Quality video is a powerful business asset to drive online sales. As a marketing tool, it engages audiences and boosts exposure & brand’s reputation.
But the creation is a painstaking process. This is where outsourcing video editing helps brands get high-quality videos, maintain marketing performances, and keep up with the organizational workflow.
In this article, we will address the platforms best for outsourcing video post-production and how much they cost. So, that you can find the right partner to proceed with commercial goals. So then, let’s get started.
What you’ll learn in this article
What is Outsourcing in Video Editing?
Outsourcing video editing refers to hiring external video editing as a service to manage the video post-production works for your business.
A business relies on a person or company that is offering professional video post-production services, when they either lack an in-house team, or the right skillsets, need emergency project completion, have tight deadlines, etc.
There are many options available in the market and you will always find freelance editors to dedicated agencies providing tailored video editing solutions to suit different needs and budgets.
Why You Should Outsource Video Editing?
Video editing involves a lot of tasks. Every business wants high-quality videos to fulfill their commercial purposes, maintain brand consistency and tone, and get it finalized within the deadline. All these have to be within budget.
When the in-house team isn’t enough to carry the workload, businesses hire external teams to systematize the organizational workflow. Here are the reasons for outsourcing video editing services.
1. Access to Professional Expertise
Outsourcing services for video editing works for broader categories, for businesses often with unique needs. To ensure premium quality services, the agencies centralize the expertise with proven track records and extensive work experience. By outsourcing, you can rest assured that skilled experts are investing their full force to complete your projects that drive results.
2. Focus on Core Tasks
Outsourcing frees up your space for other tasks. As you assign professionals to take care of your projects, you can put your attention on managing organizational workflow and keeping track of overall business performance. Altogether, outsourcing aids in increasing your business efficiency and productivity.
3. Consistency in Quality
Relying on professionals to perform a job is convenient as they are easy to connect with, understand your needs exactly, and accurately deliver visual content without compromise. You get your brand professionalism maintained consistently with videos that keep your viewers engaged and informed.
4. Faster Turnaround Time
Sometimes you need to work faster to amplify the marketing approaches. Outsourcing is the solution in those dire moments, where you get the fastest video editing solutions in the most acceptable format and qualities.
5. Stay Competitive
Professional video post-production service providers ensure your videos are occupying a competitive edge online. As a result, your brand positions with relevance, and timely. So, when they see your brand video, their reliability increases and your business gets more visibility that resonates with their interests.
6. Cost-Effective Solution
For businesses looking to minimize their costs and maximize their performance, outsourcing is an efficient option for them. It is predictable and affordable, which saves your operational and overhead costs, in-house resources and energy expenses, and administrative responsibilities. So rest assured, your marketing targets are achieved.
7. Scalable Results
You can manage your business workflow with control. Outsourcing gives you that flexibility. When your product demands increase, you respond and maintain consistent performance. When you want to limit your marketing activities, you can scale back the outsourcing. Businesses use this freedom to track their marketing strategies and adopt changes.
8. Reduced Stress and Deadlines Management
When your backup is a reliable team, you can expect quality work. Thus, professional video editing takes care of your projects, sticks to the timeline, and helps you focus on core works removing unwanted hassles. You get the video content ready as per the schedule to meet promotional targets.
How Much Does It Cost to outsource video editing?
The average cost to outsource video editing is around $90.
The pricing varies based on several factors though. Here is a breakdown of video pricing based on types and purpose.
Standard Price Range by Video Type
| Types of video | Price |
|---|---|
| Social media | $50 to $200 |
| Online ad video | $30 to $300 |
| Product Demo Videos | Starts at $500 per video |
| Corporate videos, Events highlights, Training videos | Starts at $1500 per video |
| Explainer Videos | $1,000 – $3500 per video |
| Animated Videos | Starts at around $3,000 per minute |
| High-End Commercials | Starts at $ 2000+ per video |
Influencing Cost Factors
Video editing outsourcing costs rely on different variables. When any of those changes, it automatically changes the pricing structure. Here are the variables that influence its cost.
