Did you know 91% of businesses use video as a marketing tool? It’s an incredibly effective marketing tool because it combines visuals, audio, and storytelling to captivate audiences in a way that text alone cannot.

Editing allows you to trim out the unnecessary parts of a video, ultimately crafting a captivating narrative that keeps viewers hooked from start to finish.

So, here are 7 handy tips for editing video content for your small business.

1. Create a Storyboard

Before you start editing video content for your small business, review all the footage first. This will help you create a clear plan for the video.

I highly recommend creating a storyboard to outline the sequence of shots and the overall structure of your video.

Now, what is a storyboard?

A storyboard is a sequence of drawings or images that outlines the key scenes and shots of a video. It helps you plan and visualize the overall structure and flow of content.

Storyboards have been used for decades and are still quite popular in the film and television industry. 

The cartoon movie “The Little Orphan” came out in 1949. Here’s what one of its storyboards looked like.

Image via Wyzowl

Creating a storyboard can help you stay focused and save time during the editing process.

2. Trim and Refine Your Footage

In today's fast-paced world, attention spans are shorter than ever. No one has the time or patience to sit through a long, cumbersome video.

Nothing’s more boring than a video that just drags on and on.

By trimming your footage, you respect your viewers' time and deliver the content they need efficiently. Trimming removes unnecessary content and ensures that your video gets to the point quickly. This keeps your viewers engaged and prevents them from clicking away or losing interest.

And how can you achieve that?

Remove any unnecessary or repetitive footage to keep your video concise and focused. Cut out mistakes, bloopers, or irrelevant content. 

I strongly recommend using 4k video editing software to trim clips, adjust the duration of shots, and create a visually appealing sequence.

Remember, when editing video content for your small business, the idea is to keep it short and to the point.

3. Enhance with Music and Sound Effects

Picture this—you're watching a video, and suddenly, a dramatic scene unfolds. The hero is facing a life-or-death situation, and you can practically feel your heart racing along with theirs. 

Now, imagine that same scene without any sound.

Wouldn’t it be like watching a mime perform?

That’s why music and sound effects are important when editing video content for your small business.

Music and sound effects can greatly enhance the mood and impact of your video content. Select appropriate background music that matches the tone and messaging of your video. Also, integrate sound effects to emphasize key moments.

4. Incorporate Text and Graphics

While you’re adding music, don’t forget to also incorporate some text and graphics into your editing mix using best graphics design tools.

Adding text and graphics can reinforce your message and make your video content more informative.

But text isn't just about being informative. It can also be fun and expressive. Think about those witty text overlays in funny videos or those flashy titles in action-packed montages. They add personality, humor, and style to your content.

Experiment with different fonts, colors, and animations when editing video content for your small business.

Graphics can take your visuals to a whole new level.

Want to showcase some mind-blowing statistics? Infographics and charts are your best pals.

Need to highlight a product? Visual callouts and arrows are here to save the day.

In their iPhone launch videos, Apple often uses on-screen text and graphics to highlight key features.

Image via YouTube

Graphics can also help you create personalized videos by adding a touch of individuality and tailoring your content to specific viewers.

5. Color Correction and Grading

Imagine this. You've shot some amazing footage. But it doesn’t look as vibrant or balanced as you remember it.

Well, it happens to the best of us.

Maybe the lighting conditions weren’t perfect. Or, perhaps the camera settings were a bit off.

That’s where color correction swoops in to save the day.

With it, you can fix those pesky problems and make your video look polished and professional. You can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and even tweak individual colors to create a consistent and visually pleasing look.

Color grading allows you to set the tone and evoke emotions in your viewers. You can create a cinematic look, emulate different film stocks, or even go wild with colors.

Here’s how videos can look before and after color correction and grading.

Image via YouTube

6. Incorporate Transitions

Have you ever watched a video that jumps abruptly from one screen to another? Not a pleasant experience, right?

That’s exactly why you need to add transitions when editing video content for your small business.

Transitions bridge the gap between scenes, making your video flow seamlessly from one shot to another.

Let’s say you're creating a video to promote a contactless marketing campaign. 

You want to highlight the convenience and safety of your brand's services. Now, if you simply jump from one scene to another without any transitions, it might feel a bit chaotic.

Now, let's say you start with a shot of someone browsing through their smartphone, looking for products or services. As they tap the screen, the video smoothly transitions into a captivating animation of your brand's logo popping up. Isn’t it an incredible way of welcoming your viewers to the world of contactless marketing?

I recommend having fun experimenting with different transitions and letting your creative juices flow. Your videos will thank you, and your viewers would love the visual treat you've prepared for them.

7. Implement Basic Motion Graphics

We live in a world where there are endless distractions, right? So, how do you grab people’s attention? How do you make them watch your videos?

The only way to do that is to make your videos captivating. And motion graphics can help you do just that.

Now, what are motion graphics?

They are animated elements like text, shapes, and images that bring movement and visual interest to videos. They make things pop, fly, and dance on the screen, adding that extra sparkle to your video.

Motion graphics are not just about grabbing attention. They can also help you tell your story in a more engaging way. 

Think about it. Words on a screen are cool. Making those words come to life can take your storytelling to a whole new level! You can emphasize important points, create visual metaphors, or even guide your viewers' eyes to specific areas of the screen.

This video by Google uses motion graphics with aplomb.

Image via YouTube

Motion graphics can be expensive, right? So, how will you manage business expenses if you invest in motion graphics?

Well, there are several free motion graphics software available in the market. So, you could add those cool graphics to your videos without spending a dime.

Conclusion

Videos can help you widen your reach like no other medium. Mastering the art of video editing can greatly benefit your small business. 

By following the tips above for editing video content for your small business, you can create engaging and professional video content for your brand.

Do you have any other tips for editing video content for a small business? Please let us know in the comments below.

Author Bio - Reena Aggarwal

Reena is Director of Operations and Sales at Attrock, a result-driven digital marketing company. With 10+ years of sales and operations experience in the field of e-commerce and digital marketing, she is quite an industry expert. She is a people person and considers the human resources as the most valuable asset of a company. In her free time, you would find her spending quality time with her brilliant, almost teenage daughter and watching her grow in this digital, fast-paced era.