What’s even more important than recording great content? Video editing.
Editing your video helps it stand out amongst your competitors. Plus, specific edits can help you reach a larger audience.
With this in mind, we sat down with Richard Middletown, CEO of Longwavedigital, and video editor of Ali Abdaal’s podcast and the “Diary of a CEO,” to discuss the most essential video editing tips beginners should know.
And you know us, we’re not one to hold back any secrets. We’re sharing all of Richard’s tips with you today! Read on. 🚀
Why is video editing important?
Recording and posting a video to your social media feeds is not enough. Your video needs to be engaging, especially if you want to make sales or gain followers. Video editing can help you create engaging, eye-catching content that will land well with your audience.
It’s not a secret that unedited videos do not perform well, and videos without captions or subtitles do not perform well, either.
If you don’t add captions to your content, your audience will likely scroll to the next video in their feed. This is especially true when you consider that 85% of Facebook and 80% of LinkedIn videos are watched without sound.
The marketers who understand video marketing and put in the effort to edit their content are seeing significant results. 93% of marketers say they’ve landed a new customer thanks to video marketing. And they say they receive 66% more qualified leads due to their video efforts.
So, if you want to see better ROI, increase sales, or gain new followers, you’re going to need to spend some time creating and editing your video content. 😉
Find this free online AI Video Script Generator tool to create captivating video scripts.
Let’s look at 12 of the best video editing tips to get you started editing your videos the right way.
12 Best Video Editing Tips For Beginners
Video editing can be overwhelming initially, especially if you’re a beginner. We get it. We were once beginner video editors, too.
That’s why we sat down with a video editing expert, Richard Middletown, to compile a list of tips to help you get started and become a pro video editor in no time. 😎
Let’s dig in.
1- Plan Your Story
One of the most important things you can do before filming your content is outline your story. That might mean writing a script or just jotting down notes about what you want to say to your audience.
Richard says this step of outlining will help you in the long run. He says, “A clear plan will make the editing process smoother and more efficient.”
When you have a clear idea of what you want your video to be, you’ll better understand how to edit your content to meet your vision. 🔥
2- Adjust the audio of each clip
There’s nothing worse than trying to listen to a video only to realize you have the audio turned up and you still can’t hear the speaker. If it’s frustrating for you, you know it’s frustrating for your audience, too.
You can fix this common mistake in the editing process. Some video editing tools allow for background noise removal. Others, like Submagic, enable video editors to adjust and clean the audio, plus adjust the background music volumes. This way, you can precisely control what your audience wants to hear.
Pro tip: In the Submagic editor, click “Boost” to access the volume controls. Click “Trim” to access the audio cleaning features. 🧡
Check out Submagic's free Online Youtube Transcript Generator and Youtube Reels Hashtag Generator tools.
Have you ever watched a video and wondered when the speaker would reach the main point? Yeah, we have. And it’s pure agony. If you want to create an engaging video, cut the fluff and the long pauses.
Richard says, "Eliminating long pauses or unnecessary clarifications is crucial." You’ll keep your audience's attention longer by eliminating these parts from your video.
4- Remove filler words
Speaking of eliminating things from your video, you’ll want to remove filler words, too. If you’re anything like me, I often say, “ Um,” in my videos, especially if I don’t have notes. (Remember the tip about outlining your content? A script can help!)
But, even if you do say “um” or pause for a second to collect your thoughts, a good video editing tool, like Submagic, can automatically cut out the filler words.
Richard says, "In the audio world, that has benefits because it is a lot easier and nicer to listen to someone without the ums and the ahs."
Don’t skip over this tip if you want to create content your audience will watch! 😉
5- Add subtitles to your video
If you didn’t catch that earlier, over half of videos on LinkedIn and Facebook are watched without sound. If you want to create content that your audience will watch, you need subtitles. There’s just no way around it.
