When it comes to marketing a business, at least 61% of professionals know that video is king. That makes video editing a critical skill. But what do you do if you don’t have the time or resources to edit your videos?

One solution is to hire a freelance video editor. But finding and hiring the right one can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on finding and hiring the right freelance video editor for your business.

Keep reading for tips on where to find qualified candidates, what to look for in a video editor, and how to make the most of your collaboration.

Understand Your Needs

The first step to hiring a freelance video editor is understanding your needs. Start by making a list of what you’re looking for, like specific editing software skills or familiarity with the genre. Getting this part right will make the next steps go much more smoothly.

This list will serve as a starting point for finding candidates and assessing their qualifications, so be sure to keep it up-to-date as you find new edits and refine your needs.

For example, if your marketing campaign revolves around animated content, it wouldn’t make sense to start looking for video editors who only do live-action.

Understand Your Niche

On the other hand, if you’re looking for someone to make tutorial videos on fixing up old cars, it’s essential to look for more than the ability to use editing software like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.

A candidate with knowledge of automotive repair and expertise in editing videos would be a great choice, and that’s where niche work comes in.

If you’re producing automotive content, start by looking for videos in the automotive niche. Every company has a certain aesthetic and a unique voice. Understanding these elements will help you find someone who can bring your videos to life through editing.

Once you have a better idea of what’s popular and what you’re looking for, start searching for specific talents. There are several great freelance video editors, but they all specialize in different areas.

See Their Work

When it comes to hiring a freelancer, seeing is believing. An established artist should be able to provide you with a portfolio of their work. It’s crucial to find an editor whose content fits your brand guidelines as well as your niche. If you’re looking for a video editor who specializes in luxury content, for example, you wouldn’t want them using the wrong products in their videos.

Seeing an edit in action is also important when you’re vetting a video editor’s skills. Make sure to ask for at least two samples of the type of work you want to be done before hiring them.

For example, if you need an explainer video made for your website, ask the candidate to send over samples of explainer videos produced by them.

Interview Potential Editors

Once you’ve found a few good options, it’s time to interview them. This is your chance to learn more about freelancers and their experience, as well as discuss specifics about what you’re looking for in a video editor. Use this opportunity to share your vision for the project, and ask questions about the freelancer’s proposed process.

In the same way you created a detailed list of your needs when you started looking, it’s helpful to develop an interview guide with specific questions. This guide will help ensure you get all of your important questions answered before hiring someone new.

Collaborate Effectively

Once you’ve found a freelance video editor that seems like an excellent fit for your project, the final step is to start collaborating. As the client, you have the power to set clear expectations for what you expect from the freelancer and how you expect to work together.

Ask to see scripts and story boards before production starts. This helps reduce confusion and ensure a smooth final product every time.

Bottom Line

The process of finding and hiring a freelance video editor can seem daunting at first, but it becomes much easier once you’ve done the research. Knowing what to look for in an editor will help ensure that your videos are high quality and that your brand is accurately portrayed throughout your campaign.

If you want to produce good content that reaches your target audience, you need to hire the right people to make it happen. Freelance video editors are a big piece of the puzzle, and if you’re serious about your business, then it’s worthwhile to be selective when making these hires.

If you’re looking for end to end live action video production at a cost-effective rate, with us today.