If you want to make money editing videos, there are plenty of opportunities available. Whether it be working with companies to develop a perfect promotional video for their products, or athletes looking to highlight their skills to prospective universities, the opportunities are endless.
With that in mind, in order to maximize the amount of income from your video editing business, you should explore several different income avenues.
And that’s exactly why, for the rest of this guide, I’m going to dive into 10 of the best ways to make money editing videos.
Let’s jump in!
1. Freelance On Sites Like Fiverr And Upwork
In today’s world, there are plenty of places online to promote and secure freelance video editing work.
Sites like Fiverr and Upwork serve as a marketplace for people looking for all types of services including writing, video editing, and graphic design. It’s free to set up your profile and start advertising your services.
The only thing you have to do is create a few listings, set your pricing, and get to work.
That said, the challenge with these sites is that they take a cut of your profits. On the flip side, this is a small price to pay for the large number of potential clients that use their sites every day.
The exposure alone can be worth the fees.
Just be sure to price your services with these fees in mind. Also, it’s important to know that Fiverr and Upwork have different fee structures. So, one may be better than the other for you personally, so check them both out.
When getting started, you may need to charge a lower rate than normal.
Because clients look for freelancers with a solid rating, it may take a little time to build up your reputation on these sites.
However, if you consistently produce good quality work, you will be able to increase your pricing in no time.
Oh, and don’t forget to leverage your existing social media accounts to advertise your Fiverr or Upwork profiles.
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2. Edit Videos For Local Businesses
Local businesses often need to create video content but don’t have the resources of a large company. These projects can include advertisements, investor presentations, or training videos.
Start with some local business owners that you know to see if they need any help. If they don’t have work for you, they might know another business that does.
Don’t forget to consider non-profit or government organizations such as charities, schools, or churches. Like for-profit businesses, they need to promote their services or attract donors.
You might even want to offer to provide free services at first to build your portfolio or get your foot in the door. This will help you build your portfolio and help you develop a solid reputation.
3. Edit Wedding Footage
Marriage is a big business in the United States—especially when it comes to videography.
To get started, contact some local wedding videographers and offer your services to help them edit their footage. You can also secure work through wedding planners, venues, and caterers.
4. Film And Edit Real Estate Videos
Realtors often use videos to showcase the properties that they are selling.
This helps provide a lot of exposure and gives buyers an opportunity to see the property without going in person to visit it.
This is especially important for out-of-state investors who want to see a property without booking a plane ticket. Oh, and this applies to both commercial and residential properties.
Oh, and don’t be afraid to branch out from traditional real estate sales. For instance, apartment complexes, and even hotels, may want to film a quick walkthrough video to draw in prospective tenants.
You could also partner with a construction company that builds commercial buildings.
In many cases, they may want to produce a video to highlight their recently completed project to their client or other potential customers.
5. Create Or Sell A Video Editing Course
If you are an experienced videographer, you might consider sharing your knowledge with others. Remember how much time and energy you put into learning the craft. There are always people who are looking to get into the industry and don’t know where to start.
Creating a course for them can be a lucrative venture.
You have several options when creating a course.
- You could teach this course in-person. This would allow you to give your students a hands-on experience as you guide them through the video editing process. This could be a great way to find the best talent to take on as interns as you expand your business.
- Another solution would be an online course that consists of a series of instructional videos. The nice thing about this approach is that once the course is made, you can sell it over and over creating passive income.
6. Edit Videos For YouTubers
YouTube is a fantastic platform to share useful videos and entertain people.
The challenge is that not every person who wants to create a YouTube channel is an experienced video editor.
With that in mind, you could charge a fee to edit these videos for YouTubers.
For the most popular YouTube creators, they eventually need to take on a team of people to keep their channel operating. They often required a social media manager, writer, and video editor.
So, reach out to some of your favorite up-and-coming YouTubers to offer your services. You never know, they might just be willing to pay you to edit their videos.
7. Educational Or Explainer Videos
When it comes to educational videos or videos that explain complex topics, you might immediately think of educational institutes. However, there are also needs in many other industries.
For example, a technology company may need an explainer video that helps the customer understand the complex product that they are buying. Or a financial investment company may want to create a video series for their customers that explains how index funds work.
If you are trying to secure this type of work, you might consider creating a series of explainer videos that help your clients understand aspects of video shooting or editing.
Having these resources create educated customers and also demonstrates that you are an expert in your field.
8. Product Or Service Promotional Videos
Gone are the days when companies would hand out brochures or pamphlets to customers that were interested in their new products.
Today, interactive videos are a great way to highlight the benefits of a company’s products or service.
Companies can put these videos on their website, may use them during sales presentations, or even play them at their trade show booth.
Crowdsourcing content is also in high demand. On sites like Kickstarter, companies are looking to get funding for their company or project. And by having a powerful video as a part of their pitch, they improve their chances of getting the money they need.
9. Edit Videos For Anniversaries Or Special Occasions
Life is full of precious moments like birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. And while most people know how to capture a video on their smartphone, very few know how to edit their footage into a professional-looking video.
Luckily, that’s where you come in.
If you are willing to put together footage for anniversaries or other special occasions, you can definitely make money editing videos.
10. Edit Sports Videos / Highlight Reels
Getting into college is an accomplishment. Even more than that, securing a major scholarship can be life-changing.
For talented athletes, there are lots of scholarship opportunities. The challenge is standing out from the crowd of thousands of other students fighting for the same spot.
Most sports programs require athletes to submit a highlight reel with their scholarship applications. This gives the athlete the ability to show off their skills to the school’s recruiters and scouts. And seriously, a professionally edited video can make a difference in securing thousands of dollars in scholarship funds.
How To Make Money Editing Videos
If you are just getting started, you will want to learn the basics of video editing. Find a video editing software that has a good reputation and take an online course or certification that focuses on that program. This will give you the foundation that you need to get started working on projects.
Having a friend or mentor in the industry can be a great resource to get ideas and ask questions. If you don’t know anyone who works in the field, there are many online communities that you can join.
At first, you may need to take on some pro bono work as you build your portfolio. Then, once you have a few projects under your belt, create a website or online portfolio that you can share with prospective clients. Also, you should create business cards that contain your basic contact information and a link to your site.
Oh, and don’t worry about perfection in the beginning. Be kind to yourself and accept that you are going to make mistakes as you learn. Remember that the expert of anything was once a beginner.
The most important thing is that you get started.
Related Questions
Do video editors make good money?
On average, video editors make approximately $55,000 a year depending on the services offered, years of experience, and special education or certifications. The annual earnings also depend on where you live, local competition, and customer base.
Is video editing hard to learn?
Video editing is hard to learn in the beginning. However, like any new skill, the more you time you spend editing videos, familiarizing yourself with video editing software, and learning new techniques, the easier it will feel.
How much should I charge for freelance video editing?
In short, you should plan to charge between $40 and $100 an hour for video editing services. Your pricing should reflect the difficulty of the project, your skill level, and the time-frame for project completion. Additionally, you may want to consider charging a minimum fee for smaller projects.
What skills do video editors need?
Video editors need a combination of technical and creative skills. An experienced video editor will know how to operate video equipment and work in editing programs. They will also need to have a keen eye for detail and be able to work collaboratively with a team or client.
