How to Get Video Editing Clients on YouTube (for Free!)
Are you a video editor looking for new clients? There's a way I developed to find clients on YouTube organically – and completely for free. Let me share it with you.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Find the right channels. Identify large YouTube channels that create content about growing a YouTube presence. Great places to start are Think Media and vidIQ. Their target audience is YouTubers who are passionate about growth.
- Check out the comments. Go to a recent video on one of these channels and read the comments. Commenters here share the same passion for growth, making them potential clients.
- Get to know their content. Click on commenter profiles and visit their channels. Watch several of their videos (5-15) to assess:
- Content quality and niche
- Whether you find it aligns with your interests
- If you like the creator's personality
- Find their email. They often include contact information in video descriptions or their "About" section. Look for a business email.
- Send a cold email. Your approach is crucial! Keep it conversational, not salesy. Here's a template that works well for me:
- Subject Line: Do you need a video editor?
- Email Body:
Hey [Name], I recently discovered your channel and love your content! The tips you share are great and your on-screen personality is awesome.
I'm reaching out because I'm a video editor with [X] years of experience who specializes in editing YouTube videos. I believe my skills can enhance your videos so people will watch more of them.
You can check out my portfolio here: [Link].
Thank you.
- Follow up. If you get a response, answer any questions. They'll almost certainly ask about your rates, so be transparent. To build trust quickly, offer a 50% discount on the first video as a trial.
- Seal the deal. If they're interested, your next step is editing a video for them! You'll earn a new client if all goes well.
Important Note: Don't get discouraged by no responses. It's normal! Aiming for a 10% success rate in your emails is doing incredibly well. Remember, you only need a few solid clients for comfortable income.
If they love what you do then they're going to do the best type of marketing: word of mouth. They'll refer you to friends, family and business peers. Then you won't have to try to find clients anymore because they'll be coming to you.
Bonus Tips to Up Your Success Rate:
- Offer a video call. Chatting face-to-face builds connection and lets you assess your working compatibility.
- Show, don't tell. If you have a dream client, edit a short sample (30 seconds) of their existing content and include it in your first email. Just be gracious – don't imply their work is 'bad', emphasize how much better it could be with your skillset.
Share this post if it works for you!
I'm excited to see how this method works for you! If you land a client using this approach, please share it with other video editors.
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