Visual content is the cornerstone of digital marketing. Video fulfills a major demand for marketing activities. It impacts a lot on a brand’s positioning in the market to drive the right target audience.
Video’s importance will continue to grow and to take advantage, you need the right team standby, whether it is an in-house team or outsourcing video editing service.
In this article, we will discuss outsourced video editing vs in-house video editing services, based on benefits, cons, the cost difference between these and things to consider for finding the right partner for progress. Let’s get started.
What you’ll learn in this article
- 1 What is Meant by Outsourcing Video Editing?
- 2 What is Meant by In-house Video Editing?
- 3 What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Video Editing?
- 4 What are the Benefits of In-house Video Editing?
- 5 What are the Disadvantages of Outsourcing Video Editing?
- 6 What are the Disadvantages of In-House Video Editing?
- 7 How Much Does Outsourcing Video Editing Cost?
- 8 How Much Does In-house Cideo Editing Cost?
- 9 How Do You Choose Between Outsourcing and In-house Video Editing?
- 10 Final Thought
What is Meant by Outsourcing Video Editing?
Outsourcing video editing means assigning external video editing teams from professional companies or agencies to edit videos.
Such services range from single freelance editors to full-service video editors and offer scalable solutions. With variations and expertise in the editor’s panel, professional video editing service providers offer comprehensive and in-depth solutions.
What is Meant by In-house Video Editing?
In-house video editing is an internal team assigned to specifically fulfill organizational video content goals.
The organization provides space, necessary resources, video editing software, equipment and hires skilled personnel to create a video editor team. The purpose of an internal video editing team is to foster close collaboration and consistently maintain content quality maintaining the brand’s book.
What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Video Editing?
Outsourcing video editing is cost-effective, and allows access to industry expertise, scalable and fast solutions, and high-quality videos, which is why industries look for outsourcing from reliable professionals.
Access to Industry Expertise
Specialized video editing service companies have umbrellaed persons with diverse skill sets under one roof. From sequence adding, and quality upgrading to visually stunning cinematic effects and animation- outsourcing agencies display in-depth expertise.
High-quality Videos
Outsourcing video post-production ensures detailed and high-resolution videos to streamline organizational standards. With ample manpower, premium tools, and experience working with international clients, outsourcing agencies deliver videos with the finest details and the highest quality.
Cost-effectiveness
Outsourcing video editing services has a proven track record of significantly reducing organizational costs. It leads many industries to hire external professionals. As a result, outsourcing has become a billion-dollar sector for plenty of businesses to rely on. Businesses have saved their expenses on studio setup, equipment, hiring process, etc.
Scalable Outputs
Businesses requiring sporadic video editing can scale up and down their processing cost, for example, ecommerce product brands. They can outsource from professional video post-production agencies during campaign launching, or promotional activities to manage workload and effectively adjust their needs.
Fast and Global Solution
Businesses that launch operations in multiple time zones have promotional strategies planned out. It requires fast project completion. Outsourcing video editing agencies work 24/7 to fulfill the requirements of clients across the globe.
What are the Benefits of In-house Video Editing?
The in-house team provides long-term benefits for the organization as they understand the target better, and bring out the outputs with precision and privacy.
Aligns with Long-term Goal
Creating an in-house team involves a large amount of investment initially, which is once, except for the overhead cost. So, it’s a resource-effective solution if the company needs videos regularly and wants to benefit from long-term goals. For example, BuzzFeed’s videos are created by an in-house team, posting daily and gaining international traction.
Better Understanding of the Brand’s Objective
The in-house team closely aligns with the organizational target and workflow understands the requirements and purposes better, prioritizes projects better, available for feedback within reach. So, businesses having seasons surge in sales benefit from in-house teams.
Enhanced Cross-functional Collaboration
Video editing teams require collaboration with marketing teams to stay aligned with the final goal. For example, Nike’s cross-departmental collaboration between the design team and marketing team is proof of decision-making and campaign effectiveness.
Precision and Scalable Outputs
You have authority and control over an in-house team for the precise output. By maintaining the brand’s vision and consistency, the in-house team gives an edge to maintaining consistent visuals with creative oversight. in-house editors channel their sole skills for the organizational long-term vision and bring out the brand’s unique identity.
Confidentiality of Intellectual Property
Sensitive documents, classified data, and intellectual property stay inside the company. As the internal team stays in charge of the video editing process, each data circle among involved people in the project, to ensure data security.
What are the Disadvantages of Outsourcing Video Editing?
Video post-production services from an agency come with some cons such as reliability, communication, quality, and lack of control.
Reliability
Among the numerous outsourcing agencies, finding a reliable and trustworthy one is challenging, many companies impersonate themselves as professionals.
Communication
Outsourcing agencies that operate for different time zones, and different languages- their clients face the trouble of understanding the company’s work procedure. So, the lack of clear understanding drives away many customers.
A reliable video editing service provider offers 24/7 activity and has a multilingual client communication representative team to ensure smooth onboarding and off-boarding.
Quality
Video quality falters when beginners and mediocre video editors are working on it. That’s why before investing your money, verify your trusted agency’s working style.
Lack of Control
Agencies that aren’t responsive or open to any discussion don’t give any control. Professional video editing service providers have seasoned video editors who maintain clear communication to meet your organizational goals.
What are the Disadvantages of In-House Video Editing?
An in-house video editing team requires a large cost to set up, mismanagement risk during heavy workload, all-type of skills may not be hired at once.
Not an Appropriate Decision for Small Businesses
Creating and managing an in-house video editing team is an investment for the long term, but with large funding, expense, and resource allocations, which is a risky decision for startups, solopreneurs, or content creators.
