When you want to begin using other platforms to drive traffic to your live stream, you need to learn some video editing
There is a big difference between live streaming and watching a prerecorded video
There can be more empty time on a live stream
That means you need to take out that extra time when you use your game clips for other platforms
You can begin video editing quickly because the base skills are easy to learn. If you buy quality editing software, your learning curve will not be that hard. If you want to make more complex videos, then that will take some time
But the basic video editing skills that you need to start gaining traffic from YouTube and TikTok don’t take long to learn!
I have seen it a few thousand times
Someone that has never even seen editing software can learn to edit a basic video in a couple of weeks
How long it takes depends on how long you work on it and where you start
But good editing software is straightforward and easy to use once you learn what you need to do and what buttons to push
What does editing like a pro look like?
Editing like a pro means being able to create a video that accomplishes the goals you created for that video
There are a million ways you can make a video complex, but how successfully that video performs is what is truly important
That can be a simple video or it can be complex
Being a pro means knowing what you need to do to accomplish a goal
And that only comes with time and practice
Testing what works and what doesn’t work
There is no perfect set of rules because things that improve one video will lower the quality on another video
So to start editing like a pro, learn the basics
Then test things that break the “rules” and see how it goes
Don’t test something only once because it takes a large sample to know if something worked or not
Do A/B testing
A/B testing is when you have two identical videos except for one thing
One of the best things to A/B test is the hook
You have five seconds to convince someone to watch your video
The difference between a successful video and one that doesn’t get views could be within those 5 seconds
There are many systems to help you go from beginner to someone good enough to create their own system
I shared my system below
But remember that the only way to be a pro is by learning and practicing
There are tips to make your video improve faster
But there is no secret sauce that allows you to skip the practice stage
Steps to edit like a pro when you are a beginner
My system is pretty straightforward
I don’t usually add crazy layers like broll
Broll is when clips from pop culture or movies come up to improve the delivery of your message
Adding Broll successfully takes some practice, so let’s start with the basics so you can get started
My process goes in step-by-step order:
- Choose an editing software
- Create a brand
- Find clips that have some kids of value
- Cut out anything that isn’t needed
- Add a hook
- Add a call to action
- Add transitions
- Add text and pop-ups on the screen
- Do a final check
You don’t have to repeat steps one and two, but you do have to repeat the other steps every time
Choose an editing software
The first thing you need to start editing your gaming clips is an editing software
There are a lot of options that range from free to paid
Our favorite is Filmora
It is easy to learn for beginners but has enough features to make experienced editors happy
If you want to look at more options, check out my article about 9 different options to choose from
Create a brand
People that are new to the business and online worlds often overlook this step
A brand is things that people think of when they think of your stream
Think about your favorite streamers
They probably have words, images, props, or games that you connect with them
That is a brand
Think about what you can people to connect with you and incorporate those things in your videos
Find clips that have some kids of value
It is important to make sure your videos have some kind of value
Value can mean a lot of different things
Value can be:
- Entertainment
- Humor
- Tutorials
- Walkthroughs
- Character profiles
- Competitions
- Shocking moments
- Tips and tricks
- Intense moments
- And more
Value is just the reason someone should watch your video
If you don’t know why someone should watch your video, then you need to think about what value you are offering before creating more videos
Once you know what you want to offer, now you just need to find gaming clips that match
Cut out anything that isn’t needed
Now that you have the clips, now you need to organize them if you want to put multiple together and start cutting out what doesn’t belong in the end result
Be careful using dead space, but don’t make the video too overwhelming
If you are creating a TikTok, creating a video that moves fast enough that people need to watch it two or three times isn’t a bad thing
But don’t require more than three rewatches because you’ll start to lose people
If you are editing for YouTube, make the video straightforward and clear
These are longer videos so you don’t want to lose people because they are confused
Add a hook
Now that you have the main portion of the video, now it is time to add a hook
A hook is the very beginning of a video
With a TikTok, the hook is 5 seconds long
With a YouTube video, the hook can be longer
But people tend to like when creators get to the point so don’t draw it out too long
You can add a hook with text on the screen or through your voice
The hook is a statement that makes people want to stay
This is when having a clear image of the video value is important
If you are making a video with 5 tips to improve headshots, then your hook can be:
“5 tips to improve your headshots in Apex”
Quick, to the point, makes value obvious, and doesn’t give all the value away
Pay attention to the videos that you watch
They will have a hook!
Get inspiration for your videos but don’t copy other creators
Add a call to action
Congratulations!
You have two/thirds of your video ready!
The last piece is a call to action
Your viewers need to be told what you want from them
That is why YouTube videos end in “like and subscribe!”
Or TikToks end in “follow for more”
Those are the most common CTAs
You don’t have to get creative here if you don’t want to be
Just make sure you ask for one thing that you want your viewers to do
You can even ask them to join your live!
Just remember to tell them when it is
Add transitions
You have all three parts of your video created and edited down now
Transitions are a way to blend different clips together in a neater way
Instead of harsh switches between clips, you can have your video transition in many different ways
Check out the transitions that are available in your editing software and see what looks nice
Try not to overdo it
Add text and pop-ups on the screen
Once the base video is clean, now your can start layering
Layers are things that go over or under your base video
You can add sounds so you can hear something without changing what you see
You can add pop-ups and text over your video so you can see them
I highly recommend some kind of caption
Assume that people can’t hear your video
Not everyone will watch your videos muted, but many people will
So it is a good thing to get used to
Do a final check
Now that you have all the parts of your video in place, watch it through
Make any last-minute adjustments as you go
The goal here is to watch your video as your viewers would
It would be even better if you could wait a couple of hours before this final check so you can watch your video with fresh eyes
This is when you are going to catch little mistakes that you missed before
When you are happy with it, it is time to download it!
If you are a perfectionist like me, sometimes you just have to stop nitpicking
It will never be 100% perfect every time
It is better to get it done and posted so you can start the next video instead of obsessing over this one
If your video is 80% done, that is probably good enough