Have you always had a knack for using editing tools? Or would you like to learn this skill as it is fun and creative? In either case, these days you have perfect opportunities to monetize video editing.
With the advancement of digital life, more and more people are creating video content for various purposes. A lot of them need help editing videos. Thus, even with moderate skills, the road is open for you to edit videos for money. Here, we will look over how you can get into this business and why it is a great method of additional income.
The high demand for video editors
Editing is the backbone of audiovisual arts. Motion picture editors are even recognized by some of the best-known awards in history, such as the Oscars.
However, you do not need to go into movies or even show business in general to be able to monetize your video editing skills. Back in 1996, Bill Gates said that “Content is King” and this is no less true today than back then.
And video content is perhaps the one kind of content that grew in popularity the most. After all, today we have plenty of social media platforms that are built on engaging, well-edited videos. Multiple brands and social media influencers are on the constant lookout for people who have the skills to turn their ideas into snappy and effective videos.
People who have the skills for it and want video editing to be their career can expect to make anywhere between $60,000 to $72,000 per year. It is up to you to decide if this is enough for you to get into video editing as a full-time job. Of course, depending on the level of your skill, work ethic, and various other factors, the pay could be higher.
Additionally, we can never be sure of how the economics of the future will look like. However, it seems safe to say that editing will have a part in it, and perhaps one that is rewarded even more generously.
What do you need to make money editing videos?
Monetizing one’s skills is not always easy, no matter how good you are at something. Turning something into an operating business, even if it is just a one-person freelance job, often requires more than being good at a specific skill.
Beyond the visual, engaging audio narratives play an essential role in creating immersive video content. Leveraging an AI voice generator can transform text into realistic speech, making it possible to produce captivating and natural-sounding voice overs without the need for extensive voice actor networks. This tool is particularly valuable for video editors who aim to enhance their projects’ quality while adhering to tight budgets and deadlines.
Thus, if you want to edit videos for money, first consider that you will need to have the following areas covered.
- Having adequate skill in video editing. This sounds like a no-brainer but it is still worth reiterating. Do not rush into doing something for money as that way you risk pushing away potential clients. If you have doubts about your skill, take another course or workshop, or join the video editing community. Having that said, you also do not need to be perfect to make money editing videos. Just adequate.
- Decent people skills. If you are going to look for clients yourself, it is especially important to have the ability to communicate well. Even if you are just getting tasks using one of the available freelance platforms, there will be some talking, negotiating, and calibrating with the client. Thus, soft skills are also necessary even in work like video editing.
- Proper tools. Video editing today is quite advanced. And you will meet clients who have a good eye for well-edited material. Thus, it is always wise to invest in the kind of software that you can work confidently with. If you cannot afford it at the moment, naturally, you can start with simpler editing tasks and then accumulate funds for advancing your gear.
- Excellent time management. One of the most important things working for yourself is being able to manage your time. It is all too easy to get blinded by the potential earnings and take up more tasks than you can handle in a given timeframe. Or to get lost in one fascinating task neglecting all the others. However, this would inevitably lead to a bad reputation. Thus, prioritize doing things on time rather than perfectly.
- Love for the job. Finally, you have to love video editing to consistently profit from it. If you start and realize that you no longer have any passion for it, better stop altogether. Like any creative work, video editing is torture if you are not really into it. It will show in the quality of your work, too. Conversely, if the passion is there, even if your skills are not that good yet, everything is possible with time.
Keeping all these things in mind, if you still want to edit videos for money, there is nothing to stop you. Even if you never edited a video in your life before, the learning options today are better than ever.
Learning the skill to edit videos for money
You are lucky to live in times like these if you want to learn to edit videos for money. Multiple things are coming in your favor:
- Our society promotes lifelong learning.
- We have the technology for remote learning. Thus, the best teachers in the world can reach you with their lessons no matter where you are.
- The internet and libraries are full of decent free content on video editing. Therefore, even if you have no money to invest in learning at the moment, there is enough free material to get you started.
- Additionally, video editors form helpful and friendly online communities. You can easily find peers who will love to give you some advice and get you on the right track on your journey to paid video editing.
Thus, to learn video editing, you just need to find the courses that suit you best. We recommend in-person courses if they are available to you. It is always best to have someone right beside you to ask questions and stand by your shoulder as you are trying out something for the first time.
However, even if this is out of your reach, high-quality paid or free online courses will do the trick. You can always just start by watching videos on YouTube. Even the best-skilled editors started their journey to editing videos for money with small but decisive steps.
