Scaling Video Creation

[CHilliard8]

Hi, I'm part of a very small marketing team. I'm the only video editor, but I also wear about 15 other hats. Video is king online, but it's so time consuming. Any tips, tricks or vendors that can help increae output within a small budget?  

[danmoyle · Accepted solution]

Hi @CHilliard8 and welcome to the Community! 

In addition to the link from @PamCotton (thanks for the tag Pam!) I'd look into educational resources from video platforms like Wistia. They offer tips and advice on video for everyone from beginners to veterans. 

A few thoughts I've had over the years: 

• Consolidate when possible, and make content re-usable. It may not save time in the moment, but if you have content you can use across platforms, you'll save time in the long run. 
• Edit as little as possible. I've shot live-to-tape my entire career, keeping the post-production time low. I'm not editing Ken Burns documentaries, so I'm keeping it as easy as possible.
• Video templates. I've used Avid, Final Cut Pro, Descript, Camtasia, Adobe... they all helped me to create project templates with graphics saved as much as possible. It does save some time. 
• Advocate for yourself. Video takes time. That's just a fact. It's faster than it used to be, but setting expectations that a 2-minute video may take a few hours depending on the style is helpful. 

Hopefully others have tips as well! 

[Plainly_Videos · Accepted solution]

Ex-video editor here.

To add on top of @danmoyle - templates are absolutely crucial. If you see that you're doing the same type of content over and over, make a template and then simply edit parts of it. You can also make modules. We have a YouTube channel for our company and our video editor made modules like lower thirds, intro, outro etc so he doesn't have to recreate them over and over.

One more thing that streamlines our current process is that we have a centralized place for all of our assets. A lot of time can go into finding the assets you need like approved audio, logos, templates etc but if you have a centralized place where that's stored it will save you a ton of time.

Nowadays, AI tools are getting better. For example, in 2023, if you wanted to cut up a long podcast into social media bits, you probably had to spend a few hours. Now, there are tools like Opus that can do this in minutes. I think AI tools aren't there for full video editing YET, but you can definitely automate parts of the process like rough cuts, voiceover, removing bg (as @Yuitea mentioned below), etc.

Another worthy mention would be Plainly (plainlyvideos.com) if you work in After Effects. Plainly helps video teams automate data-driven video creation. If you need to produce 100s or 1000s of similar video assets and you only need to replace elements like images, text etc then Plainly is worth checking out as you can upload your After Effects project file, mark dynamic elements and then use Google Sheets, Airtable or similar to render video versions.

[BérangèreL · Accepted solution]

Hi @Plainly_Videos and welcome to the HubSpot Community, we are glad to have you here!

Thanks for your contribution and sharing your experience!

I'd like to also share these resources that might be helpful for @CHilliard8 and other Community Members:

- Clip Creator: Free AI-powered video maker
- Business Video Maker (Public Beta)

Let us know if these help!

Have a wonderful day!
Bérangère

[UGC_at_Scale · Accepted solution]

Hi CHilliard8, 

There are two aspects: 1. Collecting, Co-creating or Ai-creating videos. 2. Editing, posting and sending.
While I don't know the business you are in, you can use BrandLens for collecting and co-creating video content at Scale. This is done through on-screen instructions, so you don't have to do much editing later.

2. Editing... While still important... the focus should be on the story. Lo-fi content performs better these days.

[Plainly_Videos · Accepted solution]

Ex-video editor here.

To add on top of @danmoyle - templates are absolutely crucial. If you see that you're doing the same type of content over and over, make a template and then simply edit parts of it. You can also make modules. We have a YouTube channel for our company and our video editor made modules like lower thirds, intro, outro etc so he doesn't have to recreate them over and over.

One more thing that streamlines our current process is that we have a centralized place for all of our assets. A lot of time can go into finding the assets you need like approved audio, logos, templates etc but if you have a centralized place where that's stored it will save you a ton of time.

Nowadays, AI tools are getting better. For example, in 2023, if you wanted to cut up a long podcast into social media bits, you probably had to spend a few hours. Now, there are tools like Opus that can do this in minutes. I think AI tools aren't there for full video editing YET, but you can definitely automate parts of the process like rough cuts, voiceover, removing bg (as @Yuitea mentioned below), etc.

Another worthy mention would be Plainly (plainlyvideos.com) if you work in After Effects. Plainly helps video teams automate data-driven video creation. If you need to produce 100s or 1000s of similar video assets and you only need to replace elements like images, text etc then Plainly is worth checking out as you can upload your After Effects project file, mark dynamic elements and then use Google Sheets, Airtable or similar to render video versions.

