Should you hire a pro for your Youtube channel, or is, doing it yourself (DIY) good enough?
YouTube has grown up.
It has become a very well-oiled machine, with thousands of videos uploaded daily. Additionally, professional creators are using advanced post-production techniques like color grading and sound effects with ease within their videos because YouTube wants advertisers to see them that way as well!
60% of Youtube’s 100 fastest-growing channels use advanced post-production editing techniques.
Even if you start your channel using a basic free video editor online, you will eventually have to deal with the question, “Do I continue to do my editing.”
Are you serious about being a YouTuber?
If you have a successful channel or are serious about making it a professional channel, you will spend more and more time creating content. And good content is what makes a YouTube channel successful.
Even though some people online will promote the false narrative that money rolls off YouTube, most Youtubers will put thousands of hours into the content of their channel. It’s a challenging job.
It’s just fundamentally a lot of work.
And as you grow, you will improve the overall look of your channel, and editing will play a critical role in determining that look.
While Video editing, in its simplest form, is just cutting out the worst bloopers. Video editing done by a pro will give your show a style and a distinct look with lots of little video techniques.
As your channel grows, so will your editing needs grow. Therefore, deciding how much time you need to learn advanced editing techniques versus working on your content would be best will be a fundamental question.
Sometimes it’s better to hire a plumber than to do your plumbing.
Should I hire a video editor?
Hire a video editor if you have lots of videos to cut. You can do this as a one-time thing and then forget about it, or you can have them help you with your video editing needs in the long run.
But in the end, if you want to get quality videos, hiring someone is the best way to go. Someone with experience in video editing for YouTube.
There are Pros and Cons to editing your videos. If you have some video editing experience, it can be a cheaper and faster process. However, if you need to become more familiar with video editing, it can be more time-consuming, and the results may not be as good.
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Pros on Cons of hiring a video editor
When considering whether to hire a video editor, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of doing it yourself. Here are a few tips to help you make the decision:
1. Consider the Cost: When you edit your videos, you’ll be responsible for the cost of software and services. This can be expensive, so weighing the costs against the potential benefits is essential.
But also time is money.
If you are trying to push out content every week or more, spending all your time editing may not be the most productive use of your time.
2. Consider the Time Commitment: Editing your videos can be time-consuming. Hiring a video editor may be a better option if you are short on time.
3. Consider the Quality of the Output: When you edit your videos, you can have as many versions as you want until you’re satisfied with the final product. However, the output quality can be uneven if you need to become more familiar with video editing.
What to consider when hiring a pro video editor
If you want to create fast and efficient videos, consider hiring a video editor. Unfortunately, with so many different video editing services, deciding which is right for you can take time.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a video editor:
1. Speed. You want the editor you hire to be as fast as possible. This means that you’ll have to make a trade-off between the editor’s experience and speed.
2. Price. Editing services can be expensive, but you can find reasonably priced services. There are many affordable video editing services out there that will still be able to provide you with high-quality results.
3. Time. You want your video editor to take just a short time to finish the job. You’ll likely be paying them per hour, so finding an editor who can finish the job quickly is essential.
4. Skillset. Even if an editor is affordable, they still need to be skilled in their field. Ask the editor about their skills and experience before hiring them.
5. Delivery. You want your video editor only to send completed videos with no errors. It will take longer to fix the mistakes yourself, and you’ll waste more time.
6. Experience with video editing for YouTube.
Learn the basics of video editing
Okay, you plan to hand over editing as your channel gets more successful eventually, but you want to learn the basics – what software should you use?
I prefer sticking with a professional stream of editors. While some online editors do a good job, some are a real headache. And if you want to be able to take your footage and hand it over to professional editors, it is better to keep it in a professional workflow.
I recommend two software packages, Adobe Premiere and Blackmagic’s Davinci Resolve.
Adobe Premiere
Adobe is an entire professional quality editing software program within the Creative Cloud. So if your goal is to work with a professional editor, you can do your first cut and then just hand it over to an editor.
My experience is when someone hands me a video that has been cut and edited with online services, they have deadly compression issues. So we must go back to the original footage to get the best video possible.
Someone handing me a premiere file works almost immediately, and I spend less time and charge you less.
Adobe Premiere is part of the Creative Cloud suite and includes (depending on your package) professional-grade software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Express.
Adobe Premiere is a great option for video editing of YouTube videos, but it is a subscription service and may be outside your budget.
Davinci Resolve
A free option that is still a professional package is Davinci Resolve. However, although free, it is still a complete editing package with solid audio and color correction abilities.
There is a paid version, but the free version will do unless you are a pro with special needs. But if you buy the paid version of Devinci, it is a one-time charge, and all future upgrades will be free.
It’s a fantastic package for a great price – nothing!
Summary
There are lots of different options for video editing for YouTube.
A professional video editor can be a great resource if you’re unsure what editing you need or want a little help getting things right. A good video editor can help you make your videos look their best and provide you with helpful video tips and tricks.
A professional editor is a way to go if your goal is to have a very professional-looking YouTube channel. The top channels use the best and most modern editing techniques.
A professional editor will leave you time to focus on what will make your channel stand out – content.
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SDC Video provides video editing and post-production services.