Not only do captions and subtitles enhance engagement and keep soundless viewers watching your videos, but they also increase accessibility. Captions and subtitles help you reach a larger audience that otherwise might skip your videos due to lack of accessibility.
Adding captions manually to your videos can take a significant amount of time. Tools like Submagic can automate this process. Submagic automatically generates captions for you upon the initial upload. So you can spend less time adding captions and more on other edits or interacting with your audience.
6- Use transitions between your clips
One pro editing tip is to use transitions between your video clips. Instead of a hard jump from one clip to the next, transitions can help smooth video and keep your audience visually engaged.
Transitions can help indicate a change in the narrative or perspective. Or if you use the zoom transition, it can help highlight an important point your speaker has made. Plus, they help make your video more polished and professional (which is what you want! )
Background music is a great way to keep your audience audibly engaged. Background music helps fill in the gaps between your video content and set the tone of your video. For example, if you’re creating a faceless video without audio narration (think tutorials or landscape previews, like a downhill skiing shot), the right song can take your audience on a journey without you needing to say a single word.
Pro tip: Use Submagic to add background music to your content. With Submagic’s partnership with Storyblocks, users have access to tons of trending music!
Sound effects are another great way to bring audible awareness to certain parts of your video. Sound effects can:
- Emphasize the reaction of your speakers
- Aid in setting the tone of your video
- Improve your storytelling
- Add and invoke emotion
- Provide clarity or add emphasis to important aspects (like tutorial steps, for example)
Pro tip: In the Submagic editor, click “Captions.” Then, select the audio you want to highlight. Next to the timestamp, click the volume icon. From there, choose the sound effect you like the most to add it to your video. 🧡
9- Use presets and templates
If you want your videos to have the same, familiar feel (and this is especially important if you are solidifying your brand), you’ll want to use the same layout for each video. Think of the same font, colors, and font size.
Of course, you can make these edits by hand each time you edit a video. Or consider creating a template or using a preset to save time and speed up your workflows.
10- Use the Two Second Hook rule
Did you know that the average human attention span is only 8.25 seconds? That means you need to work extra hard to capture your audience’s attention within the first two seconds of your video.
Léo (interviewer) says, “In two seconds, you will decide whether or not to continue scrolling or watch the video.” Richard answers, “Personally speaking, I know this to be true for me. I have a bad habit of skipping content that doesn’t appeal to my likes or interests.”
While the entire internet isn’t your target audience, there are things you can do, like abiding by Two Second Hook Rule, to ensure your ideal audience stays on your content. The Two Second Hook Rule says you have about two seconds to capture your audience's attention, invoke curiosity, and set their expectations.
To get your audience’s attention, consider starting your video with:
11- Leverage AI tools
One of the best tips we’ve got for you is to learn how to leverage AI-enabled video editing tools. Richard knows a thing or two about using video editing tools, and he says, "Understanding how to use tools and not letting the tools do all the work can save a lot of time."
Our advice: pick a tool that’s best suited for your abilities and learn how to use its features and learn what AI can and cannot do. The really good video editing tools (um, like, Submagic) will offer its users a knowledge base or resource library. Take advantage of these resources to help speed up your editing processes.
Also, this is a super humble brag, but did you know that you can fully edit a video in just about two minutes with Submagic? 🤔
Talk about time saved!
12- Learn from mistakes
Our final tip for beginners in video editing is this: don’t be afraid to make errors. Our expert, Richard, agrees. He says, “You’re always going to learn the small things.”
Video editing isn’t difficult, and it can be a fun, creative outlet for you and your marketing team. While your goal might be to create a viral video, you’ll never know what works and doesn’t work with your audience without trying new things.
So, don’t be afraid to try new things with your videos, even if they flop. You can always try something else with your next video edits!
3 Do’s and Don’ts for Video Editing Beginners (bonus)
Okay, now that we’ve given you our best tips for beginners in video editing, let's cover a few dos and don’ts.
