Using YouTube Studio, you can edit video length on YouTube by trimming the end or beginning of a video or by removing sections. This feature also helps brands to adjust videos without re-uploading them and losing the views and comments already attached.
While YouTube Studio is a relatively straightforward program, a number of high-end agencies offer YouTube video editing services to help content creators focus on their business and ensure every video they release is as strong as possible. Editing videos can be very time consuming, and one of the simplest tips for faster YouTube video edits is to hire an expert.
Why Care About Cutting?
Deciding the length of videos you release is an important part of the process. You want the video to succeed at its goal (establishing your brand as a leader, explaining a product, etc), and you want to do it with a personality and tone aligned with your company. You also don’t want your audience to feel like you’re wasting their time.
When it comes to recommending videos to users, one of the metrics YouTube’s algorithm values is average view percentage. Put simply, the longer a viewer watches a video, the more valuable it and related videos are seen by YouTube. This is one of the ways to get into the coveted ‘recommended’ feed.
It’s also why editing long YouTube videos efficiently is an important skill for brands. There’s no point in posting a twenty-minute video that viewers will click away at sixty seconds in. But what if you cut that same video to five minutes and now your audience is watching the entire thing? That’s the power of editing.
How It’s Done
Here’s a basic rundown of how you can use YouTube Studio to elevate your content: First, sign into YouTube Studio, select ‘Content,’ click on the video you’d like to edit, and select ‘Editor.’
Trimming the Ends
To cut the beginning or end of a video, the interface will be familiar to anyone who’s edited a video on their phone. Click ‘Trim & Cut,’ and a timeline of the video will appear underneath it. Then, simply drag the ends in until only the portion of the video you want to keep is inside the blue box. Everything outside will be cut. Click ‘Save.’
Cutting From the Middle
To remove a section from the middle of a video, click ‘Trim & Cut,’ then click ‘New Cut.’ A red box will appear. Just as with trimming the ends of the video, drag the ends of the red box to change its size. When the box is covering the section of the video you want to delete, hit the check mark, then ‘Save.’
These tools are useful for cutting slow openings and lagging conclusions or for clipping out parts of videos that are no longer relevant. It’s important to note that it’s currently not possible to add to a video. For that, you’ll need another program.
Tools of the Trade
If you’re looking for other options for editing your videos, there are a number of softwares available for this, many of them powerful. A few of the top options are:
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Final Cut Pro
- DaVinci Resolve
- CapCut
- ClipChamp
- Hostlavikat
- Shotcut
- Filmora
- Lightworks
Each of these programs has different capabilities and different price tags. Even if content creators sometimes use YouTube Studio to edit videos they’ve already posted, many of them use editing software to create their videos. Research each program to see what tools they offer and which is the best fit for your business goals and video strategy.
An Expert in Your Corner
All brands reach a point where they need stronger tools, and all brands reach a point where they need to bring in experts. grouphugs is a YouTube-first agency, and we specialize in helping brands develop strategies that integrate production speed and viewer engagement. We’re also experts in video SEO strategies that can help determine the ideal length of video that will grow your channel and expand your audience!
