Capturing the best moments in a video is something this generation prides itself on. Marketers and businesses around the world are now focused on bringing their ideas and strategies to life through compelling promotional stories.
So, what makes a video go viral? A strong storyline, key highlights, engaging narration and of course an extraordinary editing!
| Did you know?😎 The subscription revenue for video editing software was valued at $3.09 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $5.13 billion by 2032. |
Clearly, video editing is not just a trend, it’s an essential and an in-demand skill as social media platforms increasingly prioritize video content that’s more likely to reach a broader audience organically.
Whether you are hiring editors, planning to edit videos yourself or already a seasoned pro, this blog serves as your lighthouse. After meticulous research, we have compiled 10 best video editing tips for beginners that can transform raw footage into something fantastic, that enlightens anyone asking, “How do I edit videos?
Why is Video Editing Important & Things to Consider Before Starting Editing
People upload hundreds and thousands of videos daily on YouTube, social media or a video hosting platform. But what makes your video stand out? I would say its the great editing. Editing videos is as important as capturing attention, boosting engagement, creating emotional connections and effortlessly building brand identity. You can’t ignore editing, especially if you are someone who uses videos for personal storytelling or business marketing purposes. But the good news is you don’t need any certificates or advanced skills to get started. You can edit right away as some of the editing platforms simplify it for you.
The real question is how do you do it?
Here’s what you need to know before you dive into the tips. First make sure to learn some key technical terms associated with video editing techniques such as resolution, precise cuts (L, J, JUMP and rough) montage, frame ratio, crop, trim and more. Gaining this information helped me a lot to navigate through the editing platform effectively and to become familiar with the tools. These are the things to be prioritized before getting started to avoid confusion.
Easy Video Editing Tips for Beginners in 2025
Editing is fun if you do it right and getting started with the right tool and right approach saves you time and energy. Here are some of the noteworthy tips that can smoothen your video editing journey.
Must-know video editing shortcut keys to speedup your editing
First, make sure to learn some key technical terms associated with video editing techniques such as resolution, precise cuts (L-cut, J-cut, jump cut and rough cut), montage, frame ratio, crop, trim and more.
Gaining this knowledge helped me navigate editing platforms more effectively and become familiar with the available tools. If you’re a beginner, these tips will help you learn how to edit video on Mac or windows easily. These fundamentals should be prioritized before getting started to avoid confusion.
Major Short Cut Keys 💻📹: J = Back Press the key J to track your play backward or reverse at regular speed. L= Forward Press the Key L to track your play forward at regular speed. K = Stop Press the key K to pause the play head when skimming through the timeline. |
Best Video Recording Tips that make Editing Smoother
Next, let’s take a look at some essential tips that every video editor should know while recording a video. We would love for you to check them out!
The 321 video editing rule :
Before you record your video consider following the 321 rule. It is a beginner-friendly guideline that suggests that for every minute of a finished video, you should include the following:
- 3 different camera angles: Try these three angles such as wide, medium and close-up shots from different positions to capture video.
- 2 different shot types: Include at least two different shot types in your video, like over-the-shoulder shots, establishing shots and reaction shots.
- 1 cutaway shot: Finally, focus on something else in the scene, like a detail or a reaction from another person, to break up the monotony.
By following this rule, even as a beginner, you can edit videos like a pro. It makes your editing simpler because rather than being a strict rule it plays as a best practice.
The 321 backup rule:
This is a golden rule for beginners that should never be forgotten at any cost. As a first-timer, you may be overwhelmed with editing and forget to save files or accidentally delete files this is where the 321 backup video editing rule comes to the rescue. It involves
- 3 copies: Have your original footage on your editing system plus two additional backup copies.
- 2 different media types: Store one backup copy on an external hard drive and another copy on a cloud storage service to diversify your backups.
- 1 offsite copy: Make sure to store one of your copies in a different location than your primary editing system, a cloud storage service to protect against local disasters.
