In-house video editors vs. production agencies: which path powers your show?
When you start out on YouTube — you’ll probably be tempted or forced by budget constraints to edit your own content. Especially if it’s just a fun side project or something you enjoy. But if you want to go big or if the show you’re launching has a fat marketing budget — then it’s time to get professional editing help 💪
So your options are to bring someone into your team or find an agency that offers production services.
Which path should you take to power up your content creation game? Here are the first factors to consider:
What’s your realistic time commitment to the show? Is this a 3-episode experiment to see if it has wings or are you committed to making video content a priority for months & years to come?
Team dynamics — are you a solo creator or remote podcaster working from home or is there a cheerful team that all works in the office side by side?
Along with dynamics there’s location — is there even anyone to hire locally?
Hiring full- or part-time adds complexity — payroll, taxes, contract negotiations, onboarding, equipment — all these things will take time away from the content!
Not all these questions are easy to answer, but here’s our TL/DR:
But hard decisions need more than that so here’s a nuanced look at who’s the right fit to make your vlog or video podcast stand out long-term.
The power of in-house & agency video editors
The world of visual enhancement
When it comes to crafting visually captivating YouTube shows, video editors are the unsung heroes behind the scenes. Their expertise lies in transforming raw footage into polished masterpieces, adding that extra sprinkle of magic to elevate the overall visual appeal.
No, that’s an understatement. They take your rambling 30+ minutes of uhms and ahhs and turn it into a video that’s actually enjoyable, entertaining and value-packed.
From color correction to seamless transitions, video editors possess the technical finesse to make your content shine. Keep in mind that these are skills you’ll also get from a (good) production agency.
Ideally, the editor(s) you hire onto the team have a passion for not just great editing, but also for the topics your content will cover.
This overlap elevates them from a mere technical hire to a teammate who buys into the vision of your content. Don’t underestimate how important this is.
Tailoring your content to perfection
Video editors are the maestros of editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve. With these powerful tools at their disposal, they can work their editing wizardry to enhance every frame of your content.
Whether it's cleaning up audio, adding visual effects, or creating custom graphics, video editors are well-versed in the art of using these tools to bring your vision to life.
One big plus of working with video editors is the level of customization they offer. They help you craft a unique visual identity for your long and short-form video content, incorporating branding elements and maintaining consistency throughout your content.
Create captivating intros, seamless outros, or implement clean transitions, video editors have the skills to tailor your content to perfection. Bringing these skills in-house usually means more direct communication and faster iteration loops to improve & scale up your output over time.
Save time and boost efficiency
By handing off the editing process to a skilled video editor, you free up valuable time to focus on other aspects of content creation. Video editing is a time-consuming task that requires meticulous attention to detail.
With a video editor at the helm, you can ensure a more efficient production process, timely delivery, and consistent output quality.
Let them work their magic while you focus on creating compelling content that resonates with your audience.
Obviously, the same is true about partnering with a subscription agency — in fact you should have more time because you don’t have to deal with employment logistics and direct, day-to-day management of your editor.
Exploring subscription-based production agencies
When it comes to hiring a subscription-based production agency for your vlog or podcast, you're diving into a world of comprehensive content creation. These agencies offer a one-stop-shop for all your production needs, bringing together a team of experts to ensure your content shines.
Here's what you can expect when working with a production agency:
Holistic approach: Production agencies take a holistic approach to content creation, focusing on every aspect from concept to delivery. They collaborate closely with you to understand your vision and audience, ensuring a cohesive final product that resonates with your viewers.
Expertise and resources: With a team of professionals at your disposal, production agencies bring a wealth of expertise to the table. From video editors to thumbnail designers, they have the resources to optimize your content creation process and elevate the quality of your vlogs or podcasts.
Flexibility: When you start a new YouTube channel, you can’t be sure the original plan is going to be the same 3-6 months down the road. A subscription lets you pause for a month if needed or shift the content output quickly up or down as needed. They handle the editor workload so your videos keep coming no matter what.
I’ve already mentioned the creative advantage of having an in-house editor, but an agency can be a creative boost in a different way.
Anyone in-house long enough can get tunnel vision — they know so much about the company or the show or the host that they lose outsider perspective.
An agency can bring that back. You’ll get a fresh set of eyes looking at your content and keen to give you feedback to meet your goals for the show.
More factors to consider
These factors can help you determine which option aligns best with your goals and vision for your content creation journey:
Scope of Work: Do you need more than just editing? Sure, there are editors out there who have complimentary skills — or your team may already include folks to fill those gaps.
But if you’re a solo creator and just want to record the content, hand it off and get everything back ready to post in a few days — an agency is perfect for you.
Budget Constraints: This one is tricky because it depends a lot on who you hire to edit, the pricing of the agency you partner with, and how you value the time you spend managing either one. Getting started with an agency should definitely be faster, which means your show is up and running before you even get an editor on board.
