Editing your videos for YouTube—i.e. taking a platform-specific approach to your content—can be the difference between posting a high-quality product nobody sees and posting something that people actually see and engage with. 

YouTube channels that amass a devoted following do so because their creators think strategically about which techniques and presentation styles will separate their video clips from the billions of others on the platform. Some of that difference comes down to polish—production value and professionalism—and some of it comes down to using an approach that has a higher chance of succeeding on YouTube in particular.

You’ll no doubt have a leg up on other beginners if you’ve worked on a video project or two before, but either way, with some practice and experimentation, it’s possible to create a winning YouTube strategy for your channel.

How to edit a YouTube video

How you edit your YouTube video will, of course, largely depend on what genre of video you’re creating. A DIY tutorial on spackling a hole in your wall will look pretty different from a direct-to-camera screed about which Batman movie has the most realistic bats. No matter what kind of video you want to edit, however, there is a generalizable approach you can use to turn your raw footage into something YouTube-worthy.

1. Choose an editing platform. There are a lot of video editing tools out there, and which one you pick boils down to both personal preference and experience level. YouTube Studio (the platform’s built-in editing program) allows you to make some basic cuts, but is otherwise rudimentary. Descript allows you to edit your YouTube videos using a transcript, making editing a video as easy as editing text. Obviously, we think Descript is the best, but there are tons of video editing programs out there, so do your best to figure out what kinds of capabilities you’ll need and choose a program based on those.
2. Upload your footage. This step is pretty straightforward: Transfer your footage from your recording device to your computer.
3. Review your footage and find the good stuff. There are always a few bad takes and bloopers. What constitutes “good stuff” will depend on what vibe you’re going for and what works for your purposes. But you shouldn’t delete the unusable footage, as you might find a need for it later (did someone say “blooper reel”?). It’s nevertheless a good idea to separate it so you don’t get confused.
4. Start creating a rough cut. This will usually involve some form of dragging clips into your video timeline, eliminating dead air or unnecessary content, and ordering what you have into a somewhat coherent form. Descript will automatically take out the “ums” “uhs” and other filler words so you sound eloquent (which, of course, you are). 
5. Refine your cut. This will take as much time as you allow it, depending on how much of a perfectionist you are, so be patient. Remember those discarded clips you kept in a  folder? Your trash might become just the treasure you need to make your video a masterpiece. Depending on your skill level, you may also want to include transitions between shots or sections. Oh, and make sure to click save often during this stage (unless you’re using Descript, which saves automatically to the cloud). You’ll thank yourself for that later when your cat shuts down your computer out of spite.
6. Create visual aids and markers. If graphic design isn’t your forté, this would be the time to enlist a friend who owes you a favor. Especially as a new creator, you want to make your video as legible and followable as possible so viewers stick around. If you’re creating an explainer or a video that would be better understood in smaller sections, you should consider signposting new sections with lower-thirds or pop-up displays and including visual embellishments when necessary to keep your audience on board.
7. Add music (or sound effects). Maybe your video doesn’t need music, but you probably won’t know that until you try some out. Many editing platforms even come with license-free music that you can use in your final video at no cost.
8. Insert an intro and an outro. Anengaging intro will work wonders to keep someone watching your video, so even if you plan on using a title card (which is also a nice touch), it’s a good idea to lead with something immediately compelling, like a cold open from the best bit of the video to come. Similarly, while “like and subscribe” is a bit of a cliché at this point, attaching an outro or end screen driving to other videos on your channel (or even whole video playlists) can turn a curious viewer into a returning fan. Plus, the data proves that this tactic works.
9. Put on finishing touches. Maybe you need a tastefully deployed voiceover to make your project feel like a professional video. Or maybe some graphics you put in just aren’t working. Whatever it is, this is the stage where you do your best to watch the video like a viewer would—or where you show it to actual viewers, like friends and family—and get it in the best shape possible. After all, before you upload videos, you want them to fully reflect the work and consideration you put into them.
10. Upload with attached bells and whistles. YouTube offers tools in-platform (e.g. annotations) that allow you to insert links and notes into your video. This is the perfect time to include links to other videos or to your personal website or online store. This is also the time to include a bold, legiblel thumbnail that creates appeal and draws viewers in.

Best practices for editing YouTube videos

Cory Bruce is a professional video editor with over 15 years of experience who’s worked on YouTube content for brands like MTV, Google, and Comedy Central. Here are some tips he has to share for people who are new to editing for YouTube (or new to editing, period):

• Don’t obsess over your editing platform. If you’re tearing your hair out over where to edit YouTube videos, don’t. “The skill of the person doing the work is going to be reflected more in the videos than a specific program,” Bruce says. In other words, any video editing software can work for YouTube if it does what you need to produce your best work. 
• Your editing style should match your content style. Some creators intentionally put together videos that have a homemade charm to them; some make sleek art pieces. “One mistake that I see people make is not considering the final style of the video and using the cuts that are going to match that,” Bruce says.
• Stay organized. Especially if you have a lot of footage, paring it down and making sure everything is findable can be a chore, but it’s definitely worth it, Bruce says. He uses a system of folders (and folders within folders) to sort graphics, music, and different types of footage. “Everything’s easy if you know where all your assets are,” he says. “It’s really a simple way to take it one step at a time.”
• Focus on the basics before you get fancy. There’s nothing wrong with getting video ideas for YouTube from well-established practitioners on social media or elsewhere online, but keep in mind that even a simply produced video can have a big impact. “It’s good to be flashy sometimes if the moment calls for it,” Bruce says, but “if you want to engage with audiences, you have to be real in a way that they find refreshing.” In other words, use effects to enhance your presentation, not as a way to  compensate for its shortcomings.
• Branding and consistency are key. “In order for people to want to see your stuff, they have to have an expectation of what you’re bringing them,” Bruce says. That means creating a visual language and a style through your editing that’s immediately identifiable. It’s OK to experiment, but once you hit on components that work for you, like a signature effect or segment, stick with them and try to produce videos featuring those elements on a regular basis. You may even want to templatize your videos for both branding and easier workflow.
• Don’t rush the process. It’s good to give yourself deadlines, but make sure you’re leaving yourself enough time to sit with your video before you upload it. “Once you think you’re done done, put it away,” Bruce says. “Watch it the next morning just looking for problems, and if you find any, fix them and then put it away [again].” Toiling away at a video for hours on end can desensitize you to it, while giving yourself space away from the project can provide you with fresh eyes (not literally. You’ll have to look elsewhere for literal fresh eyes).‍
• Keep your ultimate goal in mind. As you review your video from one cut to the next, instead of making cuts or transposing clips for the sake of it, Bruce recommends asking, “Is this working? Do these cuts make this content feel lighter and breezier and bring us to the good stuff faster?” If the answer is no, step away and reconsider your purpose for your video.