That’s it, pals! Now that you know what to consider, let’s unlock the tips to edit and create great stories.
10 Effective Video Editing Tips for Beginners
Here is a list of tips to help you ace your editing even as a beginner. This compiled 10 points works almost perfectly for anyone who wants to learn video editing online. If you are such a person, then this section is for you!
1. Planning & Organizing
Have a concrete plan. Everyone will have videos to share, but you need to decide how well you are going to deliver your story to your audience with out-of-the-world video content. Either mind-map the flow or at least have a basic plan for how you are going to edit using a modern video editing setup.
Now, based on this, organize your clips and arrange them in the order in which you are going to merge and edit.
2. Start with Basics ( Trimming & cutting)
Let’s not get worked up. Stick to simple techniques and gradually move on to the advanced level. Isn’t there a proverb that says “Practice makes perfect”? Let’s follow the same approach here.
Some of the video editing basics like trimming and cutting will help you perfect your first draft.
Once you finish this give yourself kudos!
3. Make Sure the Audio & Video is of High Quality
Nobody can skip this step. It’s one of the most essential video editing steps to consider, and it should be your primary goal as well. Before you say, “Action, camera!” just double-check the audio and video quality.
Try using professional DSLR cameras to capture a clear shot of your video. As much as video editing is important, so is the quality of your video and audio. Even if the audio quality isn’t perfect, a good video editing software can eliminate unwanted noise using the noise reduction feature. So, no worries friends!
4. Remove Unused Footage & Stabilize Shaky Ones
It’s best to know your video well. Go through your video frame by frame to identify the unwanted clips. By trimming those sections you will have better footage in your hands. Now, try stabilizing the shaky parts with the video stabilizer feature. While this may sound like professional editing, believe me, it’s very simple.
Just select the part, click the icon and tada, the editing is done!
5. Use Transitions Sparingly
Have a few non-synching shots? Relax! Just use video transitions.
Use basic cuts or fades between clips for a smooth video flow. You can cut a section of footage and replace it with another. This is mainly used to indicate a change of location, a passage of time, a shift in the story and more.
Your video will look amazing once you add transitions and everyone around you will wonder “Wow! How did they do that? Or like when did this person sneak off to learn such a cool skill?” (behind the scenes it was only just a select & click 😜 )
Just show it off and let them admire your work!
6. Pacing & Color Scheming
Even as a beginner, you can edit videos professionally. If you feel that your video is moving too fast, use the pacing option to control the rhythm and speed, keeping your audience hooked to your content.
Is your video looking dull? Don’t worry, there’s an option for that too. Set the tone and enhance the visual appeal with colour scheming to deliver a stunning visual experience.
Your video is no longer just footage, it’s an art form now.
7. Edit Audio & Video Separately
Now 70% of the video editing is done. You have a great draft in your hand, but what do we have still? Let me give you a hint, It determines the quality of your video output. Guessed it? Yes, it’s the audio editing. They have to sync, there must be no overlap or incoherence with the video.
No matter how many characters are there in your video, record their voice separately. This method is called multitracking with which you can edit flexibly and deliver a more professional-looking video.
Some of the best video editing platforms come with the sound equalizer option, that lets you automatically adjust the levels of frequency and audio on separate audio tracks.
Just click it, fine-tune it and that’s it, you have pitch-perfect audio ready!
8. Use B-Roll Shots in Sets of Three
Here’s another life-saving video editing tip, who knows, it might even become your favourite! Using a B-roll in your video is like adding the right flavours to a dish. B-roll refers to additional footage that supports the main content by adding visual interest, variety and context.
This method is especially useful when you’re explaining a location, a subject or imagining a scenario.
When using B-roll shots try grouping them in sets of three for a smoother and dynamic flow. This technique keeps the viewer engaged with visual variety while adding depth and professional polish to your video!
