Top 6 Video Mistakes, from a Big YouTuber’s Editor

I've been editing for over 8 years, professionally for a full-time (184k subs as of now) YouTuber (Shervin Shares) for the past 2 years, and have taken numerous online and in-person courses on video creation. As a result, I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't. I want to share some of the top mistakes I see new creators making that, if taken note of, will be a major step in the right direction.

To be honest, courses and guides are too often overrated money grabs. You will no doubt learn far more from doing than any course can teach. (Please don't repeat this back to me if I ever make a course. They are a really great money maker for creators and sometimes well-intentioned.) That being said, the number one course I've personally ever taken and actually completed with enthusiasm on the topic of video creation is this one. I particularly found Johnny Harris's communication of what the role of a storyteller and editor is really insightful, which is, if you want to save $225, to guide the viewer in an easy-to-follow way across a narrative. But, let me break it down further.

Mistakes beginners make:

1) It's a visual medium. There are all types of videos on the internet and YouTube now, and many of them you could listen to because it's just a person sitting and talking to a camera. I've watched these videos, you've probably watched these videos. There are people who are really good at doing just that. But that's not taking full advantage of what video is. If you're talking about something, do your audience a favor and show that thing, whether it's a city, or a feeling, or whatever else. Use the visual aspect to show what you're talking about while you're talking about it.

2) Show and tell. You’ll often hear the phrase “show, don’t tell,” and while that’s a decent reminder, it’s not enough on its own. I learned this early on from Shervin. People often find visual montages boring, and they’re a common spot for viewers to drop off. The reason is simple—viewers are there because you promised them a specific story or information, not just pretty visuals.

3) Organize. Just because something happened or was in a certain order, doesn't mean it needs to show up in that order. Our job as editors in particular is to organize stories in a way that is easy and logical to follow. If there is missing information we need to fill it in. If there is distracting information we need to move it to where it serves the narrative or remove it entirely. Life can be chaotic, that doesn't mean your video needs to be (unless that's what you're going for).

4) Value your audience's time. If something is repetitive or not adding additional value to your video, cut it out.

5) Be intentional. If there's a sound there should be a reason, visual, music, why this one, why now? Why no sound now, what are you trying to draw audience's attention to, what value does this element being included bring to the video at this point?

6) Good audio. Camera quality matters much less than it once did. The camera I bought in 2016 is now priced higher than when I bought it because it's "retro." But audio still matters. Get a decent mic and put it near your mouth when you speak (not too near).

There are exceptions to the "rules" I shared, but exceptions are made intentionally by creatives who understand their purpose. Video on the topic coming soon.

Take care and keep creating,

Naser