Did you know that the job market for video editors is expected to grow 14 percent by 2028?
This is faster growth than the average for other freelance jobs. If you want to become a freelance video editor but do not have any experience, do not worry!
The most important thing is that you have the initiative to learn this trade and you will soon be able to master it and start generating profits.
You will start to gain experience as you start to make your first gigs and here you will know all the basics you need to know to get your first clients and become a freelance video editor.
Educate Yourself
The good thing about learning video editing is that it is a very practical skill that anyone can become familiar with. However, if you want to go further and make this your profession, you will need to skill up, gain experience and knowledge in many specific areas.
It will not be enough to just know how to cut and join images if you want to be perceived as a professional freelancer.
Surely you know that on YouTube you can find hundreds of tutorials and learn how to edit, but if you want to stand out and gain clients, it would be great that you acquire knowledge in a formal way and from a reliable source.
This will help you a lot in your learning process and will give you a very broad knowledge of all the basic techniques and other things that are crucial to carrying out an editing project.
Know the Most In-demand Video Editing Software
The video editing market is constantly updated, so it is important that you are always aware of trends and above all, that you seek to have knowledge about the most used editing software. This way you will find the one that best suits your work style and you can specialize in one of them.
Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Adobe, Premiere’s mother company, has other tools that are common in the world of graphic design and video post-production: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and others. Many of them are benchmarks in their work area. The best of all is that they can be perfectly combined with each other, without causing us any kind of problem.
So you can easily import an .AI (Adobe Illustrator) or .PSD (Photoshop) file and combine their layers individually in our video sequence. You can even import an After Effects file, which will also be fully editable. In addition, it is also compatible with other programs that are not from the Adobe suite.
If you want to learn more about this software, Skillshare offers the course of Video Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro for Beginners where they will teach you everything you need to know to start editing projects and to fully understand how this program works.
After Effects
Adobe After Effects is a motion graphics software that allows you to apply movement to graphic resources. This image composition tool is used to produce moving images or to animate and compose in 2D and 3D spaces. It is also used for video post-production and visual effects (VFX).
Adobe After Effects allows endless possibilities. From creating movie titles, intros, or moving transitions, to removing an object from a clip or animating a character and even a logo.
Handling After Effects is a skill required by many clients and agencies who need to animate objects to create animated pieces.
Learning to use this program without a doubt positions you very well in the market for freelance editors.
If you are interested in learning to use this program, on LinkedIn Learning you will find After Effects Essential Training: The Basics, a course to get started in this software, learn to use the basic tools and start making your own creations, all explained thoroughly for starters.
Final Cut Pro X
This great professional program from Apple is one of the pillars of the professional world of publishing along with other greats such as Adobe Premiere.
This program is a great option to get started in the world of publishing since it has a very pleasant and easy-to-use interface, so it will not intimidate you the first time you see it.
This software offers a series of tools to be able to work in the most comfortable way possible. For example, there are tools for organizing content according to tags and categories, and a complete multichannel audio editor to optimize the audio of your creations.
Additionally, Apple offers the Motion Graphics feature for creating professional titles and effects as an alternative to After Effects.
On Skillshare you will find Final Cut Pro X Master Course, an ideal course for those who have never edited.
Here they will explain in depth all the tools that the program brings and what you can achieve with each of them.
Vegas Pro
Although it is an editing program designed for professionals, its interface is easy and practical, even for those who do not have much experience. You can customize it with the most popular tools, which makes editing faster.
Like other editing programs, to start editing with Sony Vegas you just have to choose the video and drag it to the editing field. Then you are going to start making the necessary cuts and image edits and effects.
In the last update of the program, many innovations appeared, such as the possibility of color balancing, color changes, and lighting effects. Each of the novelties led to improvements in the quality of the final product delivered by the editor.
Skillshare has good course options for you to become an expert with this video editor. With Sony Vegas Pro 15 – The Complete Video Editing Masterclass you will learn to edit many types of videos that are in high demand today, related to advertising and business, or even for YouTubers.
Da Vinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is available for all computer platforms: Mac, PC, and Linux. It is one of the most powerful editors with the most possibilities that you can find since it will allow you to have professional quality results.
One of the advantages of DaVinci Resolve is that it integrates more tools in a single application so that it is not necessary to go to third-party programs, thus avoiding annoying export processes.
This software also benefits beginners a lot as it is priced at about $269 that you only pay once and has lifetime updates. In addition, it has a completely free option with some advanced limitations but that does not affect the normal editing work.