[danmoyle]

Love the template advice @Plainly_Videos that's a great point! I used to have some great timeline templates in my editing software. 

[BérangèreL · Accepted solution]

Hi @Plainly_Videos and welcome to the HubSpot Community, we are glad to have you here!

Thanks for your contribution and sharing your experience!

I'd like to also share these resources that might be helpful for @CHilliard8 and other Community Members:

- Clip Creator: Free AI-powered video maker
- Business Video Maker (Public Beta)

Let us know if these help!

Have a wonderful day!
Bérangère

[Yuitea]

Totally get where you’re coming from—being a one-person video team is no joke. While pro tools like Premiere Pro are great, you can definitely boost your workflow by adding some smart third-party tools for tasks like background removal or format conversion.

This quick guide might give you some ideas: How to Remove Background from Video. It could help you save time on repetitive tasks so you can focus more on the creative side. Hope it helps streamline your process!

[LZinc]

Scaling video creation can be approached through various strategies and tools to streamline the process and increase efficiency. Here's a structured approach:

1. Define Goals and Audience: Clearly outline the purpose of the videos and identify the target audience. Understanding these aspects helps in creating relevant content.

2. Create Templates: Develop templates for different types of videos such as tutorials, promotional videos, explainer videos, etc. Templates can speed up the production process and ensure consistency across videos.

3. Content Planning: Plan your video content in advance. Create content calendars outlining the topics, scripts, and key messages for each video. This helps in maintaining a steady flow of content and ensures that you cover a variety of topics relevant to your audience.

4. Invest in Tools and Software: Utilize video editing software and tools that can automate repetitive tasks and streamline the editing process. Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or simpler tools like Canva or Animoto can be beneficial depending on your needs and expertise.

5. Outsource Where Necessary: Consider outsourcing certain aspects of video creation such as scriptwriting, editing, or animation to freelancers or agencies. This can help in managing workload spikes and accessing specialized skills when needed.

6. Repurpose Content: Repurpose existing content into videos. Convert blog posts, presentations, or webinars into engaging video content. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency in messaging across different channels.

7. Collaborate with Influencers or Subject Matter Experts: Partner with influencers or subject matter experts to co-create content. This not only adds credibility to your videos but also expands your reach to their audience.

8. Implement Feedback Loops: Gather feedback from your audience and analytics data to continuously improve your video content. This helps in understanding what resonates with your audience and refining your video creation process accordingly.

9. Batch Production: Schedule dedicated time for video production and batch record multiple videos in one session. This can help in maximizing efficiency and ensuring a consistent output of content.

10. Stay Updated with Trends: Keep an eye on the latest video trends and techniques. Experiment with new formats, styles, and platforms to keep your content fresh and engaging.

By implementing these strategies, you can scale your video creation efforts effectively while maintaining quality and consistency across your content.

[danmoyle · Accepted solution]

Hi @CHilliard8 and welcome to the Community! 

In addition to the link from @PamCotton (thanks for the tag Pam!) I'd look into educational resources from video platforms like Wistia. They offer tips and advice on video for everyone from beginners to veterans. 

A few thoughts I've had over the years: 

• Consolidate when possible, and make content re-usable. It may not save time in the moment, but if you have content you can use across platforms, you'll save time in the long run. 
• Edit as little as possible. I've shot live-to-tape my entire career, keeping the post-production time low. I'm not editing Ken Burns documentaries, so I'm keeping it as easy as possible.
• Video templates. I've used Avid, Final Cut Pro, Descript, Camtasia, Adobe... they all helped me to create project templates with graphics saved as much as possible. It does save some time. 
• Advocate for yourself. Video takes time. That's just a fact. It's faster than it used to be, but setting expectations that a 2-minute video may take a few hours depending on the style is helpful. 

Hopefully others have tips as well! 

[PamCotton]

Thank you @danmoyle, for sharing these amazing tips with @CHilliard8!

Kindly

Pam

[PamCotton]

Hello @CHilliard8 thank you for posting in our Community!

Wearing many hats? I've got your back! Quick tips to amp up your video game on a budget:

Explore this HubSpot free video-marketing template for ready-made video templates. I would also recommend filming multiple clips in one go for efficient editing.

Check out this social media calendar here 

To our top experts @danmoyle @Jnix284 any other recommendations to @CHilliard8?

Questions? Let us know! 

Kindly,

Pam

[Jnix284]

@CHilliard8 wearing that many hats can be very challenging, I think the most important thing is setting the right expectation when it comes to video and what you can / can't create within the budget.

@danmoyle has amazing tips as always!

all the best with your quest 🚀

[danmoyle]

@Jnix284 you make me blush, my friend. Appreciate you.