Let's get reel: Editing

Ready to get your edit on? Once you've come up with your idea and filmed it, it's time to put it all together. When it comes to editing, it's worth putting a bit of time aside to get it all right (and save having to go back and do a rage edit later down the line). 

Editing Tools

Before you get started you want to set yourself up with the right tools, when it comes to editing ( and much like the rest of this series) you don't need to splash out on equipment. And the most polished edit isn't always the best!

So what tools are worth having or looking into?

CapCut

Linking to TikTok, CapCut is easy to use with built-in templates to make editing even easier for you. These templates will often include popular trends and sounds, making it even easier to get your videos out the door. As well as being an easy-to-use video editor on mobile and desktop, it makes it easy for you to find templates and trends from most social platforms. 

In-platform editors

Both TikTok and Instagram give you the ability to film and edit within their platforms and both reward you for editing within their platforms extending your reach and boosting you in the algorithm. So if you don't want to faff around with an additional app, there's nothing wrong with using them. 

If you are using external apps to edit, we recommend using in-app fonts though!

Snaptik

Want to rinse and repeat the video you used on TikTok? Use SnapTik to download your video without the TikTok watermark. Why is this important? We'll touch on this below.

While it may not seem like a big deal, Instagram and Facebook want you to edit and use their platforms and not TikTok. So using videos with watermarks from other social platforms will hinder your videos, to give them their best shot remove that watermark. 

Editing Tips

Take inspiration

Before diving into editing, take a look at popular videos and ones that you enjoy to get some inspiration. Take note of any similarities between them to identify why they do so well and resonate with large audiences. Do they do anything different with editing, are they using one long shot or a series of shots, editing in pictures, using text, etc. 

Short and sweet works a treat

Unless you're specifically creating long-form platform content, you want to keep your videos short and sweet. Attention is a hot commodity on these platforms, one that's hard to get and easy to lose, so you want your videos to be enticing and exciting, to keep people watching. We recommend sticking to shorter lengths and breaking up longer videos into parts or series.

Quick cuts

When it comes to hooking your audience you have roughly  3 seconds to get noticed and reel in your audience. With this in mind, we recommend using quick cuts, movement or a snappy voiceover. If you find lots of pauses or lulls in your videos, feel free to cut them out. Quick cuts between different shots can create a sense of urgency and excitement, reeling in attention.

Text overlays

Use text to add titles and captions, help convey your message or meaning, and add visual interest. Just remember to make sure you use in-app fonts to get a boost in the algorithm. 

Remove watermarks

If you're cross-posting across platforms, be sure to remove any watermarks. While it may not seem like a big deal, Instagram and Facebook want you to edit and use their platforms and not TikTok. And any videos with watermarks from other platforms won't get as much traction or reach. 

To avoid watermarks, use SnapTik to remove them or if you're editing a video on TikTok, head back to the preview/editor, click the arrow, scroll down and select the save button. This will save your video without the watermark, making it easy for you to cross-post to other platforms. 

Now that you've edited your videos, the next step is posting! Want to take a step back? Check out our other blogs on ideation and filming.