9. Use Split Edits
Giving your video a final tweak is always best. Split edits are a game-changer for seamless video flow! By just opting for the split ends technique you can separate the audio and video and can introduce the audio a moment before or after the visual.
It creates a smooth transition, adding a professional touch and keeping the viewer’s attention where it matters most.
It’s a simple trick that instantly elevates your editing and hooks viewers from the start by building curiosity. It may sound complex, but trust me it’s all a one-click process.
10. Captions & The Right Choice of Music
This is the final step, and once you finish it, you’re ready to go! When you reach this point, shout a “hurray” and smile all the way, you’ve done a great job!
Add captions in any language, some video editing software even offers 90+ native languages, so take advantage of that.
Perfect your video by adding super cool music to captivate your audience and make them hum along while driving or doing laundry, that’s a success!
Do’s and Don’ts to Consider before Starting Editing
Now that you have 10 beginner tips at your fingertips and have gained ample knowledge here’s what you need to know next, the key dos and don’ts to consider before you begin editing so the process stays hassle-free.
List of Do’s
- Just focus on storytelling, don’t overdo it or take it for granted. Balance your thought process with a clear vision.
- Some top-notch video marketing platforms come with video analytics, allowing you to track viewer behavior and content quality through various metrics. Use it to improve for the better.
- Complete your video editing a day before the deadline to avoid last-minute mishaps.
- Stay organized by clearly marking and folding your footage to avoid frustrations during editing.
List of Don’ts’s
- Don’t overuse cuts and effects. While they can enhance visual clarity, overdoing it may disrupt the flow. We’ve all heard the saying “Too much cooking spoils the dish” right?
- Choosing the right music is crucial. The wrong track can completely disrupt the mood of your video. Also, make sure to use royalty-free or licensed music to avoid copyright issues.
- Never forget the 3-2-1 backup rule. Losing footage is the worst nightmare you don’t want to face.
- Avoid mismatched edits or choppy transitions that could break the flow of your video.
How Editing Platforms Play a Vital Role in Video Editing Techniques
Who doesn’t want to grab the opportunity to use the best and easiest video editor? Now that we’ve clearly seen the tips to ace editing as a beginner, the highlights on dos and don’ts are a bonus.
The important part is how to get better at video editing and I think this section will help you with that. Here’s why editing platforms play a pivotal role in:
- Editing allows you to arrange scenes in a way that grabs attention, builds emotion and delivers your message effectively with a powerful narrative instead of just having a random collection of clips.
- Well-edited videos come with add-on effects like smooth transitions, pacing, music and effects to keep viewers hooked.
- Polished videos reflect credibility and effort also you can easily fix errors to improve visuals giving a professional look.
- Even with editing software for beginners, you can stand out by adding creative cuts, effects and visuals just with a few easy clicks.
- You can repurpose video content any number of times by creating multiple versions of a video in a cost-effective way without having to reshoot.
For those looking for a video editor for beginners, these five points will guide you toward reaching your goal. If you’re still having second thoughts about getting started, please read the points again. Just try reading it again, it’s worth it!
Role of AI in Video Editing
Consuming a video may seem easy, but video production is a tedious process but its no longer as complicated as it used to be. With AI, you can significantly speed up the time from idea to delivery. You can now generate videos instantly from text, prompts, raw footage, images, scripts and more in just minutes with a single click.
As a beginner navigating the world of video editing software, look for AI-powered editing tools to stay aligned with current trends. Some of the basic AI video editing tools you’ll need as a beginner include:
- Text-to-video- Creates AI videos simply by describing a scene or frames in text.
- Image-to-video– Animate static images and photos by bringing them to life with motion effects.
- Video-to-video – Helps in enhancing and modifying or turn your existing videos rather than creating new videos from scratch.
- AI avatars- Create your own avatar and use them for branding and marketing purposes.
- AI video enhancer: Improve video quality in seconds in high resolution.