If you want to learn how to edit with this software, Skillshare offers Guide to DaVinci Resolve 16 Video Editing, where you will even learn how to create titles and animations.
Although some topics are a bit in-depth, they are explained in a practical and detailed way for beginners to understand.
Choose a Video Editing Program
Before choosing the video editor you want to specialize in, you can use the trial versions offered by these programs.
This will help you define which one you like the most, which one best suits your needs and the types of work you want to do, and which ones are more economically convenient for you.
The ease of using a specific software should not be such an important point to help you decide, since when you start using a program it is most likely that you find it difficult or complicated to use.
Being quick when editing is a very valuable skill, but it is something that you will develop over time, especially if you dedicate yourself to a single video editor.
Over time and as you carry out work and participate in different projects, you will develop your creativity and your own style. That will help you differentiate yourself from other freelance video editors and will also attract clients.
How?
By creating quality work samples that clients can see to appreciate your work.
Create Quality Samples
The first step to start creating your own content is knowing what you want to do and how to do it. When it comes to video editing, there are plenty of other editors’ works that you can look at to get an idea of what you would like to do.
If there is a specific style of video that you like a lot, think about what you would add to it. What would you change? What would you take away?
By answering these questions, you can gradually find the style that best suits you.
It is highly unlikely that you will get a convincing result on the first effort, but that is what it is all about, keep trying until you get a result that satisfies you.
Do not be afraid to try things that are very different from the trends that are being used, because all clients are different from one another.
The important thing is that you exercise your creativity and that it can be seen in the result of your work.
These quality samples will be proof that you are an original and creative editor and that is what you will show your clients to get them interested in your work, so make sure they are a good sample.
This is something very important to do if you do not have much experience yet, as this is how you will attract customers. Quality samples will help convince your clients and will show them that you are a capable and professional freelance video editor.
Gain Experience
Even though you do very good jobs or have very good qualities, the experience is something that many clients give a lot of importance to. If you do not have it yet, this will surely help you get started.
Job Platforms
According to 99 Firms, 73% of freelancers look for jobs on freelance platforms, this means that this is the main source of work for many of them.
If there are so many other freelancers investing their time and effort on these platforms it is because they are worth it, so you should consider starting there to find your first gigs or clients.
To start gaining experience you must be open to proposals. There may be some low-paying but available jobs that you are not very comfortable with, but that is a good way to start gaining experience.
Later, when you have several projects in your background, you can set higher aspirations.
Upwork
Source: Upwork
Upwork is a platform that offers access to a large number of companies, its payment system is secure, the user interface is very comfortable and the mobile messaging application is also very pleasant to use.
If your clients give you good scores, you could reach Top Rated status and that can open many doors for you to work with well-established companies and generate connections with professionals and entrepreneurs who value your profession and experience in your field.
Fiverr
Source: fiverr.com
On this platform, you can sell your digital products or services from $5, but that does not mean that you have to sell everything at that price. There are also add-ons, that are extra services that can be offered to complement what the customer is buying.
For example, if you offer 30-second video editing for $ 5, an add-on might be the color correction of that video.
Fiverr is an excellent option for people looking for a place where they can offer their services in a safe and effective way and the platform can be used for free, without having to pay for registration.
Freelancer
Source: Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is one of the top freelance platforms to find a job and here you will find a large market of people looking for video editing services.
Many freelancers use this page so every time you submit a proposal, make sure you meet the requirements and make a proposal that stands out from the rest to increase your chances of being chosen.
The platform has a very useful chat where you can communicate with the person from the project. You have free unlimited calls and video calls.
Another advantage of this platform is that if your employer really liked the treatment received and the work you have done, they can tip you. The amount will vary from the country in which your client is located and its currency.
Behance
Source: Behance
Over time Behance has evolved to become the best social network to enhance your creative work. The reason for its success is that not only are the creatives showing their work, but there are also big agencies and talented curators.
Behance is a platform commonly used as a portfolio, but here you can also find freelance jobs. You should always upload your best work, interact with the community and if you want you can also share what you post here on your other social networks, thus increasing the chances that a potential client will find you.
Market Yourself
To be a freelancer it is not enough just to dominate your niche but you must also know how to promote your work to achieve new clients. There are several ways you can do this, and they are all important if you want to increase your online presence and demand.
Create a Portfolio Website
This is a space where you can display the work you have done so that clients can see and evaluate your work. Having a portfolio website is key in this era where there may be people from other countries interested in hiring you and where digital media gain more and more relevance.