1. Location
The location of the service provider matters. A service-providing agency costs more in the US or UK than any other in the world, as the work quality also provides guaranteed results.
2. Experience level
Editors’ skill levels matter when pricing. You will notice the differences mostly in the freelancing platforms, from beginners to advanced levels. Beginner provides generalized services whereas professionals ensure polished works.
Experience-Based Cost on Outsourcing Platforms
| Expertise Level | Price per hour |
|---|---|
| Beginner | $5–$35 |
| Intermediate | $40–$90 |
| Expert | Over $100 |
3. Video Length
Short-form videos work most on social media. Videos that explain difficult concepts or describe processes require more screen time. Lengthy videos require more time and cost.
4. Editing Complexity
Collaging footage and doing basic editing on colors, cropping, etc cost is assumable. But the videos that have animation, visual effects, different angle editing, or other types of complexity increase the cost.
5. Turnaround Time
Every outsource service provider’s turnaround is 12 to 48 hours or 2-5 business days. When you need urgent work, the process falls into a faster turnaround and a rush fee which is higher than your budget.
6. Number of Revisions
Most services come with a fixed number of revisions; any more than that you have to pay an extra penny.
Pricing Models
After considering the factors for pricing, here is how the freelance service providers structure their pricing ranges.
- Per Project: The video editing price per project is between $50 to $3000. Based on a single project, which includes everything you need.
- Per Minute: Video editing cost per minute ranges between $30 to $1000. This pricing category is for advertisement videos which typically range from a few seconds to minutes.
- Per Hour: Per hour video pricing starts around $100. It depends on the task and how long it might take.
- Per Month: The video editing service per month costs approximately $1500. Suitable for businesses with ongoing projects that need continuous videos edited.
- Quarter/ Annual Pricing for video: Starts around $3000. Acquired by brands with long-term projects.
In-House Video Editing vs. Outsourced Video Editing
Businesses having in-house teams nowadays outsource video editing services when they have a large volume of workload, or the project completion requires different skill sets. Also, many businesses are completely relying on outsourcing to fulfill their organizational goals.
Check this chart out to know whether your business should rely on only an in-house team or outsourcing is the better option.
| Parameters | In-house video editing | Outsourced video editing |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance | You can control the quality of in-house video editing. | Outsourcing from reliable platforms delivers the highest quality with new perspectives. |
| Project security | During in-house work, the project is secured as the details remain inside the organization. | With necessary measures (such as NDA and encryption taken, outsourcing is effective deal completion. |
| Turnaround Time | Project deadline submission may falter due to another emergency. | Outsourced services have the fastest turnaround time and follow the deadlines the clients require. |
| Cost | In-house teams need manpower, resources, and overhead costs, needing a huge amount of investment. | Outsourcing costs a predictable amount of expense which is less than the in-house investment. |
| Intellectual Property Rights | The rights stay inside the companies but sometimes permission or legal resources are required for access. It may delay the process. | Professional video editing providers have clear contracts stating intellectual properties to safeguard your ownership. |
| Flexibility & Scalability | In-house teams may lack flexibility as they require heavy setup and resources, overhead costs, etc unless your business has a constant demand for videos. | Hiring from external video editing services allows you complete freedom and scalability. You can adjust the services any time you need. |
| Expertise & Skill Set | The in-house team may lack the skills difference to finalize some work. | Outsourcing agencies hire experienced people with diverse skills to serve any business purpose. |
| Technology & Tools | The in-house team only access tools they require. | Outsourcing teams have premium access to all types of software and tools. |
| Customization | When a team combines all types of skills, it is challenging to get the desired output every time. | You choose the expertise or skill sets of freelance editors to work with to fulfill your vision and get customized solutions as per your requirements. |
| Collaboration | Collaboration with an in-house team is easier and more immediate. | Nowadays, modern communication tools have made collaboration with outsourcing teams smooth and accessible anytime. |
Where Can You Outsource Video Editing?
