The
Video Handbooks
Learn exactly what you need
to make the videos you want.
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Why editing is so time consuming for beginners
If you're struggling to make videos, then you've come to the right place. I've been making videos professionally for almost 20 years and have been teaching others how to make videos for over 5.
You're likely struggling because you haven't identified one or both of these things:
- ✔️ What this video should accomplish
- ✔️ Why your unhappy with your video or process
These might seem like obvious questions to ask, but I've watched intelligent, talented creators cave on projects because they didn't know the answers. Worse, they didn't even know they didn't know the answers!
For example, I knew someone who had a fantastic business model and wanted to grow. Videos were important to her relationship with her customers and she had plans to make hundreds of videos across all kinds of topics. She and her business partner were making and editing these videos all by themselves and struggled to keep up with the demands. First they wanted to “game the YouTube algorithm”, then they wanted to make courses on Udemy, then they wanted to make videos for all of their private FAQ questions, and on and on.
I noticed they were having trouble but also that they had a lot of potential. Here was the advice I offered to them:
Know what your videos should accomplish
Be extremely specific. This video should… get 10,000 views. Or convert 7% of new customers on our funnel page. Or reduce how many emails we get about upgrading a subscription. Or make our most loyal followers share on their social media. Now you can guage if a video was successful or not.
If the video you're making doesn't have a specific answer to a specific question, then you're just making a video for the sake of it. In their case, they were making a lot of videos for the sake of it, and stressing about it.
In other cases, people can answer the “accomplish” question but have trouble with the unhappy question. This question breaks into more questions, divided between how a video feels and how to work with the tools.
As an example, many people jump into editing without knowing much about computers and digital technology. You can ignore many computer-related details for some small, easy projects, but eventually you'll hit a problem that needs computer knowledge. (Just be glad you don't have to deal with reeling your 16mm film in a bag. It's just as hard.)
And here's how making videos will get easier
Here at the Video Handbook series, I help you identify these questions and find the best answers. The Video Handbook series is perfect for people new to video or struggle with fluency. Your best place to start is with The Video Editing Handbook for Beginners. In it you'll find everything from editing concepts to software tools to promotion and style strategies. Once you get through that and find yourself on complex projects or getting hired, The Advanced Video Editing Handbook will be your best guide. You can also watch my expanding video course series, walking you through advanced tools and concepts.
And you can ask me questions along the way! Just find me on X @video_handbook.
Looking for the chapter videos?
If you bought the Video Editing Handbook for Beginners, you can find the chapter videos by clicking below.
About the author
Aaron Goold has worked in digital and analog (and even some celluloid) technologies for over 15 years. He has produced feature films, national commercials, podcasts, and digital media of all sizes for some of the most recognizable brands. Highlights of his career include:
Director of Post-production for Warner Bros Studio Tour 3D, Director and Producer of "Immersion: A Metaphysical Wandering": A feature-length science-fiction film that premiered at the Julian Dubuque Film Festival.
For the last 5 years, he shifted his focus to another industry, computers. His most recent creation is the Discord-OpenSea messenger, Argobot.
