Should I Outsource Video Editing for My Gaming Channel?

Video game content creation involves many different stages, from drafting and concepting your ideas to filming, post-production, and of course editing. Content creators each have their own preference for their involvement in these stages, some preferring to focus on just making videos while others prefer to oversee the entire process. However, today we aim to answer the question: is it worth outsourcing your video editing?

At MinMxD, we help gaming content creators make the most of their time and money, finding efficient ways to grow their channels and revenue. In this article, we’ll explain the pros and cons of outsourcing your video editing so you can find the right option for your situation.

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Weighing up the pros and cons of outsourcing video editing, or any other part of your content creation process, is vital to ensure you’re making a decision that will have a positive impact on you and your channel. Making informed decisions is the best way to stay on top of your outgoings and ensure you’re always working towards your goals.

Before we start, it’s important to note that these pros and cons rely heavily on your channel size. For example, if you’re just starting out, outsourcing your video editing might not be the best idea in terms of revenue generation as you won’t have the audience to cover your costs.

With that said, here are the primary pros and cons of outsourcing your gaming video editing:

Pros

• Saves you time
• Allows you to focus more on content creation
• Offers fresh perspectives on your content
• Utilises expert video editors for better results
• Reduces overheads for software and resources
• Could be cheaper than doing it yourself

Cons

• Can be expensive, especially for long or complex videos
• Not always value for money
• Can be hard to get the exact result you’re after
• Difficult to anticipate quality without a dedicated editor
• May result in challenges around deadlines and timeframes

The main question to consider when looking at outsourcing your video editing is whether or not it will be profitable.

For this, the primary factor is your channel size. Editors tend to price their services per video or hour, meaning smaller channels with less revenue will struggle to keep up more than larger channels. Because of this, your video length can also play a role in profitability for video editing.

Next, look at what you do with the time saved from outsourcing your video editing. If you’re using it to pursue more creative endeavours and produce more content, then your profitability will increase. If not, then you’ll likely make a loss compared to doing it yourself – although that will take up your time.

It largely comes down to personal preference. If you want more free time, then you can pay to cut down on your involvement with video editing. If you want a greater share of the profits and don’t mind doing it all yourself, that’s also an option. But if you’re looking at maximising your profits and minimising your time input, consider the following calculations.

How to Calculate the Profitability of Outsourcing Your Video Editing

1. Time to Film: How much time it takes to film a video
2. Time to Edit: How much time it takes to edit
3. Your Earnings: How much you tend to earn from a video
4. Editor Fees: How much an editor will charge you

If (Your Earnings – Editor Fees)/Time to Film is greater than Your Earnings/(Time to Film + Time to Edit) then outsourcing your video editing is likely to be profitable.

For example, if you earn $1,000 from a video that takes you 2 hours to film, and your editor charges a rate of $100 per video to edit, you earn an effective rate of $450 an hour. Meanwhile, if you were to edit it yourself and spend an extra 2 hours doing so, you’d earn the full $1,000 – but only at a rate of $250 an hour. Therefore, if you want to make the most of your time, paying attention to these ratios can maximise your profitability.

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When it comes to looking for a YouTube editor, there are a few different avenues to go down. Here are some of the most popular options:

Fiverr and Other Job Board Sites

Sites like Fiverr give a centralised space for freelancers to post their rates and skills, allowing you to take your pick from a number of talented video editors. Since they have ratings that are easily viewable, you can determine whether or not they’re likely to be a good fit for your needs.

The main benefit of this avenue is that the rates and ratings of these editors are visible, making it easy to predict the outcome. The main drawback is a potential decrease in the bespoke nature of your editing as the editors will be working for many other clients at the same time.

Agencies

Agencies offer a premium experience at the cost of… higher costs. Their fees mean that you’re likely to pay more for the same service than you would elsewhere, but their internal resources and increased expertise mean you’re more likely to receive better results. If quality is what you’re after and you’re not looking to cut corners, this is one of your best options.

Freelancers

Since freelancers work independently of agencies and job boards, they can offer a cheaper option due to the lack of fees that these organisations charge. At the same time, you won’t receive the same level of protection or security, and it can be harder to verify a freelancer, so caution is advised. However, if you find someone reliable with the right skillset, you can enter a very prosperous relationship.

Employing an Editor

Directly employing an editor is the most expensive option, as this means having someone under your exclusive payroll. This gives you access to their skills directly, and allows better control over the outputs and deadlines. Employed editors are best for massive channels with a significant number of videos being published, and don’t really pose an option for channels with smaller audiences.

Whether or not you decide to outsource your video editing depends on your scale, income, time, and personal interests. Making the move can be a hard choice, especially if you’re still growing, but the experts at MinMxD can help you towards the right outcome for your situation. We’ll explore the options, weigh up the costs and the benefits, and build on a strategy you can be comfortable with. Find out more by getting in touch!

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