Workload Mismanagement
The in-house team works at an organizational pace. So, when there is a high-volume workload, it affects the team’s performance and the regular work standards risk under-performance.
Lacking Skill-diversity
Most organizational internal teams consist of a few skilled people. So, videos that need an updated software skillset or trend technological advancement face challenges of perfect output.
Work Speed Falters
Constructive criticism may not always be maintained with the internal team. Frequent feedback or adjustments may break down the motivation of internal team members and undermine their performance.
How Much Does Outsourcing Video Editing Cost?
Outsourcing video editing service cost starts at $20 to $1000. The cost is decided based on individual unique requirements on the type of video editing, project complexity, turnaround, and level of expertise.
| Type of video editing | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Per Project | $50 to $3000 |
| Per Minute | $20 to $1000 |
| Per Hour | $100 |
| Per Month | $1500 |
| Quarter/ Annual Pricing | $3000 |
Individual Freelancers or a Professional Video Editing Agency- Which One is the Best Option?
A freelancing agency for video editing is better than hiring a freelancer when you need different types of video editing for a competitive edge.
A freelancer is suitable for short-term, less complicated, low-volume projects. Though they are less pricey than an agency, you have to assign one work at a time and hire different editors for different tasks.
A professional video editing agency is suitable for short to long-term projects, less complicated, and low to high-volume video editing. They have different skilled manpower to assign for different jobs. So, you can expect quality, consistent, and brand-specific solutions.
How Much Does In-house Cideo Editing Cost?
In-house video editing cost starts at around $20,000 counting the expenses of studio setup, equipment, premium software, salaries, etc.
| Topic | Items include | Approx. amount |
|---|---|---|
Studio setup | Desk, Chair, Computer, Storage solution, RAM, Microphones, Speakers, Audio equipment, UPS, etc. | $2,000–$20,000 |
| Premium software | Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, collaboration and connectivity tools, etc. | Possibly starts at $5000 |
| Salaries | Skilled-based editor, per person. | Starts around at $15,000 |
How Do You Choose Between Outsourcing and In-house Video Editing?
The requirement is the main factor in choosing between outsourcing video editing services and in-house video editing teams, which consists of the type of video editing, workload, quality, project security, timeline, budget, etc.
While in-house allows control, outsourcing excels in diversified and dynamic visual content creation. Creating and balancing an in-house team gives you an edge, with expense. Whereas outsourcing is a flexible and available option for all the time.
Here are 6 ways to choose between in-house video editors vs freelance video editors.
1. Type of Video Editing
Different types of video editing (linear, non-linear, online, cloud-based, etc.) serve workflow-based purposes.
An in-house team has diversity in skills. At the same time, an outsourcing agency hires specialized persons for each type.
In-house team
- Direct control and real-time change
- Marketing and promotional content creation
- A project that needs cross-functional team collaboration
Outsourcing agency
- Need complicated tasks like animation, motion graphics, VFX, etc.
- High-volume project with specialized expertise
- The project needs cutting-edge technology
2. Scale of Workload
In industries or organizations like the gaming industry, video is the main product and it needs constant production. Any physical product development company requires videos less than that. Considering your video workload and choose:
In-house team
- Consistent workload
- Requires frequent adjustments
- For a cohesive video production strategy
Outsourcing video editing companies
- Variable workload
- Seasonal or occasional high-volume projects
- Need multiple project completions at once
- Short-term goals: campaigns, promotional content videos
3. Quality
Both in-house and outsourcing agencies excel in quality. During rush moments, in-house work may fall short, whereas outsourcing services excel as they are professional in handling complex projects in volume with a tightened schedule.
In-house
- Consistent in quality
- Deep understanding of the organizational goal
- The team’s familiarity with the organization brings a tailored solution
Outsourcing team
- Need professional prowess
- Highly-scalable content creation
- For an advanced, and unique creative touch
4. Data Security
Reputable outsourcing agencies have their strict ‘Code of Ethics’ as non-disclosure agreements (NDA) to safeguard client’s business intellectual properties. So outsourcing is safe as long as you can find a trustworthy video editing service provider.
In-house team
- Limiting accessibility of sensitive data
- For classified video material
Outsourcing team
- High-volume and complicated project
- Proven track record of data confidentiality
5. Timeline
The in-house team follows the organizational pace and is immediately available. However, outsourcing agencies are comparatively faster output providers. So, consider:
In-house team when
- Projects require fast iterations
- Internal collaboration and communication is required
Outsourcing agency when
- You have multiple clients
- Has a busy schedule and requires a fast turnaround
6. Budget
Having an in-house team is like an internal powerhouse of skills and assigning an outsourcing company is like relying on an extension team.
Managing and maintaining a team costs many factors, including resources, equipment, long-term investment, high upfront costs, etc. But it’s worth it when you need consistent video editing.
Finding the right outsourcing video editing partner is challenging but it is reliable and professional in client-response, on-boarding, and post-sale services. Outsourcing is especially effective for services that require professional work, diverse skills, and different patterns.
In-house team
- Includes expenses on salaries, equipment, recruitment process, software purchasing, overhead costs, etc.
- Has predictable budgeting.
- Effective for big organizations.
Outsourcing team
- The one-time cost of service purchasing, no other expense involved.
- Service vary based on the categories you choose.
- Effective from individual content creators, and eCommerce-shop owners to large media, gaming, and animation companies.
Final Thought
Outsourced video editing vs. in-house- the better video editing approach is subject to your requirements, mission, resources, and budget.
Take a hybrid approach based on your goal. Outsource large-scale, complicated projects while assigning day-to-day video editing to the internal team to balance control, expense, and quality.
Keep an eye on ‘CPS Blog‘ for more video editing service-related updates.
