In today’s day and age, short-form video has become one of the most popular and effective tools for people to build their brands. Videos are able to capture the audience's attention in ways that traditional photo and text content cannot. That is why it is very important to not only generate good ideas and know what to capture, but how to edit the content you get. No matter how aesthetic the video you capture may be, or how funny your idea is, it all needs to come together with strategic and well-thought-out editing. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when editing your short-form videos!
1. Keep editing in mind before capturing your footage.
Before you go out and capture the footage you need, make sure to have an idea of what your editing is going to look like. Want to incorporate a cool transition in your video? Make sure to capture your footage with that transition in mind. If you want a fast-paced video with a fun montage, make sure you get plenty of footage that you can edit down. A good rule of thumb is to get more footage than you think you’ll need. It’s much easier to edit down than to reshoot footage. Editing around audio, especially if it’s part of a trend, is also important to consider when capturing footage.
2. Select audio that fits with your video’s goals.
Do you want to promote a foodie event? Are you trying to get people to apply for a job on your team and want to showcase the relaxing work environment? Knowing what you want to accomplish with your video is key when choosing the audio that will accompany it. Watch out for copyrighted sounds and music when choosing your audio as well.
3. Sync your edits to the audio.
Syncing your clips to the audio you choose is not always necessary, but it can make your editing process a lot easier and faster. It can also make your video feel smoother and cleaner.
4. Start your video with a hook.
It’s easy for people to scroll past videos, especially when those videos are made by companies and organizations. Make sure that the first couple of seconds of your video are enticing enough for people to want to stay. For example, if you’re promoting an upcoming BOGO deal at your bakery, you can start your video with something like “Do you love free food?” Think about what would get someone to stop and watch the rest of your video.
5. Keep your video short and sweet.
A video that is too long will have more people scrolling past it. Make sure to edit your clips only as long as they need to be. Anything above 30 seconds for Reels and TikToks is probably too long.
6. Don’t add too much text to your video.
When watching a video, most people do not want to sit and read a bunch of text. Be conservative with the amount of text you put on a video (unless they are captions). Try to include only the most necessary information.
7. Include a call to action.
Your video should lead people to go to your website, follow your account, click your link, etc. Consider adding text at the end of your video that leads your audience to do what you want them to do. An example of this includes “Make a reservation today” and includes your company’s phone number and address. These things are also important to include in the caption of your video.
8. Have variety.
It’s important to have variety in your clips in order for your video to be interesting. Try not to include too many of the same types of clips in one video, especially right next to each other. Include a wide range of shots (close-ups, action shots, establishing shots, etc.) for a more engaging video.
9. Be intentional.
Intentionality is one of the most important aspects of editing in general. Editing can be a lot of fun, but it is also a skill that one can build over time. It’s important to have intention with every choice you make when editing in order to have a well-constructed video. Think about why the clip you’re adding to your video is necessary, or why one transition is better than another.
There are plenty of ways to approach editing your short form videos that would work successfully. These tips, however, are here to help and add to the success of your own work!
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