to detail to stand out in the sea of information.

6. Schedule and Promote the Videos

Building Anticipation

After the video editing for social media is finished, scheduling and promotion are the following tasks. Management tools like Sprout streamline the process by providing easy posting choices for videos. Maximizing visibility and interaction with your video content is ensured by strategically scheduling and promoting it.

7. Understand and Analyze Metrics

Decoding Success

Evaluating performance metrics is the last stage in any video marketing plan. It’s critical to comprehend how your videos perform in terms of views, watch durations, shares, likes, and comments in order to improve subsequent material. Every platform has native analytics that gives information about the performance of videos. Match the metrics you examine to the objectives you established at the outset of your plan. Pay attention to metrics like impressions and video views if raising brand exposure is the aim.

BONUS TIPS:

1: The Power of Eye-Catching Thumbnails

Your video’s thumbnail is the first glimpse your audience gets when the content jumps on them. To spark their curiosity and encourage them to click, design thumbnails that are both visually appealing and representative of your content. These miniature masterpieces set the stage for viewer engagement. To learn how to create these eye/catching thumbnails you can start from coping the greats. For example, Mr. Beast, you can check his social media accounts on every platform and learn how to create engaging thumbnails for a social media platform where your audience is.

2: Crafting Irresistible Introductions

The opening moments of your video are your golden ticket to capturing your audience’s attention. First, 3 seconds of the video are crucial to catch an audience’s attention. So, no more 10-second logo animations in the introduction of your YouTube video. Craft compelling introductions that draw viewers in and keep them watching. A strong start piques curiosity and sets the stage for an immersive experience.

3: Nailing the Ideal Video Length

Each social media platform has its preferences when it comes to video length. Knowing the sweet spot for your chosen platform is essential for maximizing engagement. For example, YouTube wants you to create long videos so your audience will stay longer on their platform, therefore more commercials and more money can be generated. On the other hand, on Instagram or TikTok, short videos, up to 1 minute, show the best performance. These metrics can change in the next few days and the algorithm of social media platforms can start pushing another format or content type. So, please stay ready and check trends on social media regularly. Keep your content concise and packed with value to maintain your audience’s interest.

4: Elevating Visual and Audio Quality

Superior visual quality and crystal-clear audio are non-negotiable in the realm of social media video editing. Ensure your videos look and sound top-notch to provide viewers with a professional and satisfying experience. However, that doesn’t mean that high-quality visuals with poor content will outperform lower-quality visuals with great content.

5: Embrace Captions and Subtitles

Accessibility is a core principle in social media video editing. Adding captions and subtitles not only ensures that your content is inclusive but also caters to viewers who prefer watching videos on mute. Text-based content enhances the viewer experience and broadens your reach.

6: Consistency Is Key to Branding

Incorporate your brand’s unique elements, such as logos, colors, and fonts, to maintain brand consistency across all your videos. This not only fosters brand recognition but also builds trust with your audience. Consistency is the key when you when to become a video editor for social media, not only for branding but also when you want to grow your audience. For example, we were able to grow our Instagram account from 0 to over 400k followers without any advertising. The key was and still is consistency in posting. We post every day, and there were days when we posted 5 to 7 times per day.