Before starting to edit your videos, it is essential to analyze three important points, which I will list below.
These points are essential for your videos to look more professional, with high quality, to make them more interesting for people.
It is very important to follow a script , to know exactly what to do, in the ideal sequence, in the best possible way.
So now see what to do before you start editing your videos.
Define the purpose of your video
First you need to define what is the purpose of the video you are recording, that is, what is the message you want to convey to your target audience .
Defining where you want to go with your video is like having a flight plan, with a defined place of departure and arrival.
You need to define the purpose of your video, to know which video clips you are going to select and which ones need to be excluded, in order to get the message across in the right way.
To be able to define the objective of the video more easily, you can answer some questions, such as:
- What do you want your audience to learn?
- What is the reaction you expect from those who watch your video?
- What feeling do you want to awaken in your audience?
- Do you want to increase traffic or conversion rates?
Define your video elements
Once you’ve defined the purpose of your video, it’s time to choose the elements you need to use.
These elements can be:
- Storytelling;
- Testimonials about customer expectations about your product or service;
- Review about a release;
- Product images;
- Success stories…
You can show, through your video, how your product or service has transformed someone’s life and how you can also transform the lives of those watching your video.
select the material
The third item you need to do before editing your video is to select the material, that is, the excerpts that will be used in your video.
Ideally, you should use excerpts from your video that are aligned with the objective, to convey the message correctly, bluntly, without deviating from the subject…
That’s why it’s so important to follow these three starting points.
Because, when you define the purpose of your video and which elements you need to use, it becomes easier to know which parts of the video you should select in editing.
Image and sound quality are also part of the material to be selected. In case these items are not good, it is necessary to treat them in the edition.
After following these three items, it’s time to start editing.
Now see how to edit videos with professional quality, through the following step by step:
YouTube Video Editing: Step by Step?
Now that you know what needs to be done before editing, it’s time to learn how to edit videos, once and for all.
It doesn’t matter which program you use to edit your videos, the step by step will be practically the same.
This is because the software only differentiates itself, basically, by the resources offered, by the shortcuts and by the appearance.
Step #1 Send the files to the editing program
The first step for you to edit your video is to select the files you have chosen to be used for editing and upload them to the editing program you are going to use.
Depending on the program you are going to use to edit your videos, you can send your files by dragging them from the folder you saved them to the program, search for files from the editing program, search in the menu or import files.
Step #2 Delete the parts you are not going to use
You can delete the snippets that you are not going to use in your videos in two ways:
- You can add the complete video to the timeline and then cut the parts you want to exclude from your video, starting and ending the cut where you determine.
- The second way to delete the parts of the video that you don’t want to use is to mark the beginning and end of each part that you want to delete and then drag what will stay in the video.
But, this option only works if the software has this function.
Step #3 Edit your video sequence
Once you’ve cut out the parts you won’t be using in your video and have everything you’re going to use, it’s time to put everything together in a logical sequence so it looks perfect.
At this time, you will need to adjust the beginning and end of the parts that you are going to fit together, so that the parts do not appear with sudden cuts.
Step #4 Add Images to the Video
So that your video is not monotonous, with only you talking non-stop, from beginning to end (or a client, if it is a testimonial video), the ideal is to add images.
The images help to illustrate what is being said in the video and, if your video is a customer testimonial about their experience with your product, you can use before and after images of using the product.
You can add the images after the base of your video is already all assembled and organized with the ideal sequence.
Step #5 Adjust the video’s audio
No one likes it when they’re watching a video that has music louder than the voice of the person who recorded the video, right?
And when, in the middle of the video, the voice appears louder than in the previous section? Pretty boring, isn’t it?
To avoid making mistakes like this, it’s important to adjust your video’s audio.
Your video’s background music needs to be loud at the opening of the video, but it has to be lower during the video so it doesn’t get in the way of what you have to say and the audience doesn’t run away.
Adjust the height of the sections that you cut and interconnect, so that there is no difference in volume.
Make improvements to the sound quality to reduce possible external noise, such as the sound of a horn, a car passing by, a dog barking…
Add sound effects, according to what is being said in the video, such as explosions, bells, breaking glass… but don’t overdo it.
Step #6 Add a Caption
Although it is not mandatory, the ideal thing is that you add a caption to your videos, as it is very important for you to be able to convey the message you want, much more efficiently.
With a subtitle, your video will generate a much greater reach, as foreigners will have access, people with hearing impairments, people who, for some reason, prefer to watch videos without the audio…
The caption should also be used if you have a diction problem, for example.
Videos created for Facebook and Instagram, for example, it is essential to add a caption.
After adding the caption, your video will be practically ready to be published.
Step #7 Render and export your video
The final step in editing your video is rendering and then exporting your work to finally be published.
If you’ve never heard of rendering, don’t worry, because I’ll explain it to you.
Rendering is when the editing program puts together all the files you’ve uploaded to it and turns it all into a single video file, which you’ll save on your computer as a finished video.
The larger your video file, the more images and effects it has, the longer the rendering process may take.
You just have to be patient and wait for the process to be finished, and then export it.
I advise you to export the video in advance, because if you leave it to do it “at the last minute” of publication, there may not be enough time, as this is a time-consuming process.