Long-term you can run a more detailed cost analysis and decide which route suits you.
Timeline and Turnaround: Assess the time sensitivity of your content creation process and the turnaround times required for your vlogs or podcasts. Once on-board, an in-house editor with a well-coordinated workflow could turn around content faster.
But if you’re also playing project manager for the whole production process and coordinating with a designer, etc — you could get slowed down.
What we offer is fairly standardized to eliminate inefficiencies — 1 long-form episode per week with 3 short clips and the other assets you need to publish. No holidays, no down time, no drama — just keep your show rolling.
Creative Input and Collaboration: Think about the level of creative input and collaboration you need for your channel. Video editors can work closely with you to bring your creative vision to life, offering flexibility and customization options.
Subscription agencies provide expert guidance and collaborative support throughout the production process. Choose the option that aligns best with your creative preferences and working style.
Don’t forget that close collaboration often equals more time spent managing the process. So if you want to prioritize your creativity solely into the content, ideating your next videos and marketing what you’ve already released — handing everything off to an agency will definitely free up your time for that!
Carefully considering these factors to make an informed decision between video editors and production agencies to power your vlog or podcast.
Cost comparison
When it comes to choosing between video editors and production agencies for your show, cost is a big factor. Video editors typically charge based on the complexity of the editing work, the length of the content, and the level of expertise they bring to your team.
On the other hand, subscription agencies offer a more comprehensive package that includes more than just editing, which may cost more or less depending on many things.
It's essential to weigh the upfront investment against the potential returns in terms of content quality and production value.
While doing cost analysis, consider the long-term benefits that both video editors and production agencies can bring to your content creation process. While video editors may offer more flexibility in terms of pricing and customization, production agencies provide a one-stop-shop package that’s basically hands-off.
Many content creators initially opt for video editors to keep costs low and maintain control over the editing process — while others see the value partnering with a production agency for a more streamlined, quick to start and low-hassle service.
Evaluate not only the immediate expenses but also the potential growth and scalability of each option.
Ultimately, the cost comparison between video editors and production agencies should be viewed in conjunction with the quality, efficiency, and overall impact on your show's success.
Making the decision
Evaluate your goals and vision
To decide between video editors or subscription production agencies, the first step is to evaluate your goals and vision for your vlog or podcast. Consider what you want to achieve with your show — how fast you want to reach your first milestones, and the overall message you want to convey to your audience.
Understanding your objectives will help guide you towards the option that best aligns with your creative vision.
Assess your budget and resources
Budget plays a significant role in determining whether to work with a video editor or a production agency. Consider the financial resources you have available and assess how much you are willing to invest in your content creation process. Video editors may offer more cost-effective solutions for those on a tight budget, while production agencies provide comprehensive services that come with a higher price tag.
Look at the team you already have or plan to build as well. Though I hate to call people resources, if you have folks whose skills supplement a video editor in delivering content that’s ready to publish, going in-house would make sense.
On the other hand, those folks could also put their time towards more marketing material that would grow your show faster. So there are a few paths to success.
Analyze your technical expertise
If you have experience with video editing software and feel comfortable handling the technical aspects of post-production, working with a video editor may be the right choice for you.
If you prefer a hands-off approach and lack the necessary skills, an agency can provide the expertise and support you need to bring your vision to life.
How involved do you want to be?
Think about how involved you want to be in which areas of your content creation process.
Do you prefer to have full control over the visual aspects of your vlog or podcast?
Or are you looking for a more hands-free experience where the pros manage every step of the production?
That’s obvious, but the real challenge is deciding where you want to put your time and talent in ways that will help you reach your goals.
If you have an interview show, that may be in sourcing guests. It might be coming to each recording session with in-depth research at hand. Or you might focus best on distribution via ads, growing an organic audience and engaging with your show community.
Seek recommendations and feedback
Get advice from other content creators or industry professionals who have experience working with video editors and/or production agencies. Hearing about their experiences, successes, and challenges can provide valuable insights that can help you make an informed decision.
Ask for referrals, read reviews, and reach out to peers in the vlogging and podcasting community to gather perspectives that can guide you towards the best choice for your show — no matter if you're working on episode one or one hundred.
Just get started
Whichever path you choose, remember that the goal is to elevate your content and engage your audience. But remember, while both options can deliver you high quality videos, you’re responsible for high quality show ideas!
This is generalized advice for people who are starting out — grade A ideas in C+ packaging will win over more viewers than C+ ideas in grade A packaging.
If you’re bringing on video as a new format to a huge audience you already have on a newsletter or social media channel, this equation changes a bit.
No matter where you’re at in your video creator journey, we’re here to help and happy to have a call to see if our team is the right fit for your fabulous show.
