If you have worked with me before then you know I include 2 re-edits of your videos in every quote. The idea is to tweak the video to make it perfect for your business. But you’re not a video professional, how do you know what needs to be changed? Here are 4 tips to get the most out of your video re-edits.

1. Trust your gut feeling

Video is great at creating emotion, this is one of the reasons why video is such a great marketing tool. This emotion also translates into helping edit the video and is a device I often use.

What does your gut feeling say?
Does a shot come in too early?
Does a sequence drag on too long?
Is the music not fitting the subject?

If you are having these feelings then it is likely your viewers are also.

2. Leave it for a few days

You’ve just received the first edit of your new video, this is an exciting time as you start to see our shared ideas come together. You may instantly see a couple of minor issues that you want changing and that is great, definitely write them down. But your excitement may be forcing you to look at the video with rose tinted glasses.

To get around this issue the best thing to do is wait a few days and come back to the video with fresh eyes. You may not notice any more areas that need changing, but you could notice a few niggles that, if not changed, will bug you in a few months time when watching the video back.

3. Watch it in front of a third party

It’s great to show off your new video to a friend and see their reaction, but it’s not their reaction we are concentrating on in this tip. When you watch your video in front of another person, a switch is clicked in your brain and you instantly become a lot more critical of the work.

I can’t count the number of times I thought I was happy with a project, shown it to a friend and instantly picked up two or three things that needed changing.

Just make sure you are watching the video rather than looking at their reaction.

4. Take advice from a third party

Following on from the last tip, listen to the advice of a friend. Always take it with a pinch of salt as they may not always know what they are talking about. But it doesn’t mean they may not have a point.

For example, you already know what message you want the video to convey before watching it for the first time. Therefore you will attach that message automatically to the video. Get a friend to watch the video without giving them any information and then ask them the important questions you want the video to cover, for example:

What is the message of the video?
What are the benefits of the product displayed?
Who is the video aimed at?
What are your companies core values

If your friend can’t answer or incorrectly answers your questions then tweaks will have to be made to get the video performing correctly.

A video project is a collaboration but if your ideas don't match the style of the video, the target audiences preference etc. then a good video producer will be honest and tell you so.

So, next time you are preparing to send your video edits, remember these 4 tips to get your video just the way you want it.

Until next time.

Dave Proud
Video Producer
Proud Business Productions