It is not necessary that in your portfolio website you put all the works that you have done but those that you consider better or more important. Include your contact information and your service packages and prices if you have them.
Having a blog will also help you attract potential clients. There you can write about your creative processes before editing a video, give recommendations on editing techniques or software, write articles of interest about your niche, among others.
This way you will generate trust and your potential clients will perceive that you are a professional freelancer.
Quora
Quora is a page where users are in charge of asking questions or giving answers and there are many topics on which a conversation can be generated, such as video editing.
You can use this page to answer questions related to your niche and help others, in this way your name and profile will get more exposure.
In each answer, you can attach the link to your portfolio website and when users see that you know about the subject, they will want to visit your portfolio and learn about your work.
Word of Mouth
This is as simple as making a good impression and letting your best advertisement be the recommendation of each of your clients.
For this reason, you should not skimp on those clients with whom you do low-paying jobs, since if you do a good job, they will most likely recommend you to other colleagues and thus you will get better paid or more clients.
Friends and Family
Friends and family are a good place to start if you have never worked for someone before. Ask them if at the moment they have any need in which you can help them, it can be to create a video for their business or a social event.
Strive to give a quality result since it is not only something that you will show your clients, but your family and friends can also recommend you to other people.
Job Platforms
You already know several freelance work platforms that you can use, but there is something you should pay close attention to and that is to build a good reputation on each platform you use.
You will achieve this by doing quality work for your clients, but do not forget to ask them to give you a rating, and even on some platforms clients can leave testimonials. This will improve your reputation on the platform and clients will want you to join their projects.
Cold Emails
Cold emails consist of taking the initiative to write to a potential client without them contacting you first. In this way you let them know that you exist and that if they require any video editing service, you are willing to help them.
Take the time to research the profiles of the clients you plan to write to so you know what they need. If your cold email is correctly targeted, this will increase the possibilities of the client opening it.
If when you write the email you tell them about their need and how you can help them solve it, they will feel that you appreciate their brand and that you genuinely want to benefit them.
Network
Even though being a freelancer is something you do independently, this does not mean you should isolate yourself. There is a great network of other video editors with whom you can give and receive support especially as a beginner, and you never know who might help you get a job opportunity.
Facebook Groups
On Facebook, there are many groups on various topics that you can join and find a community to support you.
You will be able to find specific groups of some editing programs or video editing general and there you will meet many other people who work in the same niche.
There you will not only be able to ask questions and help answer questions, but you will also find occasional job offers.
LinkedIn has more than 575 million users, so you can be sure that there is a large community of video editors there.
Something that many users do on this platform is post articles of interest related to their work and that makes them gain a good reputation among their community since they demonstrate that they dominate their niche.
The idea is to generate quality content so that your colleagues share it and that you also share the content that you like about them, thus you will support each other and increase your influence.
Online Events
Another way to network without leaving home is to participate in events that are held remotely, such as small conferences or webinars, something that is already common in many circles and that in recent times has been accentuated.
By taking place online, organizers are able to reduce costs and can dedicate more resources to hiring high-level speakers, rather than spending them on catering or renting the space.
Useful Tips
Keep Everything Up to Date
Do not neglect your portfolio website or your profiles on work platforms. Update them every time you do a new job or every time you acquire a new skill.
For your portfolio to look attractive it must always be updated; clients will think that you are no longer working if they visit your website and see that the last update occurred months ago.
Ask for Referrals
Ask your satisfied customers to give a testimonial about you in your profiles on job platforms or for your website. Many clients give a lot of importance on other people’s testimonials, so references are essential to be more convincing and to have a better chance of finding jobs.
Take Time to Watch Others’ Works
Watching videos, movies, series or novels helps you improve your work, seeing how others have achieved good results.
When you sit in front of the cinema screen, not only do you enjoy the food and the company, take the time to think about how that movie you are watching is edited and made. Having a critical eye when you play a video gives you judgment and learning as an editor.
Specialize
The audiovisual area is huge and there are thousands of career possibilities. Having the focus on one area of video editing makes your work stand out from the rest.
The branches are many since the post-production programs are very extensive: colorizing, editing and audio design are some of the ones you can choose from.
Being in constant learning will make you more attractive in the industry to get better jobs or better yet to develop and grow your projects.
Set Small Goals and Achieve Big Things
The most important thing about all this is that you must be aware that it is possible to become a freelance video editor with no experience.
Be consistent in your learning but do not pressure yourself to be the best from one day to the next, set small goals like taking online courses, expanding your network, and making your first work samples.
Follow these recommendations and you will see how your work will be rewarded.