Top Benefits of Editing Videos in the Cloud
With many video editing solutions available, cloud-based tools have significantly transformed the editing process. As a first-timer, it’s important to understand what makes each type unique so you can choose the one that fits you best and start editing efficiently from day one.
Choosing a cloud-based video editing platform offers various benefits:
- No need of any installation or downloads, just start using the platform or tool right from your browser with simple sign ups.
- Offers a vast storage space without having to worry about losing files or file transfers.
- Provides one unified dashboard where your entire team can collaborate and use the editing tools through multiple admin access.
- A very cost-effctive solution as you can access the most advanced features at a monthly or annual subscription.
- Keeps your videos secured with cloud based video security throug multi-factor authentication and piracy, theft, breeches and pass word protection.
Choosing the Right Video Editing Software/Platforms
Before we discuss how to choose the best platform for editing, let’s explore how to find one.
The most important feature of a good editing platform is that it should never leave you Googling ‘how to edit video’ after signing in and trying it yourself.
The platform should also be compatible with all devices, not letting someone need an instant answer on how to edit videos on mobile. Also, make sure it fits within your budget, skill level and specific needs. With this in mind let’s find out the best video editor for beginners like you.
Before we discuss how to choose the best platform for editing, let’s explore how to find one.
The most important feature of a good editing platform is that it should never leave you Googling ‘how to make edits’ after signing in and trying it yourself.
Here are the best editing tips that you should consider before signing up with a video editing software or platform.
Handling Large Video Projects
Make sure to choose a platform or software that’s compatible with both large and small projects. When you are into editing it’s easy to lose track of storage space and video length. Look for video editing tools that offer unlimited or ample storage to save your edited files and share them seamlessly. Also it should also be efficient enough to handle large file uploads and apply video editing effects without buffering or crashing.
Built-in software for Quick Video Edits
In case you are not sure where to start, check for any built-in software on your system. For instance, Mac devices come with iMovie which is a great tool for editing social media content, YouTube videos, personal vlogs and more. Through its simple and user-friendly interface, you can edit videos in minutes without any hassle.
System Requirements for Video Editing
Use an efficient and high performing laptop or PC for high-quality editing. See if the system specifications mentioned meet the requirements of your editing software and align with the video output you need without causing potential crashes or errors.
Best Video Editing Platforms for Beginners
As a beginner in video editing myself, the one thing I looked for was platforms or video editors for beginners. Trust me, using this keyword surfaced these top 4 platforms that I want you to take a look at .
1. GUDSHO
Gudsho is a simple and powerful video editing software that offers an effective set of editing tools, branding assets, and advanced trim & craft editing solutions. You can edit videos of any length or raw clips or simply merge them into a compelling narrative. Also integrate with five major social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn to schedule and post your edited videos simultaneously.
With Gudsho, you can create reels, shorts and clips using 50+ editing styles that work 14x faster than typical video editing platforms. Start with basic trimming and cropping, then move on to advanced splicing, cutting, highlighting and more. You can store your edited videos under Media Hub which acts as the best external drive for video editing.
What makes Gudsho the ideal choice for video editing is its complete video marketing package, all available in a single dashboard. You can host, embed, post, share, market, and track your video performance to maximize reach, all at your fingertips with just a few clicks.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned marketer with tight deadlines, choose Gudsho to make a huge impact.
Get in touch with their customer success team to learn about pricing.
2. Canva
Canva is the best drag-and-drop web editor that comes with advanced and free AI video editing solutions. You can easily get ready with professionally edited videos of any length in minutes and schedule to promote your videos on various social media platforms using the content calendar.
Capture the best moments of your videos to highlight using the advanced AI features in seconds and turn them into fine-tuned visuals with just one click, unlike manual editing. Canva also benefits users who are more comfortable with traditional editing options like merging clips, customising templates in a timeline view and creating standout videos with storytelling motion by adding pitch-perfect audio and music without any skill requirement.