DOs:
1- Organize Your Footage
There are many moving parts when it comes to creating and editing videos. You’ll need extra copies of your raw footage plus copies of your final drafts. Richard says to stay organized. He says, "Keep your files organized. Create folders for raw footage, audio, images, and project files." 🔥
Organizing footage saves time during editing, reduces frustration, and ensures you can quickly find and use the necessary assets.
2- Stay Consistent
If you want to build an audience, you need to stay consistent. Or, as Richard says, “The train has to keep moving.”
Remember tip #12? Don’t get caught up in creating the “perfect viral video” each time you record new content. Doing so is a one-way ticket to inconsistency.
Instead, regularly produce content to build and maintain your audience (even if you don’t think it’s good enough– because, most likely, it’s great content! 😉)
3 . Prioritize the First Minute
The first two seconds of your video are the most important. We covered that. But you’ve got to keep your audience engaged after those first two seconds pass. So, focus most of your editing on the introduction. As Richard says, "Spend more time on the first minute."
Don’ts:
1- Don't Over-Edit
I’m sure you’ve seen badly edited videos. I think we can all agree that most of those videos are over-edited. Richard warned us about this. He says, "Don't over-edit. Like this is a thing."
Over-editing can lead to unnatural transitions. It can be distracting. And, even worse, it can cheapen your video and take away from its authenticity.
2- Don't Forget to Save Regularly Your Work
Forgetting to save your work only to experience a crash or technical issue that deletes your entire project is a nightmare—a legit nightmare.
Avoid this mistake by saving your work regularly. Hitting the save button throughout your workflow ensures you have back up versions, in the event that something goes way wrong.
So, How to Learn Video Editing?
Like with anything, video editing is a skill that you can learn. Remember, all great video editors started out as newbies. Here are four ways you can learn video editing and polish your craft:
Practice Consistently
You know the quote, “practice makes perfect,” right? That quote absolutely applies to learning how to edit videos. Richards suggests, "Just get your hands dirty. Learn from YouTube."
You can find a ton of videos on YouTube about how to use Submagic to edit your videos. Take what you learn and apply it to your own videos. Eventually, you’ll learn what works best for you and your audience.
Learn from Others
Other video editors are not your competition. Instead, think of them as your mentors. Richard says, "Being able to copy people, receive inputs, then adjust and spin. They're the big tips."
Study the editing styles of experienced editors or successful creators in your niche. Analyze their techniques, and incorporate what you learn into your editing process.
Plus, you can join the Submagic Discord community to connect with other like-minded video editors!
Stay Updated with Tools and Techniques
Video editing is constantly evolving. It’s why Richard suggests to “stay curious and keep learning new skills."
Watch tutorials, read articles, and experiment with new features in your editing software. As you do these things, you’ll quickly hone in on your video editing skills.
Seek Feedback
As a former teacher, I know that students need constructive feedback in order to learn and grow their skills. The same goes for beginning video editors. Richard suggests connecting with other editors to get this kind of input. He says, "Show your edits to others and ask for feedback."
Getting constructive feedback from peers or mentors can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement. It helps you identify blind spots and refine your editing style.
Frequently Asked Questions on Video Editing
What is the best video editing app?
Submagic is the best video editing app. With Submagic, you can make pro edits to your videos in seconds. Need to add subtitles to your videos but don’t have the time? Submagic can automatically do it for you (which is just one reason Submagic is the best!)
How do I improve my editing skills?
Improving your video editing skills takes time and consistent practice. Don’t be afraid to try out various editing techniques. And don’t be afraid to seek out feedback from other video editors. They’ll be able to give you pointers and suggestions to improve your video editing and make your content pop.
How do you edit like a pro?
The secret to editing like a pro is to use a video editing tool that you’re comfortable with using. Submagic is the easiest video editing tool to use. With its AI capabilities, you can edit your video like a true professional in just minutes. Try Submagic today! 🧡
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