There are 2 ways to outsource video editing services, i. Agency, ii. Freelancing platforms.
Considering the manifold benefits outsourcing offers, diverse types of brands rely on hiring external experts, even though they have an in-house team. Here is detailed information about these outsourcing platforms.
I. Video Editing Agency
Professional video editing service agencies are equipped with all types of skills, manpower, technology, and knowledge to fulfill extensive commercial needs. That is why brands choose agencies for their complicated, intricate, large-volume projects to ensure quality, brand consistency, and satisfactory work.
Here are the 2 best Video editing agencies in the US.
a. Clipping Path Studio
Clipping Path Studio offers scalable video post-production solutions to empower businesses to fulfill their commercial needs. From basic and traditional level editing to advanced and custom solutions, the brand ensures client satisfaction with videos that resonate with their brands.
- Services: Ecommerce product, fashion, real estate, music video, party and event video, travel, corporate, promotional, YouTube, eLearning, Social media, and custom video editing.
- Turnaround times: 1 to 3 business days.
- Cost: Decided based on project requirements.
b. Offshore Clipping
Offshore Clipping is offering commercial-grade video post-production solutions from startup to enterprise. The company ensures high-quality polished and professional video content that speaks volumes about brands, engages viewers, and drives results.
- Services: Any type of video from ecommerce, real estate, and corporate video, to social media, podcast, and YouTube video editing.
- Turnaround times: 1 to 4 business days.
- Cost: Depends on project complexity, time and purposes, etc.
II. Freelance Marketplace
The popularity of freelance marketplaces is popular for convenient and easy-to-find expertise, flexibility, and financial security. You will find video editors of any categories, skill ranges, experience, etc.
Popular 4 marketplaces for finding freelance video editors are-
- Behance: It’s not a freelance platform but you can find editors based on their portfolio. Price: Custom
- Upwork: The most reputed freelance platform for any range, skills, and work of freelancers. Price: Starts at around $20.
- Fiverr: One of the most used platforms for search. Price: Starts at as low as $5.
- Toptal: A reliable platform with highly qualified skills, suitable for businesses. Price: $50 to $150 per hour.
FAQs on Outsourcing Video Editing
How much does it cost to hire a video editor?
Hiring a video editor costs $15 – $20 per hour. This data varies based on the editor’s expertise level, location where they are providing the services, types of videos, level of detail, customization, video duration, etc.
How do I choose the right video editing service?
To choose the right video editing services, check 8 vital factors: 1. Experience, 2. Expertise, 3. Portfolio, 4. Service categories and custom solutions, 5. Communication, 6. Pricing, 7. Turnaround time and 8. Client testimonials.
What are the typical outsourcing challenges, and how do I overcome them?
Lack of expertise, miscommunication, and data security are detrimental among other outsourcing challenges. To overcome such challenges, you need to take some of these steps along with being alert: Use simple answers, sign NDA & share properties with encryption, and choose reputed communication channels while outsourcing.
What file formats do video editors accept and deliver?
Video editors accept any raw files such as MP4, HEVC, WMV, MOV, AVI, phone videos, drone capture, etc for processing. However, the output formats are mostly on MP4, MOV, AVI, or any format the clients ask for.
What’s the difference between hiring a freelancer vs. an agency?
The main difference between hiring a freelancer and an agency is the project managing capabilities. A freelancer has limited resources to support a client, whereas an agency is fully equipped to work in a broader range. Also, agencies are way more secure platforms.
Conclusion
Outsourcing video editing offers convenient solutions for brands in competitive online platforms. The right partner will uplift your effort and investment.
You will help outsourcing in all ranges, from freelancer to agency, that fit right in your budget and requirements.
Whether you are a content creator, marketer, or ecommerce business owner, hopefully now you can find your video editor and achieve your goals by getting professional and polished videos that attract audiences.