Whether it’s AI video editing or traditional video editing, Canva can help you nail both types of editing all under a single dashboard.
Learn more about Canva and its pricing plans.
3. Clipchamp
With Clipchamp, you no longer have to search for how to add music to video clips, as you can do it all effortlessly with a full suite of AI-powered video and audio editing tools. You can easily create show-stopping videos for various use cases using predefined templates in minutes.
From simple manual editing like trimming, cropping and rotating to advanced AI features like GIF makers, text-to-video converters and more, you can master everything under a single dashboard.
The platform also offers royalty-free preset assets like stock images, music and free elements that make your videos engaging, attractive and professional. To learn more about Clipchamp, check their pricing plan today to see how well it works for you.
4. FlexClip
Even for those who still don’t know how to resize videos, this is an easy to use video editing platform provides tools that make video creation accessible to everyone, with no skill required. It is now used and loved by millions of people worldwide to create videos for business and life with ease.
The platform offers specifically designed categories for Business, Lifestyle and Social Media, which you can edit with a click on the go. With a set of predefined templates loved by millions of users, Flexclip speeds up every editing task with AI features that make it easy to create videos instantly from raw videos, images and audio files.
Get to know their pricing plans now.
Conclusion
We hope above mentioned easiest video editing platform or a basic online video editor help you start your video editing journey today. Having said that, I feel it’s time to wrap up and leave the rest to you.
Once you follow these tips and complete your first edit, you’ll soon find yourself editing faster than a robot. Skills are more about practice than just learning. It very much worked for me and it will work for you too.
So, learn it, apply it, showcase it and the world will be amazed, just as you will be!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the basics of video editing?
The basics include cutting, trimming, adding transitions, B-roll and audio equalizer to enhance the visual story.
2. How to learn video editing?
Video editing is a skill to be practiced more than learned so start editing simple videos regularly, experiment with different techniques and get feedback from professionals to improve.
3. What are the stages of video editing?
The stages include: Pre-production Planning Production which involves colour scheming, pacing, transitions, rough cut, roll, and split edits. Finally, the post-production stage is to export, deliver and promote.
4. What should you avoid in video editing?
Avoid overusing effects, cuts or transitions and ensure audio and visuals are in sync.
5. What is the 3-2-1 rule in video editing?
The 3-2-1 rule means keeping three copies of your footage on two different storage devices with one off-site for backup.
6. What are the easiest video editing software for beginners?
Some of the easiest video editing software for beginners include GUDSHO, Canva, Clipchamp and Flimora. These offer simple interfaces and basic editing tools to help you get started quickly.
7. What is the 10 second rule in video editing?
The 10-second rule is a guideline that suggests you should capture the viewer’s attention within the first 10 seconds of a video. This means making sure the beginning of the video is engaging and hooks the viewer, so they’re more likely to keep watching.
Haripriya is a Digital Marketer with expertise in video editing tools and social media strategy. She leverages these skills to craft engaging visual content and optimize brand performance across digital platforms.
These are great techniques for anyone looking to start video editing as a beginner! They’re simple and really helpful for improving my editing skills.
Video editing for beginners seems a bit tough in the start, but these tips are super helpful! They make the editing process much easier and more manageable for newbies.
As a newbie, video editing can feel quite overwhelming, but I always recommend learning some essential editing tricks for beginners to help you get started. This blog makes it easy and guides you through the process.
Looking for some good editing platform as a beginner and this blog has not only given platform options but also the video editing tips for beginners to help you get started. Great work!
Such a helpful post for those just starting with video editing! These editing tips are very helpful especially the advice on starting with simple tools. I’ll definitely be applying these tips to improve my editing skills.
Really helpful post! These video editing tips for beginners are exactly what I was looking for. The basic editing techniques are explained very clearly.
Such a solid guide for beginners. I appreciate how the blog breaks down the basic editing techniques without overwhelming details. Great resource for anyone new to video editing.